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Chapter Text

Logue Town, Year 1522

'It burns! It hurts!'

A bright white light splits the sky, blinding, searing—the crack of thunder follows a second later, a deafening roar that shakes the heavens. Buggy can't tell what's happening. The world is spinning. Wind whips against his body as he plummets, rain striking his skin like needles. His ears ring from the explosion, and his breath is caught in his throat.

He can hear screams. Metal twisting. Wood shattering.

The storm howls like a beast, drowning everything in chaos.

'It's wet... it's raining?'

Then—impact.

His body slams into the ground, the force rattling his bones. Instinct kicks in, and he tries to roll like Rayleigh taught him, but his limbs don’t cooperate. His breath is knocked clean out of him, his chest seizing.

Shit. Everything hurts. Shit—this is Red’s fault. I know it is.

Distantly, through the pounding in his skull, he hears voices.

"Captain! CAPTAIN!"

The words feel too close, yet distant, like they’re coming from underwater. He forces his eyes open, his vision a swirling mess of colors—blazing orange from the fires nearby, streaks of white from the rain, the eerie glow of storm-lit clouds above. His head throbs, and his stomach churns.

Something smells like smoke. Something is burning.

'Where the hell am I?'

A bolt of panic surges through him. 'They're still chasing me.' He tries to push himself up, his arms trembling. Footsteps approach, fast. Then—hands. Strong hands grab him, yanking him up.

"We got you!"

Buggy reacts instantly. He thrashes, his heart slamming against his ribs.

"Like hell you do!" he snarls. He jerks and twists, but their grip is unyielding.

"Let me go, you bastards!" His eyesight focuses on a man with long black hair, half of his head shaved, holding his left arm, and another man with a white fur vest and bears ears on his head, grabbing his right arm.

' A Half-Mink? What is half-Mink doing with the Barrels crew? Crap, I need to get away.' Buggy struggles harder in their grasp, trying to get loose, and yells, "Bara-Bara Escape!" His body splits into pieces, escaping from their hold and rushing to the nearby street.

'I need to get away; I can't fight these assholes; there are too many!' Flying away with his feet, following behind, he turns down a sharp corner leading to a crowded road. There are people everywhere; it's mayhem. His eyes move quickly to and fro, looking for a place to escape to as his body begins to gather. He looks down an alleyway and spots a ladder.

'There! In the ally is a roof excess; if I get on the rooftops, I can get out of here and maybe find a place to hide.' He runs into the alleyway.

"No! Stop! Wait!" Voices shout, barely heard over the rain and wind of the storm brewing overhead. 

Heavy footsteps echo through the narrow alleyway, causing Buggy's heart to race faster than he ever thought possible. He knew there was no way he could outrun the group of code breakers hot on his trail while injured, but he had to try. He had to escape. Without hesitation, Buggy sprints towards the ladder, his heart pounding in his chest. He could hear the pirates getting closer and closer, but he refused to give up. With a burst of adrenaline, Buggy leaps onto the ladder and begins to climb as fast as he can.

His hands are shaking, and his breaths are coming in short gasps. Finally, he reached the top of the ladder and scrambles onto the rooftop. He collapses onto his hands and knees, panting heavily, as he looked out over the bustling town below. He sees he is still in Logue town; he just got out of the square where his captain had been executed four years prior.

The people cheered in exaltation as his father—no, as his Captain—was executed. But for Buggy, it was not a moment of triumph, only grief. The man who had been his beacon was gone.

Buggy pushes back the memories that are trying to pull him under, shaking his head to stop the grief from clouding his mind. Looking over the square, "The execution platform is destroyed," he whispers. Eye-widening 'What the hell happened here?' Buggy's head snaps back to the alleyway below, where he can hear shouts echoing from. He knows he has to keep moving, or he would be caught. He was on his own, abandoned by the ones he called Nakama.

He grabs behind his right hand, curling it into a fist, and aims it at the ladder. He had just climbed, shouting "Bara-Bara punch." His right fist went flying, destroying the ladder and returning to his wrist. 

Buggy set off across the rooftops, leaping from building to building as he tries to put as much distance between himself and the Barrels pirates as possible. He didn't know where he was going or how he would survive. But he was always good at running away and escaping. The other crew members of Roger Kaizoku always mocked him for it. But it has kept him alive since they abandoned him after Captain's death when every enemy Captain ever made was out to kill his legacies—leaving them to fend for themselves. even when the code said that apprentices were off limits.

'I hope Red is okay. No, no, Shank; he is Shank now. No more Blue and Red, Red and Blue; he left me just like the others.'

A red-haired boy in a straw hat holds the wrist of a blue-haired boy, asking, "Join my crew, Buggy.' shock, disbelief, fear, grief, dreams shattering, anguish, and ANGER.

Shaking his head, he scolds himself. 'Focus, I got to get away, and he is better off without me holding him back anyway.' Buggy's heart is pounding in his chest as he runs across the rooftops, trying to put as much distance between himself and the Barrels pirates as possible. His body was still aching from the explosion that caused his fall; the last thing he remembers is making it to Logue town in a small sailing dinghy, hoping to be able to smuggle himself onboard a merchant ship or hide from Barrels and his crew, unaware tell they get bored. 

He couldn't abandon his little brother like Roger Kaizoku did to him. His brother was the only family he had left, and he needs to return to Foosha Village. As he runs, his eyes scan the roads below for any sign of his pursuers. He could hear their shouts and their footsteps echoing through the road below. Buggy knew he couldn't outrun them forever, but he had to keep trying. He looks down to see just how far away they were; they were still yelling at him, but it was all lost in the storm. He saw a group of marines just ahead on the road below toss a net at the pirates catching the group in it.' Wow, about time, I got some luck coming my way.' 

All of a sudden, Buggy collides with a figure wearing a green cloak, resulting in a loud crash. The impact causes him to lose his balance, and he stumbles backward while flailing his arms, trying to regain his stability and prevent himself from falling off the rooftop.

"Careful, watch where you're going." The figure in the green cloak growls, his hand reaching out to grab him by the collar of his shirt and pulls him away from the edge.

As he is pulled closer, Buggy struggles in the stranger's grip. "Dammit, let me go!" he yells, thrashing and flailing his arms. He couldn't see who was holding him—just the dark green cloak that covers the person's head—but as the lightning flashes above them, he could make out a red criss-cross tattoo covering the left side of the man's face.

"Buggy?" The man said in a confused voice, Buggy struggles even harder in the man's grasp, fear coursing through him as he hears his name. He had no friends currently in this town or this side of the East Blue. He has been running for days and is tired; he's almost dying multiple times and is now burnt and sore from whatever Barrels and his crew threw at him, trying to kill him.

His breathing starts to speed up; his lungs hurt, adrenaline is coursing through his veins, and black spots start to appear in his vision. His breath is now coming out in short pants. Panic surges through him as he realizes he can't breathe. 'Of course, my luck is cursed, Shitty D lucky dammit, and of course, only the worst luck rubbed off on me from the captain.' 

The figure in the green cloak releases his grip on the collar and instead holds onto Buggy's shoulders to keep him in place.

"Calm down, Buggy Breath!" The man tries to soothe him, but all he could hear was the blood rushing through his ears now. 

"No! No! No! Let me go! Let me go! Let me go!" Buggy cries out, struggling frantically to break free. He pushes and kicks, but his efforts were in vain. He can't catch his breath and feels like his lungs are burning as he gasps for air. Tears welled up in the corners of his eyes. 'I can't die like this! I have to get back to little Spark. Please, don't let me die like this!' In one last desperate attempt, Buggy pulls his right leg back.

"BARA-BARA KICK!" His leg shoots forward, hitting the cloaked figure between the legs. The man falls to the rooftop, clutching his groin in pain. Buggy also falls to his knees on the rooftop, trying to stop his panic attack.

'I can't breathe! I can't breathe! What did Dr. Woop say to do? Breathe in hold one, two, three. Breathe out one, two, three.'

The hurricane rain is drenching him, and the water blurs his vision, while the wind howls in his ear, almost drowning out all the sounds around him. He struggles to hear the man groaning in pain, then he hears the man mumble something. The wind continues to intensify, becoming so strong that it yanks Buggy off the rooftop. He found himself being carried away from the town center at an unbelievable speed. As he flies through the air, he can barely make out the ship docks through the rain.

The gust of wind was propelling him towards the port! As he flew through the air, he caught a glimpse of something white and brown. 'Is that a sheep? Or maybe a ram?' his mind wonders before he tumbles through branches and collides head-first with an obstacle.

Buggy awakes lying on the ground, his body battered and bruised. It seems like he may have been struck by lightning during the hurricane due to his unfortunate luck. His muscles ache from hours of running away from the pirates who wanted to capture him. He had been on the run for days, and his body was beyond exhausted. Though he knew he had to keep moving, he could barely lift his arms.

He tries to move, but his body refuses to obey him. His fingers twitches and his toes curl, but he couldn't get up. He had to find a way to escape, but he was too weak even to crawl. He lays there, gasping for breath, as the world spins around him as he tires to regain some energy. He closes his eyes and tries to focus on his breathing, but the pain from his old wound are too much. He grits his teeth and forces himself to sit up instead. Every movement is agony, but he has no choice. He needs to keep moving.

He staggers to his feet, then he stumbles forward, his legs wobbling beneath him. He takes a few unsteady steps, his body swaying back and forth, before his knees go weak, causing him to collapse to the ground again, this time face down. He lays there, panting and sweating, as the world spins around him. 

He tries to push himself up, but his arms shake harshly before they give out, giving him enough momentum to flip onto his back. He lies there, staring up at the hole in the ceiling. He can see dark clouds in the sky through the branches of trees. 'Trees on a ship?... Are those tangerines on them?... What the hell!?' The thought passes through Buggy's mind, making him feel utterly exhausted. He felt himself losing consciousness. As his eyes slowly close, he hopes that the ship he landed on is a safe one. 'Just a moment. I just need to catch my breath for a moment.' is his last thought as everything goes dark.

Chapter Text

The Straw Hat crew is racing towards the port, their feet pounding against the wet ground as they run for their lives. Nami's voice rings out in urgency, urging them to move faster before Smoker and the Marines catch up to them. The wind whips through their hair and clothes, as the supernatural hurricane raging around them, aiding them in their escape.

"Over there! I see The Going Merry!" Usopp yells with relief as he spots their beloved ship waiting for them at the docks. 

With renewed energy, he sprints towards it, followed closely by the rest of the crew.

"Quickly, man the sails and raise the anchor!" Nami barks out orders as she climbs aboard the ship. Her eyes were sparkling with determination as she took command, her beauty shining even amidst the chaos.

Sanji couldn't help but be entranced by her as Luffy and he work together to hoist the sails while Zoro and Usopp pulls up the anchor. With a loud thud, the anchor reached its place on the topside, and the sails caught the strong wind, propelling the Going Merry forward.

"Well done, everyone! It looks like luck is on our side today," Nami exclaims with a wide grin on her face, adrenaline pumping through her veins.

Luffy's voice booms from atop the mast as they sailed away from Logue town. "To the Grand Line, we go! I'm going to become the King of the Pirates!”

His declaration echoed in the wind, carrying off into the distance as they set sail towards a new adventure.

Buggy pov 

*Cheers—the feel of Haki like a hug, then gone. Cold. A room with two beds—only one is used. Nothing on the other. Lonely. Abandoned. Pathetic. Desperate. Runing."Pur-pur-pur". Rouge? Singing. Son. Brother. Promises. Explosion. Fire. Pain. Devastation. Running. Cold. Baby cries. Spark. Life. Promise.*

Buggy groans, his head throbbing, as he regained consciousness. His hand instinctively went to his aching head as he sits up, taking in his surroundings. The ship was moving now, the familiar sound of waves and creaking wood filling his ears.

Suddenly, an enthusiastic voice erupts from nearby, declaring their intentions to conquer the Grand Line and become the king of pirates. Buggy rubs his temples in annoyance at the loud outburst. 'Who is this obnoxious jackass screaming so loud?' he thinks irritably.

Looking around the room, he identifies is as the ship's lounge, Buggy notices shelves lining the walls, stocked with bottles of various spirits and glasses of all sizes. In one corner, there was a small kitchenette complete with a sink and stove. At the center of the room stood a large helm, adorned with an ornate sheep's head just like the one he had seen before crashing onto this ship.

As he gazes upwards at the hole he had created when he fell onto the ship, Buggy spots tangerine trees outside and wonders if this was a Cocoyashi ship. Perhaps he could use it as cover to reach the nearby island and exploit Bell-Mere's scary reputation to escape from any pursuing low grade pirates.

'Wait a minute! Did they just say they're headed for the Grand Line?’ No way am I going back there,I just left! ' Buggy scoffs, standing up unsteadily. His eyes scan down his body, assessing his wounds. Surprisingly, none of them had reopened and seemed to be healing well. He couldn't believe it—the lightning strike had burned him but somehow caused no lasting damage.

It had been seven long months since Buggy left Foosha Village. Three months have been spent in hellish conditions, three months devoted to healing, and one month backtracking to return to the East Blue. During this time, he missed out on important moments in Little Spark's life. His luck truly was terrible.

But Buggy was not about to let himself get dragged back into the Grand Line. Not when he was so close to being reunited with his little brother. With a mischievous grin, he decided to take matters into his own hands and steal this ship for himself.

Pressing his left ear against the door, Buggy strains to hear any movement outside. Meanwhile, his right eye popped out and flew through the opening in the ceiling, giving him a bird's-eye view of the deck.

He watches as a girl with fiery orange hair, dressed in a white and blue striped shirt and an orange skirt, converses with a boy sporting green hair and carrying three swords. Two others join them—one with blond hair in a black suit and another with dreadlocks wearing overalls. And finally, a fourth person wearing a straw hat and a red vest with shorts completing the group.

As Buggy listens, his eyes grew more dull, as murky emotions stir within him: 'Becoming King of the Pirates, being the Greatest Swordsman, making a map of the world, and being a brave warrior of the sea? These are just kids playing pirates. And they want to go to the Pirate Graveyard in pursuit of their dreams.'

"That's not happening," Buggy mutters darkly, letting out a low chuckle that sounds sinister. 

'You want to play pirates? I'll show you how it's really done. Then I'll take your ship and sail back to my little Spark.' With a flick of his fingers, Buggy made both of his hands detach from his body and float up through the hole in the ceiling, ready to cause some chaos and claim this ship as his own.

 (on the deck)

The crew was buzzing with anticipation and excitement, and the air was filled with lively chatter and laughter. They were finally setting sail towards the Grand Line, their next destination. 

As they gather around a barrel, each member declaring their dreams and aspirations, their eyes shine with determination. 

Suddenly, a loud thud reverberates through the ship, startling everyone out of their reverie. The sound seems to come from behind the mast of the ship, causing them to exchange nervous glances.

Another thud reverberates through the air, making the crew jump in surprise. Usopp instinctively hides behind Sanji, his body shaking with fear. "What was that!?" he cries out, trying to mask his terror with a false sense of bravery. 

"Relax, I'll go check it out," Sanji reassures him, pushing Usopp away and stepping forward. He scans the area cautiously as Zoro lets out a scoff. "It's just another ship making strange noises. Nothing to be afraid of," he jibes, joining Sanji and Usopp at the source of the noise. Nami folds her arms and joins them, curious about the commotion. 

"Maybe Merrsy ghost decided to tag along with us after all, shi shi shi," Luffy adds with a grin as he trails behind them.

(back in the lounge)

"A ghost? I can make use of that." Buggy mutters under his breath, taking off his bandana and releasing his hair from its high ponytail, allowing it to cascade down his back beyond his shoulder blades. He removes himself from his feet, his body flying up through the hole in the ceiling.

(on the deck)

Sanji peers behind the mast, but there is nothing on the other side. "See, I told you it was just the ship," Zoro asserts as he walks in front of Sanji. Usopp chimes in with fake bravado and his arm on his hip, "Haha, just like the great Usopp predicted." 

Nami gives them a disapproving look and remarks, "You guys are useless." Luffy adds with excitement, "Aww, no ghost? That would have been awesome if they joined our crew!" Suddenly, a branch snaps, and everyone's head turns towards the nearby orchard.

Their faces go pale as they see a floating body, its face obscured by long, cerulean hair. They notices that it has no hands or feet. And can see bandages wrapped tightly around its limbs as if it has been injured. Slowly, the body emerges fully from within Bell-Meres Orchard, revealing itself to the stunned onlookers. 

Nami and Usopp let out blood-curdling screams of fright while Sanji's eyes widened in shock. Zoro's jaw drops in disbelief as he exclaims, "What the hell?!" Reacting quickly and instinctively, Luffy shouts "Gum-Gum Pistol," and his arm stretches forward towards the floating figure.

But just as his fist is about to make contact, the body dodges the punch with lightning-fast agility. Realizing that this is not an ordinary encounter, the figure raises its head to let out an ear-piercing scream.

At that moment, the crew sees its face—an empty eye socket and a bandage-covered face. Nami and Usopp are overcome with fear that they pass out, falling backward toward the mast.

Before any of them can react further, the body rushes past them with incredible speed. Luffy's arm snaps back to normal, and he turns around to follow it. Just then, two gloved hands drop down from above the mast and grab onto either side of Luffy's arms, pulling him forward towards the mast.

Confused and disoriented, Luffy stumbles closer until his face is pressed against the mast. The rest of the crew—Sanji, Zoro, Usopp, and Nami—are also pulled back towards the ship's mast by Luffy's arms hitting them. The hands use Luffy’s arm to wrap the crew and Luffy himself to the mast. Then comes together to tie his arms into a bow knot. effectively rendering them defeated and tied to the mast.

As Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji struggle to break free from Luffy's stretchy arms that bind them to the mast, they yell at each other in frustration. 

"Who are you?" Luffy yells, trying to undo his arms. Suddenly, the door to the lounge bursts open on its own, and they hear footsteps coming down the stairs to the main deck. 

The body floats into view with an empty eye socket staring at them. The three of them freak out even more as a floating eye appears, only to suddenly pop back into place, followed by feet floating down and attaching themselves to the body.

After what felt like an eternity, a pair of gloved hands finally emerged from the shadows. They reach up and push back the tangled hair, revealing a round, red nose and piercing, light blue eyes that seems to bore into them with disdain. The stranger crosses their arms, looking down at them and spits on Luffy's face with a disgruntled frown on their own.

Chapter Text

As Buggy pulls his body back together, he gazes down at the captured crew. 'Too easy.' They fell so quickly, so effortlessly—pathetic. None of them even use Haki. The only real obstacle was the Devil Fruit user, but even he struggles with something as simple as untying a bow knot. They all move so damn slow.

His fingers tangle in the strands of his hair, pulling it from his face with a sharp tug. As he does so, a wave of anger and revulsion rises in his stomach, coiling like a serpent and threatening to spill out at any moment.

‘Two of them fainted in terror, and the devil fruit user doesn't have complete control over his own damn body. He struggles to even untie a simple bow knot.’

As he observes them struggling, he crosses his arms with disdain. The brats persist in demanding to know who he is, but he remains apathetic and even spits in the straw hat brat's face.

'Their so weak, useless, and pathetic. And they want to go to the graveyard; there are only monsters over there.' He thinks as his eyes glaze over.

* "The heavy thud of a peg leg approached—each step sent a chill down Buggy’s spine. The sharp burn of sea-prism stone seared into his skin. A rough voice, thick with rum and apples, sneered down at him.

‘You’re weak, red-nose. No wonder they abandoned you, lad.’

His back burned.

‘Give me the map, boy.’”*

They'd be better off dead. If they reach the Grand Line, they'll only suffer. Painful, brutal deaths. 'I should just kill them now'—No. Buggy clenched his fists.'No, they’re just brats. Not real pirates. Not my problem. I need to check the supplies.I need to stop at Cocoyashi; maybe I can win some points with Belle-Mere by returning the ship, and she can deal with these brats. They are not my problem.' Buggy turns around, passing the mast as he heads to the stairs. Plans to turn the ship around and head to Cocoyashi fill his mind. Disregarding the shouts and demands of the three young brats behind him.

Sanji's face was twisted in anger, his eyes blazing, and his fists clenched at his sides. Zoro's brow furrowed, and his jaw was set in determination as he strains against Luffy’s arms. Luffy's face is twisted in disgust as he exclaims, "Ew, spit? Gross! Who are you? This is disgusting." But Buggy looks down at them with an expression full of disdain and indifference, his arms crossed.

“Hey! Say sorry!” Luffy yells while struggling to untie his arms. But Buggy walks past him, ignoring his demands.

”Wait!” Luffy shouts as he passes him, and Buggy moves up the stairs to the lounge without acknowledging him.

"Luffy, can't you retract your arms? If not, I'll have to cut my way out. I'm going to slice that guy up," Zoro snarls, his head turns towards the right as he struggles against Luffy's elastic arms that are keeping him tied to the mast. Luffy wipes a bit of spit off his cheek onto his shoulder.

"I can't! They're all twisted up in a knot!" Luffy whines, struggling to reach his hands and untie the bow that was tightly holding them together. "Please don't cut off my arms. I need them!" His attempts to stretch his hand and loosen the knot only made it tighter.

"Wait!" Sanji shouts, his anger still blazing. "You're only making things worse, Luffy! Zoro, can't you reach the bow? It's closer to you." He glares at the situation in front of them. "How could he tie Nami up like this? I'll make him pay for treating a lady so poorly!”

“I can't; I don't even have enough room to grab my swords! damn it!” Zoro's frustration boils over as he realizes he couldn't even reach for his swords due to the cramped space. He seethes angrily, trying to maneuver his hand towards the weapons on his right hip. "The bow is right in front of Usopp and Nami," Zoro informs him, hoping they would wake up and help them escape their current predicament.

Buggy had made his way to the top of the stairs and was heading towards the lounge, where the helm was. As he was about to enter, he felt a strong wind blowing and notices a storm gathering in the sky. He swiftly made his way into the lounge and uses the helm to turn the Going Merry in the opposite direction. He then proceeded to inspect the supplies that the ship had in stock. After calculating, he was confident that there were enough provisions to make it to Cocoyashi village. However, he was aware that he would need to gather more supplies if he wanted to reach Foosha, but that would only be possible if Belle-mere permitted him to keep the ship.

As the storm blew in, Buggy detaches his hand at the wrist and sent them out to man the ship while using his forearms to control the helm.

(main deck)

The sky darkens above the three pirates as they watch Buggy enter the lounge to take control of the Going Merry. A fierce wind blew in, whipping their hair and clothes around wildly. Sanji, Zoro, and Luffy exchanged glances, knowing that the person would have to untie them if he wanted to navigate the ship successfully.

"Ha! It looks like he'll need some help after all. Nami was right—this ship can't be manned by one person." Zoro snickers to his companions. Then, they felt the Going Merry start to turn under them and saw a pair of gloved hands expertly man the ship.

"Or maybe he can handle it himself." Sanji sighed in frustration. Luffy began to shout at the top of his lungs, trying to get the person who attacked them attention. "Hey! What are you doing? We're supposed to be going to the Grand Line! Let us go and turn this ship back around!"

But Buggy seems unconcerned with their protests and focuses on whatever plans he had in mind for the stolen ship. 

"I don't think he cares about our opinions," Zoro reasons with a shrug. "Doesn't he look familiar to you two?" he asked with his head tilted, turning to Luffy and Sanji.

The two shook their heads in confusion until Luffy suddenly scowls, brows furrowed as he searched his memory for the name that eluded him. "Yeah, he does look kind of familiar...Blinky or Buffo or something like that...his name is on the tip of my tongue," he grumbles, determined to uncover the truth behind their captor's identity.

Chapter Text

(main deck)

As the night grew darker and the storm raged on, Sanji and Zoro succumbed to exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep. Their bodies were worn out after the events at Logue Town and their subsequent capture. However, Luffy remained wide awake, determined to protect his crew and retrieve their beloved ship, the Going Merry. 

He struggled to untie the knot that the guy who captured them had made out of his arms while simultaneously calling out names that began with "B," hoping to catch the persons attention. Usopp and Nami were still unconscious, muttering about ghosts and empty eye sockets in their sleep. The storm had finally passed, and thanks to person navigation skills, guided the ship to calmer waters.

Luffy pov

Brooke! No, Bella! Hey Babe! Let us go!" Luffy called out, gasping for air. He had been shouting various names all night in an attempt to remember where he had seen the man who attacked them. 

"Ugh, that's not it either. 'Am I still so weak?' I have to protect my Nakama. That's what captains do." Luffy continued to struggle with his bound arms and hands, trying to untie the bow knot. 

"And that jerk even spat on me. It was so disgusting. At least the rain washed it away." Luffy paused his struggles, hearing a pained noise come from Zoro as he slept. 'He was still recovering from his fight with Mihawk, right?' Luffy thought.

"Damn it! What can I do? The last time I was in a situation like this was with those bandits, and Ace and Sabo came to save me. Huh, the last time I got spit on was when I first met Ace too." Luffy sat quietly, feeling cold from the rain soaking into his skin. 

"ACHOO!'“ Luffy sneezed, laying his head on the mest.' It's cold.' 

Buggy pov

As the storm passed, he regained his hands and set the ship's course toward Cocoyashi.

"Finally, a break," he sighed. 'What's with that little annoying shit shouting through the storm?' 

Buggy moved around the lounge and started boiling some water for a warm drink.Making note of the newspaper on the table near by to read latter.

"Ha! Look at that. I took out a pirate crew, took their ship, and sailed it through the storm myself. None of those assholes would ever think I could do that." Buggy said, feeling triumphant as he waited for the water to boil. 

Though they would probably just mock me, saying 'It was only five people and that they are from the weakest sea,Buggy. It was not a fair fight.' They would be surprised I could beat anyone. The grin falls from his face as his eyes dim. 

Roger’s laughter echoed in his mind—loud, warm, full of pride. 'That’s my Blue Wonder using his head!'

Buggy clenched his fists. His chest felt hollow, aching with a grief he refused to name. He let out a lifeless chuckle, swiping at his tears with the heel of his hand.

*"Breathe in one, two, three, hold one, two, three, and let it out. That's a good job, Buggy." A Female voice calmly speaks *

Recalling Dr. Woop's instructions on how to calm himself down. He pushes back the sorrow that fills his mind,

He placed his hands back on the counter and opens his dull eyes, filled with deep sorrow and loneliness.

"ACHOO!" Buggy hears Luffy's loud sneeze. He blinks slowly as he turns his head towards the doorway.

'Aaa, Those brats could get sick from being in that storm; their probably wet and cold.' His eyes moved back to the warm water on the stove. "Towels too. And blanks; I am not untying them! But Belle-mere will kill me if I bring her sick kids."He mumbles to himself.

Buggy searched the lounge and found a chest filled with towels, blankets, and what appeared to be a golden canister - possibly a map. He set it aside on the table for later examination. Gathering some of the blankets and towels, he left the lounge and headed towards the stairs.

Down below, he noticed that the brats were still tied up to the mast, seemingly having passed out during the storm. Buggy reached the bottom of the stairs and let out a sigh before walking over to the mast.

He placed the towels on the ground and knelt, beginning to dry off the blonde one as best he could before moving on to the next.

As Buggy gently dried off each member of the Mugiwara pirates, his keen eyes quickly noticed their numerous injuries. With a furrowed brow, he murmured to himself about each one, mentally assessing its severity. "The blond's breaths are shallow and quick, likely indicating broken ribs. And look at those blue-tinged lips...did he almost drown?"

Moving on to Usopp, Buggy observed the scrapes and bruises covering his hands. "Just surface wounds, nothing too serious," he thought as he delicately wiped away the water droplets.

Continuing his rounds, Buggy approached Nami and softly whispered, "Excuse me," as he dried her off.

But his gaze fell upon an unexpected sight—a new tattoo covering several week old stab wounds." Who in their right mind would get a new tattoo over multiple stab wounds?" A small sigh escaped him as he thought about the potential infection risk.

Shaking his head in disbelief, Buggy moved on to Zoro, wincing at the sight of his injuries.

Buggy bites his inner lip in concern. "Shallow breathing, likely due to damaged ribs...and that chest wound is bad. The makeshift fish skin patch has done its job, but it needs to be replaced soon."

A self-deprecating chuckle escaped Buggy's lips as he mused, "No wonder I caught you all so easily." Finally, he reached Luffy and grabbed the last dry towel. He reached for the familiar-looking straw hat to take off to start drying off his hair but as soon as he started to lift it. Luffy suddenly raised his head, and their eyes met. Luffy’s eyes were filled with determination and a hint of curiosity.

Luffy was jolted out of his thoughts by the sound of someone coming down the stairs. He stayed still, keeping his head against the mast, as he tried to soothe his sore throat from all his screaming. 

’ Who do I know with blue hair and a round red nose? Boogie? Behie? No, that's not it.’ 

He pondered while secretly observing the stranger from under his beloved hat. The stranger eventually made his way to Sanji, carrying something in his arms, and Luffy tensed up, ready to attack with his gum-gum abilities.

But then he noticed the bundle being placed on the ground, except for one item that was being used to dry Sanji's hair. 

Luffy's eyes widened in surprise. ’ A towel!,Maybe he's not such a bad guy after all?' Luffy thought with a growing grin. However, when the stranger started whispering about Sanji's injuries and moved on to Usopp and Nami, Luffy's smile faltered.

 'Yeah, we do seem to be getting injured a lot. But it's all part of getting stronger for the Grand Line!' he explained mentally as he watched the stranger's detached expression. 

But when he got to Zoro, the stranger's expression changed. Observing as the blue-haired man bit his lip and murmured about Zoro's wounds from Mihawk, Luffy noted that the blue-haired man seemed to be around his age or maybe even Ace's age, and he quickly came up with potential names for him: 'Buffoon or Blue.'

His thoughts were interrupted by a frail chuckle from the stranger as he mentioned how easy it was to catch them. From under his hat, Luffy watched intently as the stranger grabbed another towel and made his way towards him.

As he lifted his beloved hat off of his head, their eyes met, and Luffy couldn't help but notice the self-hatred, sadness, and loneliness in the red-nosed man's gaze. 'Just like Ace's.......I'm going to get him to join my crew! shi shi shi~' Luffy thought mischievously.

With a wide grin, Luffy asks the man in front of him, "Your name is Buffoon, right?" Buggy's forehead started to throb visibly as he let go of Luffy's straw hat, which promptly falls to the deck.

"Buffoon?! Stop messing around! You sure have a lot of nerve, you bilge rat!" Buggy grabbed a towel and began roughly drying off Luffy's hair. 

"Okay! okay! I know your name isn't Buffoon! But how am I supposed to know what it is if you don't respond to any of the other names I've called you?" Luffy protested while trying to dodge the towel’s assault.

"What did you say about my nose, you shitty picaroon?" Buggy seethed, his voice cracking with each word as he continued drying Luffy's hair.

"I said nothing about your nose; I just want to know your name!" Luffy's voice came out muffled from underneath the towel.

"Then maybe you should ask with some manners, you landlocked dungbie." Buggy retorts as he lowers the towel. 

"Okay, who are you, and what's your name?" Luffy asked again. 

"Is that supposed to be polite? Were you raised under a shipping dock pier or something? If you are being polite, you say please." Buggy grumbles with narrowed eyes and pursed lips. 

"Yep, for a while, I did! Fine, what is your name... please?" Luffy asked this time, adding a hesitant "please" at the end. Buggy's eyebrows rose at the response, that Luffy did in fact live under a pier, and then he threw his head back laughing.

"Gyahahaha, nope, I'm not telling you my name." He grins mischievously. "But you promised to tell me if I asked politely!" Luffy pouts. "No, no, I said if you want to know another person's name, you should ask politely. That doesn't mean I have to tell you if you do ask politely, Gyahahaha." Buggy laughed at his cleverness before setting the towel on his lap.

"That's not fair!" Luffy shouted in frustration.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew and picked up Luffy's beloved straw hat. "No, my hat! Quick, grab it, please!" Luffy cried out in fear. He turned to Buggy and yelled urgently "Blue, hurry get it!". Acting on pure instinct, Buggy shot his hand forward and caught the hat mid-air with a loud "Got it!" His hand quickly reattached to his wrist as he blushed from realizing what he had just done.

"Shi shi shi, so your name is Blue!" Luffy cheered happily, deducing that since Buggy responded to his request, his name must be Blue. "Thanks for grabbing my hat, Blue!" Luffy says with a huge smile on his face.

 "N-N-No! That is not my name! Don't call me that, you Shit! You can't just go around giving people names." Buggy sputtered, his face turning bright red from responding on instinct. As he held the straw hat close to his chest.

" Nope, you can't trick me this time, Blue! Shi shi shi shi." Luffy laughed playfully.

Buggy was clenching the hat in his hands tightly while he thought to himself. 'What nerve this kid has! I should have just let them freeze!'

He only responded because Red always said that whenever his hat was blown away. As he looked down at the hat, he recognized from the repairs that he helped do to the hat that it was the one that belonged to Red. 

A red-haired boy with a bright smile approached him, “thanks Blue!”, and placed the hat back on his head.

Buggy's eyes narrowed as he recognized the straw hat and anger boiled within him. He looked up at Luffy and demanded.

"Hey, where did you get this hat? It doesn't belong to you." His expression turned dark as he glared at the boy with a dangerous look in his eyes.

Luffy's bright, infectious grin stretched across his face as he eagerly recounted the origin of his cherished straw hat to Buggy, oblivious to the subtle shift in the other's expression. 

His voice was full of pride and admiration as he shared how he had first met Shanks, the Red-Haired Pirate when he was just a young boy.

Luffy's voice grew more animated as he revealed that he had purposely scarred himself beneath one eye, a physical display of strength to prove himself worthy of joining Shanks' crew. However, his efforts were in vain, as Shanks denied him saying he would have to learn to swim first, setting off a chain of events that ultimately led to Luffy gaining devil fruit powers and being taken captive by a bandit.

It was only thanks to Shanks' timely intervention that Luffy was saved from drowning, solidifying their bond and inspiring Luffy's determination to become the King of the Pirates and live a life of ultimate freedom. As a symbol of their unbreakable promise, Shanks had entrusted Luffy with his hat, entrusting him to return it once he achieved greatness as a pirate.

As Luffy recounted the gripping tale of how he acquired his straw hat, Buggy's face contorts into a menacing scowl, setting the straw hat on the deck and using a hand to reach around his back. 

With clenched teeth, he replied, "That's quite the story, but how old were you exactly when you met Shanks?" Confused, Luffy furrowed his brow and responded, "I was probably around 6 or 7. Um why ?"

Buggy's eyes narrowed as his voice took on a dangerous edge, "And how old are you now? Because I can't help but notice we look to be about the same age." 

Luffy tilts his head in confusion and answers, "I'm 17 this year."

Buggy’s breath hitched. His fingers curled into fists.‘No. That can’t be right.’

His hands shook, anger twisting inside him like a storm. And then, before he even realized it—The knife was in his hand. The blade pressed against Luffy’s throat, cold and steady.""That means Shanks must have been 9! You're lying! Tell me the truth! where did you get this hat?!"" he growled.

Luffy's eyes widened in shock as he desperately protest, "But Shanks was already an adult when I met him! He had his crew...how could I know how old he is?" 

The blade pressed harder against his skin, causing Luffy to wince in pain. "I saw Shanks just 4 years ago and he was only 14! You're lying!" Buggy snarled in rage.

Buggy leaned in closer, his voice low and menacing. "Tell me the truth!"

Luffy’s body stiffened as the cold blade pressed into his throat. His instincts screamed at him to fight, but—He met Buggy’s eyes. There was something wrong in them. Anger, yes. But also pain.

"I am telling the truth,"Luffy said, softer this time, but unwavering

Chapter Text

Buggy locks eyes with the hat-stealing fucker as the teen says, "I am telling the truth!" His gaze is filled with firm sincerity. But Buggy knows he's lying: 'It's got to be a lie!' Despite his current limited use of observation Haki, he spreads his Haki out and wraps it around the thief, searching his soul voice for any hints of deceit or falsehood.

*Baterilla, rouge, singing, fire, death, too loud! no more.! darkness, crying.*  

The memories flood back too loudly, and he pushes them down, focusing on the present instead. With his haki wrapped around the thief, he sifts through his voice, trying to uncover any hidden lies. At that moment, there was nothing but sincerity and truth in the teen's voice. The warmth of it was almost overwhelming, causing confusion to swirl within him. Even with a knife pressed against his throat, there was no fear in the depths of this teen's being. Only raw, unadulterated truth.

'This brat… he can’t be telling the truth. He can’t be—! But Haki doesn’t lie.'

The realization slammed into him like a tidal wave. His vision blurred, his breath caught in his throat. His hands trembled as the knife slipped from his grasp. He barely registered it clattering against the deck before he turned.

"No, there's no way." A disbelieving whisper falls from his lips. "The only explanation would be time travel, but how... little Spark, I have to get back to Foosha. I can't leave him behind! My little brother, I-I promised Rouge."

His mind races a mile per minute as he desperately tries to make sense of the situation. "I need a calendar!" Tears threaten to spill from his eyes as his heart pounds frantically in his chest, making it hard to catch his breath. His Haki pulls back to him as he steps away from the teenager before he turns running towards the lounge.

But fate seems to have other plans as he slips on the wet deck, falling hard onto the ground. Without missing a beat, he scrambles back to his feet and runs up the stairs towards the lounge, his thoughts racing with his heart pounding in his ears. making him not hear the concerned shouts behind him.

Luffy steadfastly refused to look away from Blue, determined to prove his sincerity. A tense silence hung in the air as he felt a sudden pressure wrap around him as if it were searching his very soul for any flaws. Despite this, Luffy maintained unbroken eye contact with Blue, watching as his eyes widened and the knife fell from his grip, clattering to the ground. He could feel the weight of Blue's gaze upon him, like a piercing laser beam boring into his very core. 

The tension in Blues' body was palpable, and tears began to gather in his eyes, but still, he did not break their gaze. It was as if he was still looking for something within Luffy's unwavering stare.

Then, suddenly, Blues' eyes glazed over, and he spoke in a distant whisper, almost as if he were far away. "No, there's no way." Luffy watches with growing concern as Blue pales and begins to shake, muttering incomprehensible words under his breath. 

But Luffy kept their intense eye contact, witnessing the anguish and despair that appeared in Blue's eyes.

"The only explanation would be time travel, but how... little Spark." Blue continues in a strained voice, "I have to get back to Foosha. I can't leave him behind! My little brother, I-I promised Rouge." 

Luffy's mind reels at these shocking revelations: 'Time travel?! Wait! Blue's also from Foosha and has a brother there too!? ' Before he could ask any questions, Blue started to back away and eventually fell to the wet deck with a thud.

Luffy called out to him but received no response. Blue shook himself off and quickly made his way to the lounge, urgently requesting a calendar.

With frantic determination, Buggy scours the lounge for any sign of a calendar. His voice quivers with disbelief as he finally comes across one hanging on the wall near the kitchenette.Buggy’s breath hitched as his eyes locked onto the numbers.

"February… 1522?"

His fingers curled into fists, his nails digging into his palms. No. That wasn’t possible. It was supposed to be December… 1504.

A 17-year gap. Lost. Gone.

His legs buckled, and he collapsed to the floor, his vision spinning.

The sound of water boiling on the stove fills his ears, but it's like a distant echo amid his turmoil. Clenching his jaw and biting his lip, Buggy tries to hold himself together, but the weight of reality crush on him.

"Gyahahaha!" Buggy's laughter breaks into sharp fragments, a desperate attempt to keep from completely falling apart. He grips his head with shaking hands, feeling like he's losing control. His laughter fades into sobs, then painful gasps with body-wrenching convulsions until he's bowed forward on the floor in front of the calendar.

Luffy's shouts of concern fade into the background as Buggy is consumed by his overwhelming emotions.

(main deck)

From the main deck, Luffy can hear Buggy's broken laughter; the sound is like shattering glass, sharp and fragmented. He was still bound by his own arms, tightly wrapped around the mast that held him and his exhausted crew in place. Luffy wondered if only the explosion of the Going Merry would be enough to wake them from their deep sleep. He shouts out to Blue, hoping he would come back or at least respond. But all he could hear in return were Buggy's sorrowful sobs, filled with self-hatred and despair.

"What’s wrong with him?" Luffy wondered, tilting his head. He had seen people cry before, but this was different. Blue’s whole body shook. His eyes looked… empty. Luffy didn’t like it. Not one bit.

Realizing that Blue couldn't hear him, Luffy's attention turns to his own bound arms. "I can't stretch my arms any further to loosen the hold on the mast; it just makes it tighter," he says aloud to himself. But then an idea sparked in him: "Maybe I can stretch just my hands and fingers towards Blue." 

With intense focus, Luffy extended his hands towards the railing on the second floor, ignoring the rest of his body. "Just a little more," he whispered, using all of his concentration to reach towards the lounge area where Blue is. His determination shines in his eyes as his fingertips brush against the floor in the lounge, searching for any sign of Blue.

(lounge) 

'Failure! I am a FAILURE! ..I can't believe this!? I promised Rouge that I would take care of Ace! .. I swore to Ace! ..And now I'm stuck in the future! How could I fail so miserably?'

The Roger Kaizoku were right about me all along: 'I'm weak, greedy, cowardly, and a burden to those around me. Even Red gave up on me when the captain died.'

*Come with me, Buggy. LIES!LIES! LIES! empty bed!*

Nobody wanted anything to do with me or bothered to contact me, except for Rouge. Yet, I couldn't even help her when she needed me most. And I abandoned my own little brother, Ace. I truly am worthless.

*A smile, singing, strong Haki, a warm voice, "Roger told me so much about you and Red. His fierce and charming Red. And his smart and flashy Blue, he loved teaching you about his maps, Blue." Rouge smiled. — explosions fire — "His name is Ace; he is your little brother Blue." Rouge's voice fills with happiness and pride. Haki is so weak and fading. —blood so much blood—"Go grab the bag, Buggy; you have to go without me." a smile on a freckled face. A voice—pinned suck under something—fire, running. voices—warm voice"", love..my...bboys."—too many voices, DeAD, DIeinG, GoNe, pulling close a seal, quiet, crying?*

His gloved hands grip his head, and his face burns. Sobs continue to pour out of his mouth, but he can't stop them. ‘Even if I do make it back to Foosha, Ace probably hates me now. ‘Coward!’ But I have to try, even if he despises me too.’

His mind slowly grows numb as he thinks about how long it has been—17 years—since they were together in Foosha village. 'Ace would be 20, no wait, 21 now, maybe?.' A hollow feeling washes over him. As his hands fall limply to his sides, releasing his head. Tears continue to stream down from vacant and empty eyes that are gazing blankly at the ground.

‘Could it have been the Toki-Toki devil fruit that caused this?.. If Ace truly does hate me, perhaps I can find some solace in Wano if I can get there? Maybe Toki and Oden will be able to help me somehow?’ His thoughts feel disjointed and scattered. ‘Might wear off,? Cocoyashi village? … Belle-Mere...then Foosha village...'

He feels something patting him? He looks up and sees “tentacles? ..has nails... fingers maybe?” He can hear boiling water.

One of the fingers wraps around a limp wrist and gives a gentle tug. Buggy, dead eyes stare at it before shifting his gaze to the boiling water on the stove. With wobbly legs, he stands and removes the pot from the heat.

The tugging on his wrist becomes stronger as another finger latches onto his elbow. He allows himself to be pulled out of the lounge and towards the railing. His eyes are red, and only dry tear streaks down his cheeks remain. Everything sounds muted, like when he used to dive deep into the ocean as a child to block out the --.

As he reaches the railing, his eyes follow the fingers to the mast, where he can see the boy that Shanks gave his hat to. 'His crew is still asleep.? How..?'

What was the boy's name again? The boy's lips are moving, but Buggy can't hear anything. Suddenly, two hands are pulling him towards the railing with more force, causing him to let go of his feet and drift down to the main deck. It's wet and slippery, reminding him of slipping earlier.

He turns his head and sends his hands to grab the nearby barrel and sit on it; he also spots Shanks' straw hat still lying on the ground. The boy's hands are still holding onto his arms, but they seem to have stopped pulling. He looks up at Shanks' young protégé, and they lock eyes once again.

'"Are you from Foosha Village too?"' Buggy can now hear the kid's voice but realizes that his lips aren't moving at all.

Luffy extends his fingers, carefully feeling around the lounge in search of Blue. The sound of broken sobs fills the room until they abruptly stop, leaving only the gentle rocking of the Going Merry to be heard. Fear began to fill Luffy's heart at the sudden silence, causing him to frantically spread out his fingertips in search of his could-be Nakama. 

Finally, he felt something that seemed like it could be Blue, so he wrapped his finger tightly around it. However, instead of finding Blue, he felt his finger being pulled away. Determined to find Blue, Luffy sent another finger to wrap around what he thought was Blue and pulled harder. Soon enough, Blue emerged from the lounge and stood by the railing.

"Hey Blue, are you okay?" Luffy shouts up to him, but there is no response. Frustrated and worried, Luffy grabs both of Blue's arms firmly.

"Listen to me; if you don't say something, I'm going to pull you down here!" He warns, tugging even harder. Finally, Buggy's head slowly raises as he follows Luffy's stretched arms back to him. Luffy sucks in a shocked breath as he notices Blue's eyes are vacant and lifeless. Luffy tightened his hold on both sides of Blue's arms.

Luffy pulls his hands back to the mast while still holding onto Blue. Blue looks down at the deck and then turns his head towards the barrel Luffy and his crew used earlier. Blue detaches his hands to grab it, moving the barrel, only to sit on it in front of Luffy and the mast.

Luffy notes that Blue's feet are gone now. " Blue! Hey! Blue! Look at me!" Luffy yells with purpose, trying to get Blue's attention. Blue raises his hollow gaze and his eyes connection with Luffys.

‘Are you from Foosha Village too?’ Luffy wonders, searching for a way to make contact with the unresponsive man in front of him.

Buggy responds in a monotone voice to Luffy's unspoken question. "Yeah, I'm from Foosha, my brother... still there. He hates me. I abandoned him."

Luffy's face lights up with excitement, but his brow was still furrowed as he asked. "Wait, you have a brother there too?"

Trying to keep Buggy from shutting down again, Luffy continues, "But why would he hate you? Time travel is so cool!"

Buggy's tone became softer as he replied, "Because I left him... he’s just 3 years old... no 4 now.”

Luffy tried to offer some encouragement: "Just tell him you time traveled, and he'll forgive you, shi shi shi! Maybe I even know him! What's his name! What does he look like?"

Buggy’s voice trembled as he spoke, hesitantly painting the image in his mind."Black hair… always a mess. Freckles. Big, round eyes—"

Luffy’s breath caught in his throat."No way."His heart pounded. His mind reeled. It couldn’t be. It had to be a coincidence. But still—

"Ace," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the sound of the waves.

 Buggy continued to speak, becoming more present.

"It's been 17 years. What if something happened to him while I've been gone? What if he does not even remember me? I have to get back to Cocoyashi Village first! Belle-mere well know what happened. The bar must have gone to him...I have to find out." As this realization hit him, Buggy's anxiety grew even more intense.

Luffy immediately objects, shouting, "No, we can't go back to Cocoyashi village! We need to head towards the Grand Line so that I can become the Pirate King!"

As Blue spoke about his little brother back in Foosha, Luffy's eyes widened with interest. The image of a black-haired boy with freckles and the nickname "Little Spark" danced in his mind, triggering a faint sense of familiarity. Was this person someone he had met before? Luffy searched through his memories but could only recall Ace, his own older brother.

But when they first met, Ace didn't have any family besides Dandan and the bandits. "Ace," Luffy whispered his brother's name as a vivid memory resurfaced a few months after Luffy, Ace, and Sabo had exchanged cups of sake and pledged their brotherhood.

*Luffy jolted awake in their tree house that was their ship, his heart pounding as he heard someone apologize to Ace for leaving him. He raced out of the tree house and saw Ace and Sabo standing in front of a man with long blue hair who was kneeling on the ground. 

Ace's expression was one of shock while Sabo held his pipe defensively, demanding to know who the stranger was and how he found them.

Tears started streaming down Ace's face as he called out a name, but Luffy was overcome with rage seeing his big brother crying, and without hesitation, he lunged at the man with a fierce battle cry.*

Luffy turned his attention to Blue, intending to inform him about Ace. However, he was interrupted when Blue announced his intention to go to Cocoyashi Village. Luffy immediately objected, shouting, "No, we can't go back to Cocoyashi village! We need to head towards the Grand Line so that I can become the Pirate King!"

Buggy's face twisted in rage as he responded. "What did you just say to me, you scabby ratbag? I am taking this ship to Cocoyashi village and handing all of you over to Belle-mere. Then I'm heading straight to Foosha Village to find my little brother!"

He shot up from his seat on the barrel and snatched up the discarded blanks from the deck. With a quick flick of his wrist, he wrapped them around the straw-hat crew, tucking them tightly to the mast of the ship. 

"I ain’t staying put!" Luffy snapped, thrashing against the bindings. "Turn this ship around!"

Buggy snarled, his temper flaring. "You will stay put, you little shit!"

With a swift flick, he pulled the blankets tighter, locking the Straw Hats against the mast. "You’re not going to the Grand Line, and that’s final!"

After regaining control of himself, he floated up to the second floor and reattached his feet to his body.

"Now! Just shut up and go to sleep!" He slammed the lounge door behind him, leaving Luffy pouting about needing to journey through the Grand Line. Buggy checked the course, confirming the ship was still heading to Cocoyashi village before exhaustion took over, and they both fell asleep.

Chapter Text

After a few hours of rest, Buggy wakes feeling more settled, the weight of the previous day still lingering but less suffocating. As he steps out onto the ship's upper deck, his eyes are immediately drawn to the vast ocean before him, majestic waves crashing against the hull of the ship. He tilts his head back to admire the sky, which is painted golden by the rising sun and dotted with fluffy clouds.Taking in a deep breath of crisp, cool air, Buggy feels rejuvenated by its refreshing scent—a blend of salty sea spray and a clean morning breeze. Closing his eyes, he allows himself to fully absorb this invigorating combination into his senses.

The steady rhythm of the crashing waves and creaking wooden deck beneath his feet lulls Buggy into a peaceful state. The sound of wind whipping through the sails creates a low, constant hum that blends harmoniously with the ocean's melody. Snoring can be heard from the still-sleeping teenagers on board. Buggy looks down at them tied to the mast, still covered in blankets he threw over them after snapping at Shanks' protege last night.

'At this rate, it will take us at least two days to reach Cocoyashi. And what about food? Bell-mere will be furious if I bring her starved teenagers.' Buggy lets out a sigh as he realizes he will have to spoon-feed the brats unless he can get them under control. "They are still recovering from their injuries before my arrival, so I could easily beat them and restrain them again if necessary," Buggy mumbles to himself as he heads back to the lounge to prepare a warm soup.

The Straw Hat Pirates slowly awaken to the refreshing scent of sea spray on the morning breeze, mixed with the tantalizing aroma of cooking food. Zoro stretches but realizes he is still tied up in Luffy's arm. "Dammit! We're still tied up. I can't believe I fell asleep," he grumbles. 

Sanji also wakes up, trying to loosen his stiff neck. "It looks like the bastard is helping himself to our food," he says through clenched teeth.

Suddenly, Usopp jolts awake with a yell, startling Nami from her slumber. "It's empty!" he cries out in fear. "Will you keep it down? I was trying to sleep, you jerk!" Nami yells as she tries to hit Usopp, only to realize she too is tied up. 

"How did this happen?" she wonders aloud. Zoro turns his head towards them and deadpans, "It's about time you two woke up. We could have used your help hours ago." Nami snarks back at him, demanding to be caught up on what happened while they were out.

Sanji and Zoro explain how they got bound to the mast by Luffy's rubber arms and how there was a storm after Nami and Usopp passed out. Zoro also mentions that the guy who attacked them looked familiar for some reason. They all eventually fell unconscious from exhaustion.

"Wait! You're telling me this guy took out all three of you at once and then sailed the ship through a storm by himself?" Nami exclaims in disbelief.

"Yep," both Sanji and Zoro nod in unison. "Shit!" she swears.

Luffy finally wakes up from his slumber, and Nami immediately demands for him to release their bindings so they can retrieve their stolen ship, the Going Merry.

"Huh?" Luffy mumbles groggily before letting out a long yawn. He then sniffs the air and starts drooling at the delicious smell of soup. "Morning, guys! Something smells really good," he says, his stomach growling loudly in agreement.

"Now is not the time for food, you idiot. Undo your arms so we can get our ship back," Nami scolds Luffy.

"Calm down; there's nothing to worry about. Blue is a good guy. In fact, I'm going to ask him to join our crew!" declares Luffy.

"WHAT?!" shouts the rest of the crew in shock, jerking forward and dislodging the blankets wrapped around them.

As the crew screams at Luffy for his impulsive decision to invite just anyone to join their crew, a pair of hands-wearing gloves appears, carrying a tray filled with soup, bowls, and spoons. They float out of the lounge and set the tray on a nearby barrel. Buggy arrives shortly after.

"See, Blue made us food. I told you he was a good guy!" Luffy grins while Buggy snaps, "My name is not Blue! And don't just make decisions about me, you idiot." Buggy shouts at Luffy before turning to the rest of the crew. "And before you all start arguing, yes, this food is for everyone. No, I'm not doing it out of the kindness of my heart. I need you all in good shape for our return to Cocoyashi Village, or Bell-mere will come after me."

Buggy's ears turned slightly red as he crossed his arms in front of his chest. "But there are two options here," he quickly added, narrowing his eyes as he saw Nami about to speak up. "Either I feed each of you like children or I release the rubber idiot's arms so you can eat like adults, but then I'll tie him back up afterward. Your choice." Buggy finished with a stern look on his face.

Nami stared at the teen. The blue hair, the way he carried himself, the way he yelled back at Luffy without hesitation.

Then, as the sun hit his face at the right angle, the teen standing in front of them is Buggy the Clown. He was the same man who had captured them and taken them to Orange Town, accusing them of stealing his map. Without his signature clown makeup, he looked younger.

Nami couldn't control hold her anger back anymore and shouted, "Hold on a minute, you two-bit clown! How could you have known Bell-mere? And why are you attempting to take us back to Cocoyashi village?" Her rage was apparent.

Buggy, equally enraged, yelled back, "What did you say about my nose? And who are you calling a clown, you little--" He stepped forward aggressively, getting up close to Nami's face.

Luffy, always one for humor, added fuel to the fire by laughing gleefully and saying, "No, Blue, Nami asked how you knew Belle-mere, not anything about your nose. You're funny, shi-shi-shi-shi.”

Buggy blushed in embarrassment, turning to shout at Luffy, "Don't call me Blue!" But then his blush faded, and his eyes filled with confusion as Nami's question hit him. "Wait...Known? What do you mean? How could I have Known Bell-mere?" His wide eyes showed his growing worries as he backed away from Nami.

"Don't pretend like you don't know. What kind of game are you playing here? You may look younger without the clown make-up. and wearing a long wig now." Nami shouts with rage, her voice filled with venom. "But I can still see through your disguise, Buggy the clown. And the map is ours; we stole it from Shell town." She snarled, emphasizing his epithet with disgust and hatred. The boys were stunned into silence by the intensity of her emotions.

Buggy stumbled back even further, feeling the full force of her hatred directed towards him. He took a deep breath and held it for a few moments before slowly releasing it. Raising two fingers, he spoke with a slight shake in his voice, "For your two questions: I knew Belle-mere because she was the closest thing I had to a friend; hell, she got me to call her big sister." I bought tangerines from her to make whisky for my bar, and we would exchange advice on how to care for the kids in our care. Secondly, I'm taking you all to Cocoyashi to see her because she's the only marine I know who won't attack you on sight for being pirates." As he answered each question, he lowered one finger until they were both down. "Or at least, she used to be a retired marine that I knew 17 years ago." Buggy finished with a weak chuckle.

Nami and the rest of the crew's eyes widened at the mention of 17 years ago, except for Luffy, who seemed nonchalant. Still angry, Nami yells, "What do you mean 17 years ago? What are you--"

Luffy, with stars in his eyes “Blue traveled through time!” he cheered.Then, his smile faltered.

Buggy’s expression wasn’t one of excitement. It wasn’t even shock. It was… hollow. Like a man staring into the past and drowning in it.
Luffy tilted his head, studying him. “Hey, Blue… you okay?”

Nami's anger was interrupted by Luffy's unexpected statement about time travel.

Buggy let out a sigh and sat down on the deck in front of them, next to the straw hat still sitting innocently on the ground. Putting his head in his hands, he took another deep breath, held it for three seconds, and then let it out ignoring Luffy. 

He then looked up at Nami with fatigue in his eyes and asked, "If you are willing to parley, you answer my three questions. First, I am assuming that Belle-Mère has passed. I would like the details about what happened to her and her two little girls. Second, I wanted to know why you referred to me as "Buggy the Clown," like it was a title. Third, I want to know about the map that I apparently have claimed as mine. If you agree, I will untie you all."

Sanji glares at Buggy, angry at how he had upset Nami. "What if she doesn't want to answer your questions? You've already caused enough trouble for her! What are you going to do? You've already captured us and taken control of our ship," Sanji exclaimed. 

Nami scolded Sanji for his outburst, but Buggy's gaze shifted to him. He stated, "Then you all will remain bound to the mast for the five-day journey back to Foosha, where I will hand you all over to Monkey D. Grap for judgment. I will warn you that you might not survive Grap's version of punishment."

The straw-hat crew shuddered, remembering their encounter with the Marine War hero. "What! You know my grandpa Blue!" Luffy shouts in shock. Buggy whips his head around to Luffy with dismay on his face. "What do you mean, Grap is your grandpa?"

Luffy opened his mouth to tell Buggy about his connection to Grap.

But Buggy quickly put a shaking hand up. "No! Nope! One thing at a time, I will deal with that whirlpool in a few moments."

Buggy inhaled deeply, steadying himself. His hands still trembled at his sides, his mind reeling from the truths he had just learned.
"So do we have parlay?" he finally said, his voice raw. "I have my three questions. And I want real answers. No lies. No half-truths. Everything."
His gaze flickered to Nami. "If you agree, I'll untie you."

After studying Buggy's expression for a moment, Nami nods, "Yes, we have parlay." She then explains how they had broken into a marine base in Shell Town, stolen the map, and escaped afterward only to be drugged and captured, then taken to Orange Town. Buggy claimed that the map to the Grand Line was his and that he had taken control of the town, forcing the citizens to watch his circus show while chained up. She told him how Luffy had swallowed the round gold canister the map was in.

Then how she threw Luffy's hat in the air for Luffy to stretch his arms as a distraction so she could escape, only to freeze once outside when she saw the town in ruins. She told them how he put her in a human-sized bird cage and Zorro on a spinning dart board, and how they got loose thanks to the sloppiness of his crew. About how Nami and Zoro beat up his crew of freaks, and while that was happening, he placed Luffy on a rack and stretched him out, and how he had the mayor of the town helping, but the mayor refused to go further, so Buggy stopped; instead, he put Luffy in a glass water tank to try and drown him. She talked about how she then freed Luffy before he drowned by throwing her staff and shattering the tank, how Luffy threw up the map, and the fight that was issued with Zoro and Luffy defeating Buggy and freeing the citizens of Orange Town.

Nami speaks with fury, her head bowed. Usopp and Sanji try to support her, unaware of their past encounter with Buggy. Zoro and Luffy keep a close eye on Buggy, one assessing him while the other stares at him with resolve. They watched as his eyes showed confusion and his hand clenched at his thighs as he took in the new information. 

Nami then tells him about Arlong and his fish-men pirates and how they came to Cocoyashi village and killed Belle-mere by shooting her in front of her 10- and 12-year-old daughters when she could not afford to pay to save all three of them. How Arlong took Belle-mere's youngest daughter captive, forcing her to make maps until her hands bled. As Nami's voice rises to a shout, Sanji glares at the deck with anger, wanting to fight Arlong and his crew once again. Usopp moves closer to Nami, offering support by placing his shoulder against hers. Zoro's eyes widen as he watches Buggy's reaction to the information he requested.

Luffy stretches out his fingers, some wrapping around Nami's ankle while others wrap around Buggy's elbow. Buggy unclenches a trembling hand and reaches out to stop Nami from continuing, but he can see that she needs to finish telling the story; it's like a wound that has been infected for too long and needs to be drained to heal. 

So Buggy lets his fingers dig into his thighs as he bites his lip and cheek raw; some blood soon runs out over his lips and down his chin. Nami goes on to tell about how Belle-mere's youngest daughter worked and stole from pirates, risking her life and getting injured multiple times to gather 100,000,000 Berry to buy back Cocoyashi Village and everyone in it from Arlong and his crew, even though the villagers hated her. 

Tears gather in the corners of Nami's eyes, but she refuses to let them fall as she now screams at Buggy, screaming about how Arlong lied, betraying her by breaking their deal and giving the money to the Marines as hush money. She also tells him how it was Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp who defeated Arlong and his crew and freed Cocoyashi Village, freeing Nami and her sister Nojiko. With tears welling up in her eyes, Nami raises her head to glare at Buggy and asks him where he was when Belle-mere needed a friend, where he was when the person he said was a big sister to him needed him.

But her words get lodged in her throat like a rock, unable to break free as she takes in Buggy's anguished expression, his yes filled with guilt and self-loathing raging in his eyes. As tears roll down his face in rivers and blood drips from his mouth, he has bitten through his cheeks and lips in a vain attempt to control his emotions.

Buggy closes his eyes, sensing her hesitation. He forces a big smile that spreads wide across his face as he stands and walks towards the mast. With gentle hands, he unties the bonds that are Luffy's arms and then faces Nami.

Buggy swallowed hard. His breathing grew unsteady, his nails digging into his palms so hard they ached.'I should have been there.’ The words felt heavy in his chest, suffocating him.‘She needed me.They both did. And I… I wasn’t there.’

"I’m sorry." His voice cracked, barely above a whisper.

A tear slipped down his cheek, mixing with the blood trickling from his bitten lip. "I should have been there for you both."

"I failed Belle-mere. I failed my oath. And you—" his voice faltered, "you suffered because of it.”

The Mugiwara crew sits in stunned silence around the mast, their eyes wide with shock at this unexpected display of emotion. Nami's demand for answers cuts through the heavy atmosphere, her voice sharp and urgent. "What oath? What do you mean?" Buggy remains standing before her as he bows his head in shame as he begins to speak. "Let me tell you how I met Belle-Mère." His vulnerability is a rare sight, tugging at the hearts of the crew, who watch on with rapt attention. Buggy takes a deep breath, steeling himself to reveal his past.

Chapter Text

Seventeen years ago, on the Conomi Islands…

The merchant ship looms above the dock, its sails billowing in the wind. A large windmill emblem adorns its figurehead, and the words "Foosha Village" are painted proudly on its side. The crew, dressed in various colors and styles, work together The crew lowers the plank and begins unloading the cargo onto the pier. It's a beautiful, sunny day with fluffy white clouds drifting through a gentle breeze, resembling ships in the sky.

On the deck stands a young teen with a bright round red nose, patiently waiting to disembark. His head is adorned with a green and yellow striped bandana tied in a bow under his cropped blue hair, with a few stray strands framing his face from the light breeze. He wears a closed vest in green and yellow, paired with brown pirate pants and a purple scarf around his waist. As he sways with the gentle waves, he hums a tune while gazing down at the sleeping toddler resting in a sling strapped across his chest. A soft smile crosses his face as he looks down at the child.

Suddenly, the captain approaches him, speaking in a loud, jovial voice. "So even you can smile, Buggy yoyo yoyo!" he exclaims with a chuckle, addressing the young man as Buggy. The smile fades from Buggy's face turning into a scowl as he retorts, "If you wake Spark from his nap, Captain Pepper, I will have my revenge on our way back to Foosha." His eyes narrow towards the captain. "Oh yes? Then it's mutiny then yoyoyo!" Captain Pepper replies playfully. "And your crew will help; Spark has them all wrapped around his little finger," Buggy adds as he extends his pinky toward the older man.

"I wouldn't be surprised if that little one could sleep through cannon fire, yoyo yoyo!" Captain Pepper laughs heartily. "Well, I'll leave you be for now. Just wanted to remind you that we'll be leaving port tomorrow afternoon,yoyoyo!" he says before turning to order his men and shouting over his shoulder, "Hope you find an honest person to make a deal for your fruits. May the winds guide your sails!" Buggy watches him walk away and calls out with a wave, "Thanks, old man. And may your seas be calm wherever you go." With that,

He steps off the plank and onto the pier, walking confidently towards the boardwalk that leads to Gosa village. Little does he know, two men have spotted him.

As Buggy strolls into town, he reaches a hand under his bandana and pulls out a map. He places a finger to his lips, looking down at the still-sleeping toddler next to him. "Shh, don't tell anyone, little spark," he whispers. "This is one of my Captain's maps." He unrolls the map and studies it. "Now let's see if it needs updating so I can make my own version. Ah, it looks like we're in Gosa Village and the Orchards are in Cocoyashi, so we need to head west." Buggy finishes before tucking the map back into his bandana.

Buggy weaved through the bustling streets of Gosa Village, the air buzzing with chatter and the scent of fresh produce. Children darted between market stalls, their laughter echoing through the alleys. As he made his way to the west side of town, he crossed expansive rice paddies that stretched out on either side of him. In the distance, he could see the treeline marking the border of Cocoyashi Village.

Buggy gazed down at Spark, still peacefully sleeping in his sling. "You know," Buggy commented, "I think Captain Pepper may be right. You could probably sleep through the sound of a cannon." He noticed Spark's face start to scrunch up as he began to stir. Chuckling, Buggy added, "But I bet even the most peaceful walk through quiet rice paddies would wake you up." Suddenly, he heard a child's laughter up ahead on the road. Buggy's attention shifted from Spark to spot a little girl with blue hair, around two years old, kneeling on the edge of the road. She wore a headband and a now muddy white and blue dress. Looking around, Buggy couldn't see any adults nearby. "Great," he muttered to himself, "now I'm attracting lost children." Walking closer to the girl, who was happily playing in the prepared rice paddies, Buggy asked, "Hey there Kiddo, are you lost?”

The little girl gazes up at Buggy and declares with a proud grin, "My name is Nojiko, not kiddo. And I'm not lost - Belle-mere is right over there." She stands tall with one hand on her hip and the other extended, confidently pointing to a scarecrow wearing an old marine t-shirt. Buggy stifles a laugh and raises an eyebrow, asking, "So you're hanging out with a scarecrow?" Nojiko pouts and retorts, "No, Belle-mere is not a scarecrow. She's-" Her head turns as she speaks, only to realize that she is indeed pointing at a scarecrow. "Aaah, that's not Belle-mere!" she exclaims in shock. Frantically looking around for her guardian, Najiko turns back to Buggy with a panicked expression and admits, "I'm lost!" With a smirk, Buggy responds, "Yes, you are. Do you know where you're supposed to be?" he asks with a chuckle.

"I'm supposed to be with Belle-mere," Nojiko replies as if it were obvious. Buggy then prompts her with another question, "And where is Belle-mere supposed to be?" After some deep thought and crossing her arms, Nojiko finally answers, "She's picking tanga- riri-gegi from the orchard."

Buggy lets out a sigh at her mispronunciation of tangerines before correcting her, "So Belle-mere is at the tangerine orchards in Cocoyashi village.“ yep!” Najiko replies with a grin.

Buggy feels a small movement against his chest and looks down to see Spark scowling. "Bugs put me down pleas!" Buggy sets the three-year-old on the ground and says, "Sure thing. And this is Nojiko, our new buddy who will be with us until we reach Cocoyashi." 

Nojiko gazes brightly at Spark, smiles, and grabs his hand. "My name isn't buddy, it's Nojiko! Hey, let's race to Cocoyashi!" She takes off running, pulling Spark along without waiting for a response.

As they run off, Buggy yells after them in frustration“ Wait, you brat, don't kidnap my little brother. And Spark don't let yourself just be taken!” while chasing them into Cocoyashi.

One moment, Buggy was chasing after Spark—the next, a blinding pain exploded in his ribs as he was sent flying into a pile of crates.

"What the hell—?!" he wheezed, clutching his side.

Above him stood a fierce-looking woman, her fuchsia hair wild in the wind and her gray eyes locked onto him like a predator."Leave those kids alone, you asshole!" she snapped.

The children stop running as Najiko exclaims in joy, "It's Belle-mere!"

Spark charges towards Belle-mere, furiously yelling "Leave big brother alone, you old hag!"

He ends up kicking her in the shin as she says, "Nojiko, are you okay? I've been looking everywhere for you. ouch!" Belle-mere winces and hops on one foot in agony as Spark's voice pierces through the air, berating her. 

Buggy jump to his feet, brushing off any dirt that may have accumulated on him, and shouting back at her. "Yeah, you old hag! It was your daughter who stole my brother when we were trying to help her find you!

Belle-mere stood, still clutching her shin in pain, and yelled at Buggy, "Damn right she's my daughter! What else was I supposed to do when some weirdo was chasing her into our village?" 

Buggy, enraged, got in her face and screamed back, "What are you saying about my nose, you damn old hag!" 

Belle-mere's temper snapped as she retorted, "Who are you calling an old hag, you snotty-nosed brat!"

The two of them grabbed each other by the collar and wrestled onto the ground, rolling in the dirt as they exchanged blows and curses. Meanwhile, Nojiko and Spark cheered on their respective parent and sibling.

Just then, a dark-haired man with a mustache walked up to the chaotic scene with a giggling baby in his arms. He wore a stern expression on his face and donned a brown police-like uniform with an empty baby bottle in his front pocket, shorts, and sandals. On his hat, there was an orange pinwheel attached.

The man's voice is stern as he yells, "Belle-mere, what are you doing with a visitor in our village? Is this the example you want to set for your daughters? And young lady, is this how a proper woman should act?" Belle-mere and Buggy quickly break away from each other and stand up from the dusty ground.

They both have bruises forming on their faces - a bruise on Belle-mere's cheek and a busted lip for Buggy.

Belle-mere shouts back at the older man, "Genzo, I am setting an excellent example. If a stranger attacks you, you must fight back."

Buggy shouts back at the officer, "Who are you calling a young lady? I am a strong man! Thank you!"

In the background unknown to the adults, Nojiko and Spark share a giggle and Nojiko grabs Spark's hand to lead him away again.

Before another argument can erupt, the formerly laughing baby begins crying at the loud voices. Genzo tries to calm the baby with the pinwheel on his head, but it only makes matters worse. Belle-mere reaches out her arm and demands, "Give me Nami, your face is frightening her again."

Genzo hands Nami over to Belle-mere's arms, where she cries softly.

Belle-mere rocks her and reassures her, "It's okay, Nami, Belle-mere is here and everything will be alright."

Nami quiets down a bit but lets out a disgruntled noise.

Buggy interjects, "Hey hag, try patting her back gently while holding her head over your shoulder, but you might want to-" Before he can finish his sentence, Belle-mere cuts him off by follows his instructions perfectly. She starts to question him further but stops when Nami burps and spits up on her back. Surprisingly, the baby seems content and starts making happy noises.

Belle-mere turns to Buggy with a questioning expression." How would a brat like you know anything about taking care of babies?" She hands the content Nami back to Genzo.

Buggy smirks and crosses his arms confidently." I've raised my little brother since he was born, so I know everything about babies. You'd think an old lady with two daughters would know something by now." He finishes with a mocking grin and hands on his hips.

 Belle-mere's eyes narrow angrily as she goes to confront him, but Genzo stops her by returns Nami to her arms.

He then turns to Buggy " So you're Buggy. Garp sent word that you were interested in making a deal for some fruit and wanted me to bring you somewhere safe. He also mentioned that if you don't return in three days, he'll hunt you down and force you into the Marines early."

Buggy curses under his breath." That meddling old man. No way am I leaving when my bar is about to open, and no way am I becoming a marine and leaving my little spark behind. I'm a pirate, damn it!"

Belle-mere can't believe it." You actually know Garp, and he wants you to join the Marines? They must be desperate if they're considering a clown like you." This only angers Buggy further and they begin shouting at each other again.

Genzo steps between them once more." Belle-mere, this is why I brought you here – to show this young man your orchard."

Belle-mere and Buggy to look at each other and exclaim," You were a marine?! You're the customer!”

Belle-mere and Buggy both let out a defeated sigh in unison.

Belle-mere recovers quicker and hands Nami back to Genzo before placing her hands on her hips and exhaling deeply. "Fine, I'll take you to my tangerine orchard," she says with a hint of annoyance. "I was going to change my shirt anyway." She then turns to Genzo and points at him, saying, "You're coming too unless you're okay with leaving me alone with two little girls and a young man claiming to be a pirate."

 Genzo's jaw drops as he mutters complaints while rocking Nami.

Meanwhile, Buggy crosses his arms and reluctantly agrees, "Fine, I'll go to your orchard. I've heard tangerines make great whiskey and liqueur anyway." But when he turns his head to tell Spark that they're heading to the orchard, he realizes he and Nojiko are missing. Panic sets in as he frantically searches for them, turning over tables and broken crates while yelling about evil tiny kidnappers.

Belle-mere reaches out to calm him down, "Calm down, they probably just went to the orchard."

Buggy's head whips around to face her in disbelief. "Really? Because I found your little 'Spark-napper' digging in the rice fields halfway to Gosa Village. How would you know?"

Belle-mere clears her throat a blushes staining her cheeks as she rubs the back of her head nervously. "Well, I did tell her we were bringing newcomers to see the orchard in town today, and since you're new here, she must have gone there looking for you." She concludes sheepishly.

~Meanwhile~

At the Belle-mere tangerine orchard, Nojiko took Spark on a tour of the best hiding places among the trees. The scent of ripe tangerines and earth filled the air as they walked through rows and rows of lush green trees. Spark's eyes widened in wonder as he gazed up at the impressive height of the taller trees, their branches reaching toward the sky like outstretched hands. His curiosity was immediately piqued and he suggested they try climbing and jumping between them. To his surprise, Nojiko agreed to join him on this adventure. They scrambled up the gnarled trunks, their feet finding footholds among the rough bark as they made their way higher and higher into the canopy. From this vantage point, they could see for miles, the rolling hills and fields stretching out before them. 

With a whoop of excitement, Spark leaped from one tree to another, while Najiko followed close behind with a smile on her face.

Buggy, Belle-Mere, and Genzo arrive at the vast, sprawling orchard that belonged to Belle-Mere. Baby Nami was nestled comfortably in her arms, cooing softly as they made their way towards the main house. As they approached the front door, Belle-Mere suddenly remembered she needed to change her shirt and asked her companions to wait for a moment. With quick movements, she tugs at her old shirt and pulls it over her head while simultaneously unlocking the front door. Genzo shook his head disapprovingly and scolded her for not waiting until she was safely inside before changing clothes. Buggy quickly scanned the massive orchard for any sign of Spark, but he knew it would be easier with Belle-Mere's help.

After a few moments, Belle-Mere emerged from the house with a cigarette dangling from her lips and wearing a vibrant blue checker plaid shirt with the word "mace" emblazoned in bold red on the front. She joined Genzo and Buggy and proudly showed them around the tangerine orchard, pointing out all the different types and flavors of tangerines they grew within its boundaries.

As they walked, Buggy could feel his anxiety building as he still hadn't found his brother yet.

All of a sudden, Buggy's ears perked up at the sound of giggling coming from beyond the orchard. "I hear kids over there," he said, starting to move towards the source of the laughter. Belle-Mere recognized the voices handing Nami to Genzo and guided them towards a cluster of grand live oak trees. They hurried forward, only to see Nojiko and Spark playing in the branches, their joyful sounds filling the air.

Buggy breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that Spark was skilled enough to climb on a ship without falling.

However, Belle-Mere calmly added, "Nojiko still has a habit of tripping when she runs too fast," as they make their way to the tree. Just as they called out to get their attention, "Nojiko, stop moving!" she didn't hear them and ended up tumbling out of the tree.

In an instant, Spark noticed her fall and tried to catch her, but he lost his balance and fell as well. In a frenzy, Belle-Mere bolted towards the tree with Buggy close behind, both knowing they wouldn't make it in time.

Without hesitation Buggy shouts,” Bara-Bara Festival Arrow!” Time slowed as Buggy’s instincts kicked in. Without thinking, he snapped apart at the waist, his upper body propelling forward like a bullet past Belle-Mere. The wind whipped past him as his hands shot out—one catching Nojiko, the other grabbing Spark.

They landed safely in his arms, giggling from the unexpected thrill, but Buggy’s heart pounded in his chest.

‘Damn brats—giving me a heart attack!’ he thought, but the relief in his eyes said otherwise.

The two toddlers laughing from the fun, Belle-Mere scolded Nojiko for not paying attention then praised Buggy for his quick thinking and swift actions, and thanking Spark for both trying to save Nojiko but also scolding him as well.

Chapter Text

Genzo caught up with them, Nami in his arms, his eyes wide with amazement as he took in Buggy's feat. "That was incredible! How did you do that?" he exclaimed, awe and admiration evident in his voice.

Buggy, still feeling anxious about Spark's safety, gave a nervous smile before explaining, "I ate the Bara-Bara devil fruit when I was younger. Now I'm a Bara-Bara man; I can't be cut, but I can't swim either." There was a hint of bitterness in his voice as he thought about his inability to swim.

Both Genzo and Belle-Mère listened attentively, taking in this new information.

Belle-mere spoke up: "I've heard and seen many people with these abilities in the Marines." She paused to pick up Nojiko before adding teasingly, "But they're quite rare in the East Blue, so it's no surprise you haven't encountered any, Genzo."

Genzo replied, "We're lucky to have you here with us, Buggy."

The young man blushed at the sincere words of gratitude; he was not used to receiving such honest praise from anyone but Red and his captain. In an attempt to deflect the attention from himself, he quickly scooped up Spark and held him protectively in front of his face while mumbling something about saving Spark and securing their deal for tangerines.

Belle-mere and Genzo shared a laugh as they followed Buggy back to her home.

A chill ran down Buggy’s spine as they approached Belle-Mère’s house. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was watching them—lurking just beyond the trees.

Belle-Mère seemed at ease, but her hand rested a little too naturally on the rifle slung over her shoulder. “Genzo,” she called as they stepped onto the porch. “Did you hear anything weird in town today?”

Genzo frowned. “Now that you mention it… a couple of people in town were taking about some rat problems.”

Belle-Mère’s eyes darkened.

The group arrived at Belle-Mere's house, the sun setting behind them and casting a warm glow over the wooden structure. As they entered, Belle-Mere suggested putting the kids down for a nap before discussing the deal over tea. The front door swung open, revealing a cozy entryway with a dining room to the side.

A string of colorful beads hung from the doorway, swaying gently in the breeze. Belle-Mere led them through the entryway and into one of the bedrooms. A queen-sized bed sat against one wall, with a small crib at its foot. She gently placed Nojika on the bed and settled Nami into her crib, tucking a blanket around her tiny body.

Genzo then said, "You get the little ones settled. I will make the tea. I know where it is," moving to the kitchen.

Buggy had put Spark, who had fallen asleep, on the way back into his purple sling on Buggy’s chest. As he looked around the house, Buggy noticed that it was small but well-loved. The wood floors creaked softly underfoot, and sunlight streamed in through two windows at the front of the house.

The kitchen was separated from the dining area by a counter, with a stove vent leading up to a chimney outside. The front porch added to the charm of the home, but Buggy could see that it had seen better days.

Buggy sat at the table with Belle-Mere, who had a mischievous grin on her face. She bombarded him with questions: "How old are you, Buggy? Setting up a bar and taking care of a toddler—how do you do it all? What kind of deal do you think would be best for my precious tangerines? You mentioned you've been taking care of Spark since he was born; how did that happen? And how do you know Marine Hero Grap? What's your favorite type of food? Oh, and by the way, you should call me Big Sis!" 

Buggy was caught off guard by the barrage but managed to answer: "Um, I'm 16. Spark is 3 years old. For the Tangerines, let's start with a 5-year contract and figure out prices from there. Our mom passed away after I helped deliver Spark, and I've known Grap since I was 5. He is like tar; once it's on your finger, it doesn't come off. And I like hotdogs." Then Buggy grumbled about being tricked, realizing that Belle-Mere had thrown him off on purpose.

Trying to keep his voice down for the sake of the babies in the other room, he replied, "That's a dirty trick! How would you like it if I asked why you have no husband but two babies and why you're a Marine but also grow trees? And how old are you anyway? I'm not going to call you Big Sis; you must be like 30 or something." Instead of getting angry, Belle-Mere calmly answered Buggy's questions as they waited for their tea and for Genzo to join them. "I never found a man I could stand being around," she explained. "During the war in Oykot, I was injured and thought about just giving up and dying right then and there. But just as I was about to let go, Nojiko appeared, carrying a new born Nami and crying. At that moment, I decided I would live for them; they are my treasures." Buggy's breath caught in his throat as he hugged Spark a little tighter.

Belle-Mere continued, "So I went back home, retired, and used my savings to buy this house and orchard. And just for the record, I'm only 20—not 30, like you claimed earlier. And before you leave here, you will be my little brother—just wait and see!" She leaned forward on the table with her cigarette resting between two fingers and a wide grin on her face.

Genzo arrived with the tea and cups and scolded Belle-Mere, saying, "Leave the poor boy alone! You're supposed to be making a deal, not taking in more children." He let out a sigh as he sat down at the table and began pouring the tea.

After Genzo had carefully distributed the steaming hot cups, Buggy and Belle-Mere launched into a lively bartering session over the price per pound or barrel of Tangiers needed to make the whisky, along with the preferred types. The negotiations went back and forth until finally settling on a 5-year contract at a fair price for both parties.

As the deal was sealed, Buggy stood up with Sparks and turned to Genzo with a polite request: "Could you lead me to an inn for the night? I need to find Spark a comfortable place to rest." Before Genzo could reply, Belle-Mere interjected with a warm smile, "No need for that, dear brother. I have an extra room here. It would be my pleasure to host you for the night." Buggy started to object, but Belle-Mere continued persuasively, "Besides, think about Spark. Do you really want to venture out in this cold weather? Look how snugly he is nestled next to his big brother. What kind of sister would I be if I let you leave?"

Buggy's initial outrage softened as he looked down at little Spark and considered the chilly January weather. He scowled at Belle-Mere before reluctantly agreeing, "Fine, I'll stay the night. But don't get any ideas; you are not my big sis." 

With a triumphant smile, Belle-Mere led Buggy and Spark to the guest room while casting a sly glance at Genzo. "Goodnight, Genzo. Make sure you walk home safely now. All our precious kiddies are tucked in here," she teased before reminding him about the potential rat sightings earlier in the day.

Genzo rolled his eyes but thanked her for the heads-up as he headed out the door. "I'll keep an eye out. Maybe it's time for some traps," he called over his shoulder before disappearing into the night. Meanwhile, Belle-Mere helped Buggy and Spark get settled in for a cozy night's sleep.

The night air was thick with the scent of sweet tangerines, warmed by the gentle breeze coming off the surrounding ocean. The sounds of the waves and rustling leaves filled the quiet night, creating a peaceful atmosphere for the inhabitants of the island. The sky was lit up with a canopy of stars, the moon casting a soft glow on the tangerine trees and the quaint house nestled among them. As the cold January night settled in, the warmth of the orchard provided a comforting haven for the weary traveler seeking shelter.

A man with a barrel tattoo on his shoulder, featuring a skull and crossbones design, slinked through the shadows of an orchard. The gnarled branches of fruit trees cast eerie silhouettes across the ground as he approached a small house with darkened windows and drawn curtains. He skillfully picked the lock and slipped inside, where he found Belle-Mère sitting in a chair facing the door.

A lit cigarette rested on her lips, and her eyes glowed with anger as she pulled it from her mouth to blow out a stream of smoke. Her killing intent was palpable as she spoke, "So a rat has managed to sneak into my home." She placed the cigarette back in her mouth before asking, "And what does this foolish rat think he can take from me?”

The man, his forehead glistening with sweat yet wearing a smug smile, spoke in a belittling tone. "There's no need to be so hostile, sweetheart. I'm not interested in a fine woman like yourself...for now," he added with a chuckle. "I just need to bring that red-nosed freak back to my captain." 

Belle-mere murderous intent only intensified as she snarled at him and declared, "That'red-nosed freak' is my new little brother. You better watch your manners and start explaining why your captain wants him, or you'll end up with some new holes in your body."

The pirate lifted his hands in surrender as he said, “That boy bears a striking resemblance to an apprentice who was rumored to have been murdered. He was part of a notorious 'gold crew', and me captain will just want to have a chat with him. If he isn't the one, we'll let him go. However, if he is, well, the captain has certain measures that need to be taken care of. Plush me, captain, will reward me quite nicely as well.”

A sly glint appeared in his raised hands before he flung hidden knives towards Belle-Mère. She quickly dodged them and grabbed her rifle from under the table. The knives struck the back of the chair she had been sitting on just moments ago. Belle-mere charged forward, expertly flipping her rifle and using the butt of the gun to deliver a powerful blow to the pirate's chin. With a cracking sound, she sent him flying out of the door and onto the ground outside. Without missing a beat, she continued moving forward, flipping her rifle once again and pressing it against the pirate's throat as she stood on top of his arms. 

Belle-mere's eyes were filled with a deadly determination as she demanded, "Be honest with me, you bastard. How many of your crew-mates know that my little brother is here? If you don't lie to me, I might let you live without any extra holes in your body." 

The pirate spat out some teeth, his mouth bleeding, and his rage was evident as he felt the cold steel of Belle-Mère's rifle against his neck. Trying to sound tough, he sneered, "You don't have the guts, lady. Just get off me, and I'll let you walk away. And I'll even let you take the little kid with you since it seems like you're collecting them." 

Belle-mere pressed the rifle harder against his throat and cocked the gun, warning, "Don't test me."

The pirate could see death in her determined gaze and began to spill everything. "My mate and I spotted the kid at the pier. He didn't think the boy was the apprentice, so he left. But I followed him from Gosa into Cocoyashi. We had heard rumors that the kid had eaten a Devil fruit, and I wanted to see if he would use his powers. I was about to give up on him until he caught those toddlers from the tree. Please, just let me go now. I told you everything." 

Belle-mere looked down at the pathetic and scared pirate with disgust and spoke in a chilling tone as she pulled the trigger. "It's never wise to spare a rat; they tend to multiply quickly."

The gun fired quietly due to being pressed against his throat, its bullet creating a gaping hole as it passed through his body and into the ground. The pirate couldn't make a sound as he died quickly from his wounds. Belle-mere wiped the blood off her rifle with a handkerchief, muttering, "Looks like the ocean will have a feast tonight.”

In a flash of movement, Genzo appears, dragging another man behind him. His muscles strain under the weight as he sets the body down in front of Belle-Mere. The sight of the dead man elicits a heavy sigh from Genzo, his weathered face creasing with concern. "I've been telling you to set up some traps, Belle-Mere. This village may seem peaceful, but you never know what dangers the ships might bring." 

Belle-Mere gives Genzo a flirty grin, her dark eyes sparkling mischievously. "Don't worry about me, you big softy," she teases.

But as Genzo bends down to pick up the second body, his face reddens with embarrassment. "It's not safe out here. I'll take care of disposing of these bodies and make sure you wash away the blood. We can't let the kids see this." 

Grumbling about Belle-Mere's shameless behavior, Genzo drags the bodies away towards the nearby cliffs. Meanwhile, Belle-Mere chuckles and heads back inside to fill a bucket with water and scrub away the bloodstains left behind on the ground. Just as she turns around, her laughter dies in her throat at the sight of Buggy standing before her wearing red and white striped pajamas. His usually scowling expression is replaced with an intense gaze and a searching look in his eyes as he takes in the scene before him.

Buggy turned to face the kitchen, his mind preoccupied with the day's events. He remembered seeing a bucket earlier when he was helping clean up the tea and as he reached for it now. Belle-mere followed him, concern etched on her face as she started to say something but was cut off by Buggy's actions. He placed the bucket in the sink and turned on the faucet, slowly filling it with water. His expression remained closed off as he focused on the task at hand.

"What do you want?" Buggy finally spoke, breaking the silence that had settled between them. Belle-mere leaned against the sink next to him, her back against the cool metal.

"Buggy, you helped Nojiko find me. Then you helped me with Nami and even saved Nojiko from falling along with your Spark. All at great risk to yourself," Belle-mere said, her voice softening as she looked at Buggy with admiration in her eyes. "You are a good man.”

Belle-mere reached out a hand and rested it on top of Buggy's head, a gesture of comfort and support. Buggy turned to look up at her, his face reflecting his inner turmoil as he replied, "I'm not. I have a shitty personality—selfish, greedy, lazy and to obsessed with treasure. I kill whoever takes it. And I'm a coward who will run from a fight if I know I can't win. And a braggart who does stupid shit all the time.” He finished speaking and turned back to the sink, switching off the faucet before turning to face Belle-Mère once again.

She hummed thoughtfully, still keeping her hand on Buggy's head as she spoke with a mischievous grin on her face."Then I would want this selfish, greedy, treasure-obsessed pirate who likes bragging to be my little brother," she declared boldly. Buggy kept his head lowered, facing the bucket, as he listened to her words. The only sound was water droplets falling into the now-full bucket.

Buggy stared down at the bucket of water, watching the ripples distort his reflection. His fingers tightened around the handle."You don't know what you're asking," he muttered. "People don’t... They don’t stick around for me."

Belle-Mère tilted her head, her expression unreadable. "Then I'll be the first."

A lump formed in Buggy’s throat. He wanted to scoff, to call her an idiot. Instead, he swallowed hard and whispered, "Okay."

He used his arm to rub at his eyes before turning to fully face Belle-Mère with determination in his gaze. "Fine, you win. If you want to be my big sister, I will humbly accept," he said, a hint of playfulness in his tone. "But we need to take an oath. If anything happens to us, the others will be there to help or take care of our treasures if, for some reason, they can't help.”

With a firm hand, Buggy reaches for the full bucket in the sink and helps Belle-mere rinse away the blood stains outside. They work in silence, the only sounds coming from the rustling leaves and chirping insects around them. Once they finish, Belle-mere grabs a bottle of rich, amber-colored rum and two small cups. She checks on the sleeping toddlers and baby before leading Buggy to a secluded spot on the cliffs overlooking the vast ocean. As they sit facing each other, the salty breeze caresses their skin and carries with it the faint calls of seagulls. 

With a serious expression, Belle-mere declares, “I’m going to be your big sis. I promise to always come to your aid in times of danger, but if for some reason I’m unable to do so, I will take care of your precious treasures. I will use all my power to protect them and will never forget or turn you away."

Buggy's eyes widen at this proclamation, and Belle-mere continues in a strong voice, “And if I ever fail in this duty, I will seek forgiveness from these treasures themselves. As the Seas as my witness, I vow." Belle-mere finishes firmly,

Buggy then solemnly says, ” I will be your younger brother. I promise to always come to your aid in times of danger, but if for some reason I’m unable to do so, I will take care of your precious treasures. I will use all my power to protect them and will never forget or turn you away. If I ever fail in this duty, I will seek forgiveness from these treasures themselves. As the Seas as my witness, I vow." Buggy finishes.

They exchange cups filled with potent rum, sealing their vow of sibling-hood with the endless Sea as their witness.

"I'm not calling you big sis in public." Buggy mutter with a blush staining his cheeks as he refill the cups.

Belle-mere smirks, her eye glittering with glee " Will see little brother, will see."

The next day, Belle-mere, Nojiko, and Nami stood at the docks in Gosa Village to say goodbye to Buggy and Little Spark. Nojiko and Belle-mere waved as Nami slept peacefully in Belle-mere's left arm. Belle-mere raised her right arm in the air and shouted, "May your journey be filled with calm seas! Little bro!"

Buggy’s face turned as red as his nose. “May the winds guide your sails! You damn hag! ” he bellowed, shaking his fist at Belle-Mère as she cackled gleefully on the dock.

Nojiko stuck out her tongue. “See you later, big bro!”

“I AM NOT YOUR BIG BROTHER!” Buggy shouted, stomping his foot.

Making Spark giggle in glee as the stomping made him bounce in Buggy's arms. But despite himself, Buggy couldn’t stop the small smile creeping onto his face as their ship sailed off into the horizon.

~flash back over~

Chapter Text

Buggy finished recounting his meeting with Belle-Mère and the pact they made as siblings. "I promised her that I would protect her treasures. and her treasures are you, Nami, and your sister Nojiko, if anything ever happened to her," Buggy said, making eye contact with Nami. "She promised to do the same for my treasures if something happened to me."

He explained that he was taking them to Cocoyashi because Belle-Mère would have known where his brother was. But now, after hearing about an older version of himself, it means that he must have returned to his correct time at some point.

"Wait…" Buggy's breath caught in his throat. His heart skipped a beat. "If there's an older version of me… that means…"

His hands clenched around the golden canister. He had gone back. At some point in time—maybe years from now—he had gone back to find Spark. 

Buggy swallowed hard. His voice wavered slightly. "I… I must have made it back somehow."

The realization hit like a tidal wave. He didn’t know how or when, but he had done it. Maybe His brother… Spark… had not been alone after all.

Buggy took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "And yet I did nothing to help you. If Belle-mere saw me now, she'd probably shoot me on sight, and I wouldn't blame her."

He had stopped crying long ago, but the exhaustion in his eyes remained, heavy like the weight of an anchor dragging him down. He stared at Nami, at the remnants of Belle-Mère's legacy standing before him, and the guilt gnawed at his stomach like a parasite.

'I don’t deserve forgiveness,' he thought. 'Not after running away. Not after breaking that vow.'

But even so…

He forced himself to bow. It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t dramatic. It was the only thing he had left to offer.

"All I can do is apologize and ask for your forgiveness."

The rest of the Mugiwaras redirected their attention to Nami and then scattered in different directions.

Sanji made his way to the kitchen, announcing his plans to reheat the soup while also mentioning something about baking bread as he grabbed a tray.

Zoro shifted his swords from his hip to his arms and settled down on the deck, leaning against the mast and closing his eyes.

Usopp fidgeted uncomfortably in the tense atmosphere and walked over to the ship's railing, gazing out at the endless sea ahead.

And with a final squeeze of Nami and Buggy, Luffy let go and then retrieved his beloved hat from the deck. He swiftly placed it on his head before flopping onto the barrel that once held the tray.

A whirlwind of emotions swept across Nami's face as she stared at Buggy, his head lowered in front of her. Her eyebrows furrowed as her eyes narrowed as she processed the information about Buggy's past and his connection to her family. She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath to compose herself before fixing her gaze back on him.

With a determined look, she spoke in a strong, unwavering tone, "The map—the older version of you mentioned it—was the root of all this trouble. Show me that it rightfully belongs to you, and I will forgive you. I understand how it feels to have your hard work stolen. But if you can't do that, I will never be able to forgive you." The air around them crackled with tension as she waited for his response, her heart torn between anger and empathy for the teen who stood before her.

Buggy stands up from his formal bow and suggests, "I believe I saw the map and some newspapers on the table in the lounge. Let me retrieve them." In a swift motion, Buggy breaks apart his hands and sends them soaring toward the lounge area.

A startled Sanji curses, "Shit!"

The hands return just as quickly, one clutching a shiny golden canister and the other holding a bundle of rolled-up newspapers from the past few months. Buggy sets the newspapers down on a nearby barrel, but upon noticing Luffy sitting on it, he asks him, "Could you hold these for me?" With a wide grin, Luffy takes the papers and swings his legs while perched on the barrel.

Buggy then turns back to Nami and skillfully opens the canister to reveal a rolled-up map inside. He carefully unfurls it with practiced ease and turns it around so that the back is facing him. Holding it up to the light, he studies it closely with a nostalgic smile on his face. With a hint of grief in his voice, he says, "This is one of my first maps, made with my captain many years ago. You can see both our signature marks on it." Buggy hands the map to Nami so she can verify its authenticity.

Explaining, "It's an old pirate trick. By using different ink solutions, you can create what appears to be moving signatures when held up to sunlight. Our signatures are visible on the back."

Gingerly, Nami took the map from Buggy's grasp and held it up to the morning light. "An old pirate trick, huh?" she mused. "I've only heard of a few maps with that feature. The makers are known only by their unique signatures, making them a mystery to everyone else." Peering at the back of the map, Nami noticed two moving signatures.

Her eyes widened in amazement.

Nami’s fingers tightened around the edges of the map. Her breath caught in her throat.'Wait a second… BW? The way the blue and red ink moves—a figure with a pom-pom beanie walking in a circle.I've seen this technique before. But that would mean—'

Her heart pounded. She flipped the map over, scanning the second signature. The initials GDR gleamed in gold, a man playful wiggling a long mustache beneath it.

Her voice came out in a whisper first. "No way…" Then louder. "No way!" She turned to Buggy, shaking the map like it owed her money. "Ahhh! This is a map made by the legendary Blue Wanderer and Gold-Dashing Roamer! I've only read about these maps; they're incredibly rare and sought-after!" Her eyes sparkled like stars as she squealed with delight.

Everyone on deck turned to look at her, even Sanji, who had rushed out of the kitchen to see what all the commotion was about.

Usopp's face showed clear surprise as he joined in the conversation. "I've heard about those too," he exclaimed with disbelief. "They're just legends. It's said that they are pirates who threw away their maps when they were dissatisfied with them, only for them to be later discovered and praised for their incredible detail and accuracy—at a level unseen."

Usopp turned to Buggy and asked, "You said this was one of the first maps you made with your captain?"

Buggy, taken aback by the sudden burst of interest in his map, simply nodded "Yes, I was..11 when I made it. It's not completely accurate since it doesn't show the sea currents, but my captain was proud of it, so I kept it."

Luffy let out a hearty laugh, expressing his admiration for Buggy's captain and imagining how cool he must have been.

Nami's eyes sparkled with stars as she turned to Luffy, ready to interject with her own thoughts but then catching herself and returning to a serious demeanor. She cleared her throat and addressed Buggy, saying, "If you truly are the creator of this map, I will forgive you. Shockingly enough, I want to believe you. But do you have any proof that you are the Blue Wanderer or the Gold-Dashing Roamer?"

Buggy's entire face turned red—nose included. He nearly dropped the canister.

"Blue Wanderer?!" he squawked. "Are you kidding me?! That's not even what BW means! Screw that it supposed to be buried in the depths of the ocean! Who the hell still talks about that?!"

Luffy, Usopp, and Nami all exchanged excited glances.

"Wait," Usopp smirked. "So it IS you."

Buggy groaned, dragging a hand down his face. "Ugh. I can’t believe this. I thought I finally got away from that stupid title."

Buggy let out a sigh as he reaches into his hair and pulled out another map, presenting it to Nami as well.

Luffy and Usopp, eyes shining, started to bombard Buggy with questions about how he managed to hide a map in his hair.

Once Sanji saw that Nami was safe, he complimented her by saying, "You look beautiful when you're excited, Nami," before retreating back to the lounge and muttering about plans for a special dessert just for her.

With careful hands, she rolled up the Grand Line Map and returned it to its canister. She then unrolled the new map from Buggy, revealing a detailed illustration of the Conomi Islands.

As she turned the map around and held it up to the light, Nami couldn't help but gasp.

The map showed Cocoyashi village with such precision that it looked like a photograph from before Arlong took over. Her eyes scanned the map until they landed on a familiar marking: the Blue Wonder mark, placed in Belle-mere orchards, where a cute pink tangerine was depicted smoking a cigarette and carrying a flintlock rifle on its back with a smaller blue and orange tangerine. 

’ I want this map. I wanted it so bad, but if I take it, it makes me no better than Arlong. ’ She brought it closer to her chest, stuck in her thoughts.

As Nami checks the map Buggy snapped at Usopp and Luffy, growling, "Fuck off! It's a secret. I don't have time for you right now.”

Usopp and Luffy sulked and muttered, "Aww, Blue is being stingy."

Buggy lost his temper and shouted, "Fine, I'll show you later! And don’t call me Blue!"

Luffy remained seated on the barrel, guarding the newspapers, while Usopp stood next to him and threw their hands in the air. They cheered in unison, "Yeah! We get to know the secret!" Zoro, still leaning against the mast, scoffed under his breath, "Idiots."

As Nami fell into silence, Buggy turned his attention back to her. He noticed her clutching the map he had given her against her chest, a longing look in her eyes.

Buggy spoke up, saying, "I finished that map shortly after leaving Cocoyashi village, the first time I was there." Nami's gaze sharpened as she listened intently. Buggy continued, "You must have heard your crew mate with the dreadlocks mention that the original maker of this map was a pirate who will toss a map away if they were dissatisfied with it. And now it's been 17 years since then, making it quite outdated. So, if you'd like, you can have this one, and I can create a better version." Buggy tried to sound confident and cool, ignoring the blush creeping up his cheeks.

Nami carefully rolls up the map of Cocoyashi and holds it close to her, expressing her gratitude with a soft "Thank you" followed by a sincere "I forgive you." She then held out the canister containing the grand-line map and extended it toward him. "This is yours," she continued, "And if you are Belle-mere's' little brother, that makes us family."

Buggy's eyes widened in surprise, but Nami's mischievous grin only grew wider. "That means you have to teach me all about maps," she declared. "After all, I am the ship's navigator, and these idiots have no clue what they're doing. And besides, I plan on creating a map of the entire world." Nami finished with a shining smile, and Luffy matched it along with Usopp.

Buggy took back the canister from Nami with a grateful expression on his weary face. His eyes began to light up as he stuffed the map in his shirt this time. Just as Buggy was about to reply Nami.

Zoro stood up from the deck and looked at the group with a raised eyebrow. He asked, "But don't we need that map to get to the Grand Line?"

Luffy chimed in, saying, "It's okay; Blue is joining our crew, so we don't have to worry."

Buggy spun around to look at Luffy and yelled at him, "Hell no! Stop making decisions for me without including me!" He quickly put his hand on his head, feeling dizzy. He said lightly, "All this emotional whiplash is going to make me sick." Buggy shook his head to try and clear it before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath and holding it for three seconds before exhaling.

He then turned to Luffy and said, "Do you have fluff for brains? You want me to join your crew even though I've tried to kill you before? Although, maybe there was more going on than you all realized."Buggy finished with his hand still on his head, letting out a sigh.

As Luffy pouted and Usopp tried to comfort him.

Zoro spoke up with a brow raised he looked at Buggy. He asked, "What do you mean there was more going on than we realized?"

Buggy replied, "Just give me a moment to confirm my suspicions, and I'll explain." He reached for the newspaper from Luffy, who was still pouting and saying, "I'm not giving up! I'll convince you to join; just wait!"

Buggy gave him a deadpan look and said, "Not likely." He turned back to Zoro.

Buggy's hands moved with lightning-fast speed as he flipped through each newspaper, keeping certain sections in his hands and discarding the rest onto the deck below. Usopp grumbled as he picked up the discarded papers, scolding Buggy for dropping them on the Going Merry.

But Buggy was too focused on his task to pay any attention to Usopp's complaints. After going through the last six months' worth of newspapers, he finally stopped, and Usopp muttered, "This had better be worth it." Meanwhile, Luffy laughed, and Nami and Zoro watched Buggy intently.

With a serious expression on his face, Buggy began reviewing the specific sections he had kept from each paper. Just then, Sanji emerged from the lounge and announced that breakfast was ready for everyone to come and eat. He emphasized the word "everyone," causing Luffy to immediately warp his arms around everyone and exclaim, "You have to try Sanji's cooking; it's the best!" He dragged them all towards the lounge, with Nami, Zoro, and Usopp protesting loudly while Buggy somehow managed to hold onto his papers without noticing anything.

Luffy enthusiastically arranges everyone at the table in the lounge and pulls Buggy into a seat as well.

Chapter Text

After scouring through the newspapers with intense focus, Buggy let out a burst of hearty laughter that echoed throughout the room. "Gahahah, I was right! It was a 7th Rad Con-uh were!" As he spoke, Buggy looked up from the news and realized he was sitting in the cozy lounge at a small wooden table with Nami and the others.

The scent of the reheated soup and freshly baked bread filled the air, thanks to Sanji's culinary skills.

As Buggy rubbed his temples, he vaguely recalled the sensation of being lifted and carried. His memory was hazy—had Luffy actually picked up the entire crew at once?

"Weren't we all on the main deck?" he muttered, frowning.

"You were," Sanji replied, setting down his spoon. "Until Luffy decided to bundle everyone up and haul you inside like a pile of treasure." With a charming smile, Sanji took his seat next to Nami and went to eagerly dig into his meal." Eat up we all needed to warm up from that storm last night. It's a wonder that we're not all soaked to the bone."

But before he could Luffy, who had already finished his bread and started sipping on his soup, exclaimed with delight, "This is so good, Sanji!" He reached for more bread and soup, saying, "And that's thanks to Blue. He dried us all off after the storm and tucked blankets around us so we could sleep. Shi shi shi, I keep telling you he's a good guy."

Unaware of the shocked expressions on some of his crew mates' faces, Luffy continued enjoying his meal while mentioning how Blue even checked on their wounds. This sent Buggy into a fit of red-faced embarrassment and the rest of the Miguwaras into a sputtering mess, staring at Buggy.

Buggy, his face flushed and steaming from all the stares, spoke in a panicked voice. "Shut up! It was Belle-Mère! I was taking you to her; she would have been mad at me for bringing sick kids to her." The thought of Belle-mere made Buggy's heartache, so he forced out a cocky laugh and played it off. "Besides, I beat all of you so easily. I just wanted to make sure none of you suffered any permanent damage." Buggy quickly regained his composure. Looked down, starting to quickly eat his bread and soup.

The rest of the group exchanged glances and decided to drop the subject for now and start digging into their food, knowing that Luffy would devour everything if given the chance.

As Usopp took a bite of his meal, he looked up at Buggy and asked, "Hey, Buggy, what was so funny?" Buggy, who had lost his appetite due to emotional exhaustion from the day's events, Finished his meal and then detached his hands and placed his dishes in the sink.

Sanji commented between bites, "That's convenient."

Buggy then reattached his hands and explained, "It can be. This is what I found amusing: a 7th raid con."

He placed a newspaper on the cleared space on the table in front of the Mugiwaras for them to see. each one announcing a different pirate raid on Orange Town over the past six months: Edward Teague Pirates , Motley Pirates, Dying Gull Pirates, Ammandas Pirates, Sumbhajee's Pirates, and the Left-Foot Pirates.

Zoro leans forward and asks the group while eating, "What exactly is a '7th raid con' and why should we care?"

Sanji chimes in after finishing his meal. “Zeff told me about it once,from when he was still a pirate. It's an old scam that only works in the Blues. The pirates make a deal with a town that has already been attacked multiple times; they stage a seventh attack and take over the town until the Marines are close to showing up. But instead of causing harm, they work with the citizens." The disbelief on Luffy, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp's faces is evident.

"Just like that mayor!" Nami exclaims.

"But why would anyone agree to that?" Usopp adds.

Sanji continues to reveal the cunning reason behind it all: "It's all for marine insurance. If a town in the Blues gets attacked six or seven times without the pirates being caught by the Marines, they will cover the costs of repairs and replacements. And in return, the town gives a portion to the pirates who helped them."

The crew realizes the cunning tactics used by veteran pirates and remembers how Buggy's crew didn't actually harm anyone during their previous raids. They even recall their time in Loguetown, when no one was seriously injured besides Buggy.

Buggy’s fingers clenched against the wooden table. His older self—his future self—had been running a con. A good one. A long one. And that meant…

"I wasn't just some lunatic," Buggy muttered under his breath, voice low. His pulse quickened as realization hit him like a cannon blast. "This was planned. Thought out. I was in control."

His stomach twisted, both with relief and with dread. If he had pulled off a scheme like this in the future, then his mind wasn’t gone. But that also meant…

"Spark," he whispered, barely audible. "If I made it back, that means he's alive." Buggy let out a relived sighe "Knowing his lineage, he would have immediately headed for the sea once he was old enough. so he most likely not in the East Blue."

As everyone finished their meal and the table was cleared, Zoro helped Sanji with the dishes while Usopp took out a notebook to write in.

Nami sat across from Buggy, examining her new map.

Luffy hovered over Usopp's shoulder, asking what he was writing.

Buggy wondered if they would remember that they were still heading towards Cocoyashi instead of where they were supposed to be going.Turning to Nami, he inquired, "Do you happen to have a den-den mushi onboard? I didn't see one in the lounge yesterday."

Nami glanced up from her map and replied, "No, they're too expensive. Why do you ask?"

Buggy dropped his head on the table in frustration as he groaned, "I was going to use it to call Grap."

Luffy jumped up in fear and shouted, "Why would you call grandpa for?"

Buggy stood up angrily and retorted, "So I could force him to tell me where my brother is. But now that's not an option. It looks like I'll just have to wait until I get to Cocoyashi and then call-."

Buggy suddenly stopped himself, realizing what he had just revealed. Cursing himself blue and dropping his head on the table.

The Mugiwaras were in an uproar, yelling and shaking the Going Merry as Nami checked the heading and Luffy insisted on going to the Grand Line. In the chaos, Nami ordered Usopp to turn the helm while she barked at Sanji, Luffy, and Zoro to man the sails. Buggy followed calmly, leaving the door open for Usopp as he leaned on the railing of the second floor.

Once they had turned the ship around, Buggy spoke up: "And how do you plan on getting past the graveyard and into paradise without a map?"

Zoro immediately drew his swords and threatened to slice Buggy up if he didn't hand over his map. But before anything could happen, Buggy quickly poked Zoro's chest with his detached hand, causing him to fall to his knees in pain.

The rest of the crew was frozen in shock that Zoro fell so fast. Buggy then snapped at them all, asking if anyone had any medical knowledge beyond basic first aid. The crew looked at each other sheepishly until Luffy stretched himself out and landed gracefully in front of Buggy on the railing.

With a serious look in his eyes but a smile on his face, Luffy offered, "Then join my crew, Blue! You can be our doctor, and we'll have a map to the Grand Line."

Buggy met Luffy's gaze and replied with a sweet smile: "My captain is dead, but you look very much alive. Unless you want that changed? And don't call me Blue!” Luffy pouted and then noticed Nami behind Buggy getting his attention, and Luffy nodded.

Buggy's sharp eyes caught Luffy glancing over his shoulder, he turned to see Nami striding towards them with a mischievous glint in her eye. As she approached, she batted her lashes and begged, "Buggy, please help us reach the Grand Line. We're in desperate need of a doctor, and maybe your little brother is there, please Blue." She ended with an innocent puppy-dog pout aimed at Buggy, who started to sweat under her gaze.

He quickly turned away, muttering, "That's playing dirty."

But before he could escape, Luffy stepped forward with his straw hat held between both hands in front of his face, giving him equally big puppy dog eyes. Buggy's heart skipped a beat in dread as Luffy's usually black hair seemed to turn bright red for a second. "Come on, Blue," Luffy said, his voice full of puppy-dog sweetness. "Pretty please?" His big eyes grew even bigger, and sparkles appeared around him.

Unable to resist any longer, Buggy gave in with a shout of defeat. "Fine! Just stop, both of you! Dear god, I'm going to have nightmares about this."

As he walked away from Nami and Luffy high-fiving each other triumphantly, Buggy made his way into the lounge, only to be met by Usopp giving him the same pleading look. "Damn, you dirty cheating pirates!" Buggy yelled out in exasperation. "I'm only sticking with you until we reach Drum Island. There are renowned doctors there that are actually licensed. After that, I'm headed straight for Wano. I am not joining your crew!"

Luffy and Nami turned and gave thumbs up to Sanji and Zoro.

Sanji, with hearts in his eyes, yells, "Nami, you are so pretty when you are cunning.”

The Mugiwara crew's celebration was cut short as Buggy bellowed, "If I'm playing fucking doctor, everyone needs a damn checkup, right, mother fucking now! Line up outside the lounge and bring your medical supplies!"

The entire crew froze.

"Wait, hold on," Usopp blurted. "YOU'RE really a doctor?!"

"I'm not a doctor, I'm a bartender, a cartographer, and a pirate who happens to be better at keeping idiots alive than they are at keeping themselves alive!" Buggy snapped.

"Sounds like a doctor to me," Zoro deadpanned.

"Oh god, we're gonna die," Usopp whimpered, clutching his overalls as he inched toward the door.

"LESS WHINING, MORE CHECKUPS!" Buggy roared, things could be heard being thrown around in the lounge. "Found it! Overall, you're first. Strip!" 

Usopp shrieked as he was forcibly dragged inside, and the door slammed shut.

Soon enough, Usopp's high-pitched screams filled the air. As the other started to shake in fear.

Buggy rummaged through the lounge of the Going Merry, his keen eyes scanning every nook and cranny for useful items. His fingers closed around a stack of crisp paper and a set of pencils, while his other hand grasped a sturdy clipboard and a box overflowing with medical supplies. Buggy could turn around and loudly exclaim, "Found it! Overall, you're first. Strip!"

Buggy fired his hand at the door to the lounge, which slammed shut, and soon enough, Usopp's high-pitched screams filled the air. Buggy looked at Usopp, unimpressed and pointing at the table, and said, ”Are you done? Sit on the table and take off your top half. If you tell me about your injuries, you will not have to strip down all the way. But if I think you are lying to me,"

Buggy's face gets covered in shadows, A scary look in his eyes makes Usopp hop on the table with the top half of his overalls off.

Buggy arranged his supplies on the table for before approaching with a clipboard and pencil. "Okay, name, age, height, weight, blood type,and your role in the crew. Also, any injuries?"

Usopp, still embarrassed from his earlier blunder, replied with exaggerated confidence, "I am the great Captain Usopp of 8,000 men, and I-"

Buggy cut him off and remarked, "So you're the liar in the crew? Great someone with some commonsense then. I was the liar in my old crew. Anything else?"

Usopp couldn't believe it. "You were the liar? But you beat and captured everyone! And I'm the sniper for the crew. I have excellent aim."

Usopp finished sheepishly when he noticed Buggy's raised eyebrow. "My name is Usopp. I'm 17 years old, 174 cm tall (5'9"), and weigh 143 pounds. Blood type 'S' ,No injuries to report." Usopp ended with a laugh.

Buggy noted everything down and handed Usopp the clipboard. "If you think it's nothing, judging from your friends out there, that means there might be something. Write down anything I find," Buggy said sternly as he removed his bandana and felt his head. "Head wound about a week old with signs could have had a stage one concussion,"

Buggy announced before asking Usopp a series of questions about the injury and checking his neck, torso, left arm, and right arm. Usopp answered all the questions and wrote down what he was told. Buggy then checked his hand for cuts and scrapes he saw last night and made notes after applying some medicine and light bandages that could be removed tomorrow. He then gave Usopp back the clipboard and checked his back while poking at bruises.

Returning to sit on the bench, Buggy asked, "Do I need you to take off your pants, or will you tell me what I need to know?"

Usopp confessed to some scrapes on his knees, and Buggy had him pull up his pant leg so he could treat them and wrap them, assuring Usopp that they could be removed tomorrow. "Yes, I'm the liar who helps keep the naive idiots from getting killed. I was also on the lookout and trained in navigation and cartography by my captain. I'm a decent fighter, but nothing compared to the monsters on that crew. And the only reason I've beaten you all is because your main fighters are severely injured and tired. You can head out and tell Nami she is next."

Usopp fixes his top and says hasty "Thanks." as he escapes to sacrifice the next victim.

Buggy hears a loud noise and the sound of a body hitting a wooded deck, as he turns his head, he sees Nami entering the lounge, and closing the door behind her.

He chuckles and gestures for her to sit on top of the table. "Any other injuries besides the stab wounds on your arm?" he asks, continuing with, "Also name, age, height, weight, blood type and your role in the crew."

Nami meets Buggy's gaze and replies confidently, "Just my arm. I got lucky. My name is Nami. I'm 18 years old, 5'6 tall, and weigh 110 pounds,Blood type 'X'. My role in the crew is thief and navigator." She finishes with a playful smile and adds teasingly, "What, not going to ask for my measurements?"

Buggy takes note of her information, and when she mentions her measurements, he responds with a smirk, "No thanks. Then I'd have to ask all the guys for theirs too. And I bet they don't know them off the top of their heads like you do." Nami laughs and agrees before Buggy points out that she is slightly underweight and needs to gain at least 5 pounds for good health.

Nami raises her arm as if to hit him, but Buggy warns her that he will hit back if provoked. Nami lowers her arm and gives him an unreadable look as Buggy sets down his clipboard and begins examining her wounds, asking questions along the way. He gives her instructions on how to take care of the cuts and tattoos over the next few days to prevent infection from the seawater.

As they finish up, Buggy boasts that he is a better thief than Nami. She challenges him with a bet, he then hands her back her map with a smug look, saying, "I win! Can you send in the next victim, please?" Nami demands that Buggy teach her some of his techniques before leaving the lounge laughing once she has convinced him to do so.

Nami had barely left the lounge when Sanji burst in, slamming the door behind him. "If you did anything inappropriate to Nami," he yelled, "I'll kick your ass!"

Buggy looked at him and retorted, "No, that would be you who would do something like that. And did Nami ask for your protection, or do you think she's too weak because she's a woman?"

Sanji lit his cigarette and grabbed Buggy by the collar, but before he could say anything, Buggy snatched the cigarette out of his mouth putting it out on the table. He then poked Sanji in the ribs with his other hand, causing Sanji to stumble, Buggy detach one of his arms.

And used the opportunity to grab him by the back of his suit collar and seat him on the table next to his extinguished cigarette. With a grip on Sanji's face, Buggy scolded him, "I know people who would gut you if you ever tried something like that. How about asking before charging in like a rutting bull? You might actually have a chance with a girl if you don't scare her off."

Sanji stared at Buggy with wide eyes and rage bubbling inside him as he shouted, "I would never think of Nami or any woman as weak! They are amazing creatures full of love and kindness. I’m a gentleman; I could never kick or hurt a woman in any way!"

Buggy stared Sanji down and warned him, “If you make any assumptions, you'll find yourself on your back with a sword at your throat. Nami may be okay with your behavior, but a word of advice: ask first before jumping into a fight or grabbing someone you don't know well. It might save you from friendly fire.”

Sanji scoffed mockingly and asked, "Oh, really? Do you speak from experience?”

Buggy nodded in agreement. “Yep, I saw it firsthand. Apparently, this guy kept stealing Whitley Bay's fights because she was so pretty and he didn't want her to get hurt. She kicked his ass overboard and finished her fight and a few others, then let the rest of her crew know he was in the water. Don't mess with Whitley Bay. Also, she's great at doing nail polish.”

Sanji's face showed conflict as Buggy sighed and said, “Do gentlemen not ask first?” Sanji widened his eyes at that.

Buggy continued, "Now, will you please tell me your name, age, height, weight, blood type and role in the crew? Also, please strip down to your underwear. I can already tell you have injuries on your legs as well as your upper body.”

Sanji stood up and closely examined Buggy before asking, “And if I don't want to?” Buggy looked at Sanji and asked if there was another member of the crew who could check him out or if he wanted someone else in the room. Sanji pursed his lips and looked away, so Buggy suggested just taking off his shirts first before moving onto the legs. Sanji complied and shared his information—"name Sanji, age 19, height (5'9¾"), weight (176 lbs), Blood type 'S-' and role as cook and fighter"—while Buggy wrote it all down aloud for confirmation. As Buggy treated his bruised and broken ribs, he made sure to announce each step and where he was touching.

He also advised Sanji not to smoke for at least a few days to allow his lungs to heal from almost drowning, offering suckers as a replacement. Buggy pulled out a bag of suckers from his side and set them on the table, while Sanji put his shirt back on and took off his pants so that Buggy could tend to his legs. There were a few hematomas, first-degree burns, and a hairline fracture, but nothing too serious as long as Sanji was careful. Buggy continued to explain each step as he treated Sanji's injuries, and once it was all done, Buggy asked for the next person to be brought in.

Sanji threw his cigarette away and thanked Buggy sincerely before leaving with the bag of suckers.

Next to enter the lounge is Zoro. Buggy points at the table and says, ”Seat here and take off your top and that haramaki.” Buggy finishes his new paperwork as Zoro hops onto the table, sets his swords by his legs, and takes off his top and the haramaki.

Buggy, still looking down, asks, ”Name, age, height, weight, blood type and your role in the crew."

Zoro answers with a cocky smirk, “Name Roronoa Zoro, age 19, height (5'10"), weight 187, XF blood type I think and my role is to cut stuff and first mate.”

Buggy looks pointy-eyed at Zoro’s bandages and says, ”And apparently getting cut as well.”

Buggy gently unwraps the bandages around Zoro's chest, removing the fish skin that was barely holding the wounds together. He scowls and comments, "Whoever did this probably saved your life. If it wasn't for the fish acting as a second skin to hold you together, your injuries would have been fatal." Buggy cleans and inspects Zoro's arms then moves to his back, taking note of the bruising and cuts.

Zoro smirks and proudly proclaims, "Scars on the back are a swordsman's shame. I have no injuries there."

Buggy rolls his eyes and continues his examination, applying medical cream to the intense bruising marking Zoros's back. He then comes around and says, ”Do you have any wounds on your legs that are like the massive bruising your back has? or would that be a swordsman’s shame as well?” Buggy finishes with a teasing tone.

Zoro ears go red and he says there might be a bruise or something, so Buggy lets him roll up his pants and starts treating the cuts, bruises, and scraps he finds well, mumbling, ”A bruise, my ass. You would think cutting your feet off was a bruise at this rate. You can get dressed now; don’t try to kill yourself now.”

Making Zoro blush and retorts saying “You’re one to talk. What about yours.” Zoro points out Buggy's bandages peeking out from under Buggy's gloves, the same wrapped around his arms, torso, and neck. visible through Buggy's opened vest.

Zoro even points at Buggy's cheek and the bandage on it. Zoro teases with a smirk, "Who is going to treat the doctor?"

Buggy responds wearily, "I will handle it myself. I don't want any of you kiddos messing with my wounds."

Zoro shouts, blushing more, "You're younger than me! Don't call me a Kiddo."

Buggy defends himself by claiming he may be physically younger, but he is mentally older, before sticking out his tongue at Zoro and telling him to send Luffy in. Zoro shouts ”I’ll chop you up!” as he stomps out of the lounge, his face burning red from his blushing yelling for Luffy as he leaves the door open.

Luffy bursts into the lounge, laughing and immediately plopping onto the table, removing his vest. Upon hearing Usopp, Nami, and Sanji's recent experiences, Buggy raises an eyebrow at Luffy's carefree behavior. However, upon noticing the bite marks, scrapes, and burns covering Luffy's chest and shoulders, Buggy quickly rushes to tend to his wounds.

Growing increasingly frustrated by the lack of treatment for Luffy's injuries, Buggy takes a seat on the bench and begins filling out paperwork while scolding Luffy. "What the hell is wrong with you guys? Do you have no sense of self-preservation? And I need your age, name, height, weight, blood type and role in this crew."

Sheepishly rubbing the back of his head, Luffy responds, "I'm Monkey D. Luffy, 17 years old, 5'7¾" tall, and weigh 141 pounds. I think its 'F', I am the captain, and I will be King of the Pirates!"

With a groan, Buggy remarks, "Of course you're a 'D.' You guys never have any self-preservation skills." The realization dawns on Buggy as he puts his head in his hands in despair. "And you're the grandson of that crazy man? He should not have been raising kids.”

Luffy chuckles and exclaims, "Join my crew permanently, Blue! We'll have the most incredible adventures!"

Buggy begins to tidy up the medical supplies and paperwork, declaring, "No way! I'm only sticking around until we reach Drum Island. It's full of doctors, so you can easily trick someone into joining your crew there. Plus, if that lighthouse keeper wasn't a drunk, and you were not wounded I would have stolen your rowboat and left by now. Hell I'm not a fully licensed Doctor."

Buggy gritted his teeth. He knew exactly what Luffy was trying to do. He knew this game, this trick—get someone to travel with them, make them feel like part of something, and before they knew it, they were staying for good.

He’d seen it happen before.

"No way," Buggy snapped, folding his arms. "I’m not getting roped into this stupid crew. I’m sticking around until Drum Island because you all would probably drown yourselves without me. But after that?" His voice hardened. "I go to Wano. Alone. I already lost one crew—I’m not signing up for another."

Luffy just grinned.” I will get you to join my crew just you wait. But until then we are going to the Grand Line!" Luffy ends with a cheer.

Chapter Text

The Going Merry plowed through choppy waves, its wooden hull creaking as it fought against the stormy sea. Up ahead loomed a jagged mountain, its peak hidden by thick clouds. Perched on the edge of a cliff was a lighthouse, its bright beacon warning sailors of the treacherous mountain. But suddenly, the light flickers out.

Luffy hangs upside down from the figurehead, his straw hat securely held to his head as he braces against the powerful winds. He is soaking wet from the rain, as he shouts back to his crewmate on deck, "The light just went out!" 

Nami, clad in a yellow raincoat and clutching a new map of the Grand Line she had gotten from Buggy, calmly responded, "Well, it is only a lighthouse. It can go out from time to time." 

But Luffy wasn't convinced. "But that was our guiding light! What do we do now?" 

Nami reassured him with confidence, "It's times like these when you have a navigator, right? So don't worry; with Buggy's map, I know exactly which direction to go."

 Luffy pulled himself up to sit on the figurehead and gazes at Nami in amazement. "Wow, you're amazing," he exclaims. 

But Nami quickly noticed his precarious position and urged him to get down. Luffy stubbornly refused, thinking she wanted his spot on the figurehead. Nami retorted, "When did I say I wanted it?" With a troubled expression on her face, she grabbed Luffy and led him back to the safety of the ship's lounge, where their other crew members were gathered. 

Sanji had whipped up steaming mugs of hot cocoa for everyone, his usual cigarette replaced with a bright red sucker. He leaned against the counter, watching as Zoro, Luffy, Usopp, and Buggy settled around the table. Nami stood at the front, her sharp voice cutting through the chatter.

With a loud slap, she slammed a map onto the table and declared, "The entrance to the Grand Line is a mountain." Usopp's eyes widened in shock, and he cried out, "A mountain!?" The rest of the group, except for Buggy, who simply sipped at his hot cocoa and nodded his head, turned to stare at Nami in disbelief.

Nami nodded in agreement with Usopp's reaction. "I know, it's hard to believe. But according to this map, we need to head to Reverse Mountain on the Red Line." She pointed to a spot on the parchment that showed a waterway leading through the mountain.

Luffy couldn't contain his excitement. "Does that mean we get to crash through the mountain? That sounds so cool!" Usopp and Zoro exchanged skeptical looks as Sanji chimed in, saying that Nami's predictions were always accurate. Meanwhile, Buggy got up from his seat and wandered over to look out the window.

Zoro turns to Buggy and asks, "Hey, Blue this is your map. How do we know it's reliable? Can't we just go south instead?"

Buggy turns away from the window and joins them again, his face a bit pale as Luffy shouts that it was cooler to enter by using the entrances. As Nami hit Luffy in the head, Buggy answers, "Because of the Calm Belt...which we have just entered.”

Nami began shouting orders for everyone to get their paddles out and start rowing, she ran out onto the deck with the boys following. Buggy and Sanji quickly agreed while Zoro questioned what all the fuss was about. Luffy and Usopp commented on how nice the weather was now.

Nami suddenly stopped moving. Her eyes widened as she took in their surroundings—the eerily still water, the absence of wind, and the unnatural silence that filled the air."No... it's to late," she whispered.

Zoro raised an eyebrow. "What's the big deal?"

"We're in the Calm Belt."

A beat of silence followed. Then, Usopp let out a nervous laugh. "So? I mean, it’s calm, right? That sounds like a good thing!"

Then, the Going Merry lurched. Something massive, something unfathomably large, shifted beneath the surface.

Buggy's face went pale. "Oh, shit.Not again."

Luffy grinned. "Shit its huge!"

Nami explained that the Calm Belt surrounded the Grand Line and was notoriously dangerous. As she spoke, the Going Merry began to shake, and suddenly, they were lifted into the air by a group of massive Sea Kings rising from the depths.

Usopp started to hyperventilate as Luffy cursed and Zoro and Sanji yelled. Nami clung to the mast, her voice trembling as she explained that they were in the middle of a den of sea kings. As Luffy, Sanji, Buggy, and Zoro frantically raced to grab their paddles, Zoro ordered them to row as fast as they could once the Sea Kings dove back underwater.

But just as they were running to their places, Buggy stopped as he spotted a panda-looking sea king swimming nearby. He discreetly waved at it, earning a happy grin from the creature, who managed to convince its fellow Sea Kings to dive back down. However, before they could celebrate, the Sea King they were on sneezed, sending them all flying into the air. With screams echoing through the air, they watched as a giant frog-like Sea King leaped towards them as Usopp went flying off the ship. Luffy quickly stretched out his arm and yanked Usopp back onto the deck, just as the ship hit the water with a loud splash. Everyone screamed as they started to paddle as fast as they could.

After the crew manages to get back into the storm, they all collapse on the deck, gasping for air. Luffy finally catches his breath and utters a grateful "Thank God... we made it back into the storm."

Nami turns to Zoro and asks, "Now do you see... why we have to use the entrance?"

Zoro struggles to catch his breath but responds with a defeated "Yeah, I understand now."

Nami sits up with a sudden realization and exclaims, "Ah, I figured it out!" 

Zoro looks at her in confusion and asks, "What is it?" 

Nami takes deep breaths as she explains, "We're going to have to climb up the mountain!" 

Zoro groans in frustration and says, "You're still going on about that?"

Buggy also sits up, taking over for Nami as she catches her breath. He adds, "The currents of Reverse Mountain are what make it necessary to enter through the waterway. When the strong currents from each of the Blues meet heading up the mountain, they drive the water up and merge at the top, leading into the Grand Line. "Unless you can bully or bribe a Sea King," Buggy mutters the last part under his breath.

Nami continues, ”And since we're already riding those currents, all we have to worry about is steering properly. Luckily, Buggy gave us a map that shows the currents so we can easily navigate through." Nami finishes with a grin.

Luffy nods in understanding and remarks, "So basically, it's like a magic mountain?" 

Sanji chimes in with admiration, "Nami, you're incredible," gazing at her with hearty eyes.

Buggy looks at Nami and sarcastically comments, "Did you really expect those assholes to understand?"

Nami sighs in exasperation and mutters to herself, "I should've known better."

Now that everyone has gotten their breath, they stand up and are waiting for orders. Zoro remarks, "I've never heard of a ship climbing a mountain before." 

Sanji chimes in, "I've heard some things about the Grand Line, though." 

Zoro asks, "About the mountain?" 

Sanji clarifies, "No, but I've heard it's incredibly dangerous. Half of the people who enter don't make it out alive." 

Impressed, Zoro looks at Sanji as Buggy adds, "That's why they call the first part the graveyard."

Luffy exclaims, "Look! I can see the Magic Mountain! It's huge!"

Usopp turns to look in that direction and shouts, "Wait! What's that enormous shadow? Is that the red line? I can't even see the top because of the clouds!"

Luffy then orders, "Get a good grip on the rudder so we don't get pulled under!" Sanji and Usopp rush to grab the helm and hold it steady. 

With awe in her eyes, Nami whispers, "Amazing." 

Zoro grabs binoculars to get a better view and says, "I can't believe it.... The ocean is going up a mountain..." 

As Luffy yells, "We're veering off course a little to the right!" 

Usopp responds with confusion, "Right?!" Sanji shouts directions as they push on the helm, but suddenly it snaps in half. With shock on his face, Luffy sees the helm break.

Nami and Buggy scream, "The rudder broke! We're going to crash!" Zoro looks concerned for those in the lounge. Thinking quickly, Luffy tosses his hat to Zoro, who catches it and rushes to the bow, yelling, "GOMU-GOMU BALLOON!" He jumps off the bow and inflates his body like a balloon, stopping the Going Merry from crashing into a pillar and putting it back on course.

Buggy runs to help, along with Zoro, as they rushes to the back of the ship. Nami cheers, "We're saved!"

Zoro beats Buggy to the back and throws him Luffy's hat as he stretches a hand out towards Luffy, yelling, "Luffy! Grab onto my hand!" Luffy stretches out his arms and grabs Zoro's, pulling himself back onto the deck. Buggy puts Luffy's hat back on his head as everyone celebrates. Nami throws off her raincoat, and Sanji and Usopp jump in the air arm-in-arm as they all scream, "We did it!"

The Going Merry charges up Reverse Mountain and hits the peak before soaring through the air and landing on the waterway leading to the Grand Line. Excitedly, Luffy shouts, "Now all we have to do is go down!" From his spot at the head of the Going Merry, Luffy takes in the view and says, "Whoa, I can see the Grand Line." As they speed down through the clouds, their journey continues onward.

Buggy has a black bandana tied under his high ponytail in a bow. He embraces the rush of wind and clouds as they whip past him. His blue vest flutters in the wind, revealing the bandages covering his torso and arms. The one on his face is gone, but the rest remain. He wears loose brown harem pants that reach his ankles, with a golden yellow scarf cinched around his waist.

As he looks around at the group that has successfully crossed Revers Mountain, he does a quick head count (although he would never admit it). 'Usopp is up in the crow's nest, Sanji holds onto the main sails on the left, and Nami and Zoro are at the bow with Luffy.' Confident that everyone is accounted for, he approaches Nami and shouts over the roaring wind, "Once we hit open water, the log pose will connect to a magnetic field and guide us forward."

Nami looks at him with a strange expression on her face. Buggy's heart races as he yells, "You do have a log pose, right? ... Right?!"

But Nami just stares back blankly and asks, "What's a log pose? And what's that about the magnetic field?" Shocked and stumbling back, Buggy grabs hold of the railing as echoes of a crying soul voice full of loneliness and pain start ring in his ears.

As the group descends, a loud noise echoes through the air, catching Zoro's attention. He turns to Nami and asks if she heard it. Nami, turning away from Buggy, confidently responds that it is just the wind. Luffy, however, yells in excitement as he feels the adrenaline coursing through his veins. Soon after, Usopp exclaimed for everyone to hold on tight. As Sanji warns Nami about a potential mountain up ahead, she reassures him that there is only open water beyond the twin capes. 

Meanwhile, Buggy wonders if Laboon has grown bigger over the past 17 years but is puzzled as to why he is crying. Suddenly, Usopp spots something ahead using his goggles and alerts everyone that it's not a mountain but a giant whale. Panic ensues as Luffy mistakes it for a black wall, Nami denies it, and Usopp screams in terror that it's a whale. As the whale lets out another cry, Buggy recognizes it as Laboon, and everyone else shares the same wide-eyed fear and terror as him.

Amidst the chaos and screams, Luffy suggests fighting back against the hundred-ton whale. Nami protests, knowing they're no match for such a massive creature. Sanji steps in to calm everyone down, reminding them that they're merely specks in comparison to the whale. Zoro puts on a serious expression as he realizes they need to change course to avoid a collision. He spots an opening to their left and yells for a sharp turn, but Usopp informs him that the rudder is broken. Zoro rushes to help Usopp and Sanji while urging them to do something, anything. Luffy comes up with a plan and runs toward a door underneath the bow of the ship.

Nami questions his actions, but before she can stop him, Buggy and Nami are thrown back onto the deck as the ship hits the ocean and continues forward without turning. Just as they are about to crash into the whale, the front cannon fires, causing everyone to jerk forward and then backward from the force. It also manages to slow down the Going Merry enough so it is moving slowly, only coming to a complete stop as the ship bumps into the whale, breaking off the figurehead and sending it flying into the air. 

Nearly killing Nami if Buggy hadn't sent his hands to pull her out of harm's way. Luffy is upset that his special seat is destroyed while everyone recovers and realizes the immense size of the whale. They frantically paddle away until Luffy punches it in the eye for breaking his spot, causing everyone to call him a dumbass. Buggy, Usopp, and Zoro kick him for provoking it further, but the whale just cries out again, opening its mouth and pulling The Going Merry into its mouth.

As the Going Merry was being pulled into the mouth of a whale, Buggy noticed Luffy falling off the ship and towards the water. Without hesitation, Buggy chops himself at his lower back and dives off the ship, grabbing onto Luffy's back. But he soon is overcome by massive pain as his legs fall flat on the deck motionless. Zoro noticed them fall and cried out for them, but he could only watch helplessly. However, Luffy managed to stretch out his arm, with Buggy clinging to his back, onto the whale's tooth, pulling them to it. Then he stretched his arms up to its outside body and started to frantically climb to the top of the whale, saying they would not die, as Buggy whimpered in pain.

As the Going Merry disappeared into the whale's mouth, the whale shut its mouth as if nothing had happened, and everything became calm. Luffy gasped for breath, while Buggy was dazed with pain. Luffy realized that everyone was swallowed, and he grew angry. He began punching the whale, demanding that it spit everyone out and give back his friends so they could continue their adventure together.

Suddenly, the whale started sinking underwater, with Luffy and Buggy still on top. But Buggy, willing his body to float, noticed a hatch and dragged Luffy's attention to it just in time before they were engulfed by water. Once they had entered the whale, Luffy looked around and realized that he had never seen a whale with doors, walls, and lights before. Buggy then fell to the floor again, cursing in pain. 

(inside Laboon)

Zoro, Usopp, Nami, and Sanji stood in shocked silence, taking in their surroundings. The Going Merry was floating aimlessly on a vibrant sea of emerald green, while a clear blue sky stretched above them, dotted with fluffy white clouds and seagulls soaring in the distance. And in front of them lay a small island, adorned with a quaint straw-thatched house, a single palm tree swaying gently in the breeze, and even a beach chair set out as if waiting for its owner to return. A line of laundry hung lazily in the warm air.

Nami broke the eerie silence by speaking up, her voice betraying her confusion. "What do you guys make of this?" 

Zoro responded with a bewildered tone, "What do I make of this...?"

 Another moment of silence passed before Sanji nonchalantly popped a sucker into his mouth and asked, "Yeah, what's the explanation for all this? Because I swear I just saw and felt us get swallowed by a whale." 

Usopp stuttered nervously, "H-H-How...maybe it's all a dream." 

As Zoro echoed his thoughts and said, "Yeah, I'd say that's a fair guess." 

Nami spoke up, saying, "Then what about that island and the house?" 

Zoro, with a slight shrug, said, "Illusions."

The crew continued to question their bizarre surroundings when suddenly, from right in front of them, surfaced a massive Great King Squid. Its body was pure white with striking black markings on its head. Usopp and Nami shrieked in terror and turned away, while Sanji and Zoro prepared to fight. But before they could even react, three harpoons pierced through the squid's body, killing it instantly as it fell backwards towards the island. Sanji and Zoro noticed that the harpoons were tied to ropes that led back to the now-open door of the house on the island.

Zoro wearily stated, "It seems someone is home,"

to which Sanji cautiously replied, "Let's hope it's a real person.”

As they were contemplating their next move, Nami and Usopp came to their senses and sat up on the deck. Nami wiped away tears as she declared, "Nope, I'm done. Let's go home."

 Usopp joined in, his voice trembling with fear as he said, "Squids, harpoons, big man-eating whales...and we lost Luffy and Bugs. What's going to happen to us?" His eyes fell upon half of Buggy's body lying limp on the deck, and he began screaming in terror once again.

Everyone turned to look at the body in shock as Usopp cried out, "Blue got eaten, AAAAAA!" Sanji and Zoro cursed under their breaths while Nami thumped Usopp on the head and reassured him, "Blue ate the Bara-Bara fruit; I'm sure both he and Luffy are fine." She added softly, "Hopefully," as she anxiously watched the unmoving half of Buggy's body. The sound of the dead squid being pulled through the water toward the island caught Sanji and Zoro's attention, causing them to turn around.

Usopp leaps to his feet and points towards the island, exclaiming, "We need to shoot a cannonball at whatever is pulling that squid before we become like that squid next!" Zoro rests his hand on his swords, keeping his gaze fixed on the house ahead.

Sanji also stares ahead but interjects, "Let's wait and see what happens. Someone is coming out." As the squid continues to get dragged closer and closer to the shore of the island, a figure slowly emerges from the shadows of the doorway.

Sanji and Zoro both shout in surprise, "It's…… a flower?!" as the person pulls the squid onto land.

They can now see that it is an older man with glasses and what appears to be purple and yellow flower petals growing from his head. He has a white beard and is wearing a pink button-up shirt with a tropical design in green and yellow, along with blue shorts and sandals.

Sanji mutters in disbelief, "Oh, never mind. It's just a person." 

Nami chimes in cautiously, "That old man killed a king squid with one blow!" 

Zoro adds, "But was he trying to save us, or was he fishing?" 

The crew gulp in unison as they watch the old man haul the giant squid onto his island. He stares at them intently as he approaches his chair and takes a seat. Without breaking eye contact, he pulls out a newspaper and begins reading, ignoring their presence.

Sanji explodes with anger, yelling, "Are you just going to sit there like a jerk?" 

Usopp chimes in with a stutter from the lounge, "I-If you want to fight, we have cannons back here, you bastard!"

Nami looks at him with an expression that clearly says, "Seriously?"

The old man lowers his paper and gives the crew a long, intense gaze before finally speaking up. "If you do decide to fight," he warns, "someone will die."

This only riles up Sanji even more, causing him to lean over the railing and shout, "And who would that be?"

The old man responds calmly yet confidently, "Me, of course."

Sanji feels mocked and shouts back, "You!" as his eyes twitch in exasperation and a vain throbs on his forehead.

Zoro put a hand on Sanji's shoulder. "Now, calm down; don't get so worked up." Sanji huffs and mutters about the old man making a fool out of him.

Zoro's voice remained calm and direct as he addressed the older man. "Hey old man," he began, "could you tell us who you are and where exactly we are?" 

The old man studied Zoro for a few moments before responding. "It's rude to ask about someone before introducing yourself," he scolded.

Understanding the rebuke, Zoro started to introduce himself before the old man spoke again. "My name is Crocus," he said, "lighthouse keeper of the Twin Capes. I am 71 and a half years old, a Gemini, and my blood type is AB, I’m also a recovering alcoholic."

 Zoro's patience snapped, and he reached for one of his swords, yelling at the rest of the crew. "I’m going to cut him right now! Does anyone mind if he's dead?!" Sanji rushed to calm Zoro down as Nami exchanged worried glances with Usopp. 

"Didn't Blue say that the lighthouse keeper is drunk?" Nami whispered to Usopp. He nodded in agreement, and they both realized that Blue had been right again.

Crocus continued speaking. "You're wondering where this place is?" Crocus said it disdainfully. "First, you trespass on my private resort and then speak to me with such rudeness?! Does this look like the stomach of a rat to you?" 

Usopp stuttered out a response. "S...so we did get eaten by the whale?"

Nami panics crying , "I don't want to be digested."

But Crocus only pointed to a huge metal door behind them and said, "If it's an exit you want, there it is." The crew was surprised to find an exit but also confused as to why a whale's stomach would have one.

Nami wonders out loud, "How is that door floating in the sky?" Then Usopp points out that the sky and clouds are all painted. that the whale's stomach had been painted over, but they could not understand why.

Crocus tells Usopp "Just think of it as a doctor's playful mind." 

As Usopp questions what Crocus is even doing in here, Zoro tells him, "Leave him be; we got our exit; let go."

Suddenly, the ocean begins to violently move as Crocus mutters, "He's at it again." The waves rise and fall, and Nami points towards Crocus's island, revealing that it is actually a ship made of iron. Usopp realizes that they are floating on stomach acid, and if they don't leave soon, their own ship will dissolve. He demands an explanation from Crocus."The whale is angry, and the aftershocks are from him hitting his head against the Red Line again." 

Sanji and Zoro are taken aback and ask, "What!?" Nami reminds them of the scars on the whale's head and how it was crying out to the sky.

Usopp wonders, "What does that mean?"

Nami explains, "It's suffering, and that drunkard must be trying to kill it."

The aftershocks from the whale continue as it repeatedly rams into the Red Line. Usopp comments on how cruel of a way this is to kill something. Zoro concludes that the mystery is solved and suggests they leave before they dissolve.

Sanji agrees and adds, "I have no personal grudge against the whale, but we're not obligated to save it either. Let's just get out of here." As they try to escape, their boat is tossed around by the violent sea of stomach acid caused by the whale's ramming the Red Line.

The crew frantically yells and shouts at each other, desperately trying to steer the ship towards the door before it dissolves in the turbulent waves. Their concern is not only for their safety but also for Luffy and Buggy, who were last seen plunging into the sea. Zoro informs them that he witnessed Luffy falling off the ship and Buggy diving after him, but then he saw Luffy emerge from the whale's mouth with Buggy on his back. As they watch Crocus dive into the stomach acid of the whale, they worry about his well-being. But then Usopp notices that Crocus is swimming towards the exit, and Zoro declares that they have no other option but to row towards safety.

As the Going Merry reversed course and headed towards the exit, the crew caught a glimpse of Crocus climbing the ladder. Nami and Usopp both let out screams as they watched Buggy's lower half stand up and exclaim, "It's alive!" Suddenly, a door above the ladder burst open, and Buggy, along with Luffy and two strangers, were flung out over the emerald waters. 

In shock, Zoro blurted out, "L-Luffy and Blue!?”

Chapter Text

Inside the massive whale known as Laboon, Luffy, and Buggy stood in a dimly lit hallway. Lanterns hung from the walls, casting an eerie glow on their surroundings. Luffy's eyes roamed around in confusion, taking in the sight of a hallway inside a living creature. "Why would a whale have doors and hallways?" he mumbled to himself, turning to face Buggy who was floating beside him. Buggy then fell to the floor, writhing in pain and cursing. Luffy quickly rushed to his side, worry etched on his face as he knelt on the floor.

"Blue, are you okay? What's wrong?" He helped Buggy up and leaned him against the wall, but his hands came away wet with blood. Panic set in as Luffy realized that Buggy's bandages were stained red. "Your wounds are bleeding through your bandages! What do I do? How can I help you?”

But Buggy brushed off his concern with an exhausted sigh. "Calm down," he scolded weakly. "A few of my wounds tore open when I dove after you like an idiot. I can use my abilities to seal them close in a moment. I have to be careful tell I fully heal or they will tear again." 

Luffy wiped the blood from his hands onto his pants and tried to calm himself."I thought your bandages were just part of your outfit," Luffy mused aloud. "How did you get so hurt?"

Buggy snapped at him from frustration and pain, "It's none of your business! We need to find the others anyway, so drop it!"

His sharp tone made Luffy pursed his lips in annoyance. But then a determined look crossed Luffy's face and he sat down on the ground, crossing his legs and arms."I am the captain," he declared firmly."It's my responsibility to make sure my Nakama are okay. If I can't do that, what kind of captain am I?" He paused and continued, "Sanji and Zoro are with the others, so they should be fine. Now tell me."

As Luffy spoke, Buggy glared at him from his position on the ground, his arm wrapped around his chest in an attempt to comfort himself. But as Luffy mentioned his role as captain, Buggy's mind wandered back to memories of his old captain. He saw the determination in Luffy's eyes and let out a defeated sigh. "Fine," he relented. "Just stop with that look. I'll tell you, but then drop it, okay?"Luffy's expression darkened as he listened intently, waiting for Buggy to continue.

~ flashback~

1504, September, Foosha Village, Partys Bar

As the sun sets over the village of Foosha, a peaceful scene greets the eye: windmills turning in the gentle breeze, cozy homes scattered throughout fields of green, and a tranquil harbor in the distance. In the heart of town, a newly built establishment called Partys Bar can be found near the harbor. 

Inside, Buggy stands behind the bar counter, meticulously cleaning glasses with a cloth to ensure they are spotless. He smiles as Spark, a toddler wearing an orange shirt, hands him one glass at a time with both hands, his concentration never wavering as he eagerly reaches for another one to pass along. With each glass handed over, Buggy's smile grows wider.

On the other side of the counter sits DR. Whoop Slap, spouse of Mayor Whoop Slap and a respected middle-aged lady in her own right. She sports short hair under a tan bandana adorned with a red cross, and she wears a tie-dye shirt and a long tan skirt. Leaning on the counter with her elbow propped up and her hand supporting her chin, she sips on a cup of tea with contentment written all over her face. 

She set her finished cup down and with a content smile said"It's been eight months now since you opened the bar and it is still very popular." Buggy let out a hum as he finished drying the last glass and then picks up Spark and sits him on the counter as he walked to flip the bars singe from open to close.

Dr. Whoop Slap says with a smirk " And that tangerine whisky goes great with critics tea."

Buggy turns around walking back to the counter with a grin saying" Should the village doctor really be drinking doctored tea." Buggy finished as he booped a giggling Spark on the nose as the doctor laughed. Buggy then said to Spark " How about some curry dinner with a lot of meat here and then we head home ok."

Spark let out a cheers " Yeah!! Spicy to Bugs!"

Buggy grabs Spark spins him into the air and says "Sure, but first got to have my appointment with the doctor k." Buggy then puts him on the stool next to the doctor.

Then he looks at Dr. Whoop Slap and says " You still sober enough for the appointment you scheduled." He finished with a raised brow aimed at the doctor.

Dr.Whoop Slap turns around on the stool and pats Spark's head then looks at Buggy saying" Your appointment was 3 hours ago, and as I observed you I can tell you have done quite well doing your excises and have done well re-building your legs muscle strength, endurance, power and improving overall flexibility and mobility. Just need to know if you have had any loss of sensation or feel any pain or discomfort." Buggy tells her that his feet just feel a bit sore from standing all day.

As the content smile changes into a smaller one the doctor says "It's a miracle! Just three years ago, you could only walk while using your ability, and now you can walk with a slight gait that makes you look like you haven't got your land legs yet for the rest of your life. However, I don't think anyone will notice unless they are a doctor or very observant themself." 

While Dr. Whoop Slap spoke, Spark frowned at Buggy and asked, "Are you alright, Bugs?" Buggy picked Spark up and gave him a tight hug before carrying him to the kitchen. "Of course, the great Flashy Buggy can never be hurt!" he declared."Hey, how about I tell you the time my captain drew on a lion's face to save me and Red? We had thought its tail hair was made of gold because Spencer told us a tall tale, so we pulled it and ended up flashily running from the angry lion and climbed a tree to escape."

Spark agreed with excitement as they walked to the kitchen, where Buggy asked if the doctor would stay for dinner or if she had plans with her husband.

The doctor grinned and replied, "Nope, he has a late meeting tonight, and I wouldn't miss the chance to try your spicy curry." The sound of a children giggling and adults chuckling filled the bar.

As Buggy walks home in the quiet of the night, with Spark sleeping on his shoulder, a group of men suddenly block his path. They all bear barrel pirate tattoos on their clothing or skin. Buggy instinctively turns to shield Spark from them and asks, "What do you want?" 

The leader steps forward, leering at Buggy and remarks, "My partner was right. As I look at you now, you do resemble the rumored apprentice of that demon Gold Roger. Blue hair and a round red nose like a clown. Come spend some time with us on our ship. Our captain would like to have a word with you." Buggy looks down at Spark with conflicting emotions before making up his mind.

He dislodges himself from his feet, turns back to the leader, and flips them off well firmly stating, "I'll pass Fuckers!" Without waiting for a response, he takes off as fast as he can. He can hear the group shouting expletives and giving chase behind him. Buggy lands in front of a house and frantically pounds on the door, shouting for the doctor's help.

The door swings open to reveal a startled Mayor and Doctor, both asking if Buggy is alright and what if something happened to Spark. Buggy squeezes Spark tighter on his shoulder and then painfully hands him over to Dr.Whoop Slap before explaining, "A group of pirates recognized me and Grap isn't on the island right now. I need to lead them away from here and try to get back as soon as possible. Please watch over Spark." He then turns his head along with Dr.Whoop Slap towards distant shouts getting closer down the road.

Buggy turns back to the couple and urgently says, "Quickly turn off the lights and shut the door." With a final touch on Spark's head, he reassures him, "I'll be back, I promise I won't abandon you. I swear on the seas!" With that, Buggy flies off towards the port, stealing a small sailboat and setting sail towards the dangerous Grand Line. As he looks back, he can see the Barrel pirates' ship lurking in the shadows. They spot him too and begin firing their cannons at him.

As Buggy sailed the small ship through the darkness, he deftly avoided the cannon fire from his pursuers. He knew he couldn't take these guys to Bele-mere; it would be too much of a burden for her. But he had a plan to lose them at Revers Mountain and send them crashing into the graveyard. Though, he couldn't help but wonder about the rumors of his supposed death. He quickly refocused on maneuvering the ship as cannon fire continued.  ‘  The Twin Capes, I heard the lighthouse keeper is back , maybe if I can make it there and Crocus can help me .’

[10 days later]

Buggy reached Revers Mountain without stopping and headed straight for the graveyard, luckily the ship he stole was already stocked with supplies. He had been rationing them for three days now but managed to successfully cross over Reveres Mountain. The Barrel Pirates were still hot on his tail, only taking short breaks during the journey. Ultimately, when Buggy arrived at Twin Capes, he found Laboon waiting for him, but his old nakama was nowhere to be seen.

Buggy's stay at Twin Capes was short-lived as he could hear the Barrel Pirates screaming and charging down the mountain toward him. Spotting a fog rolling in, Buggy quickly sailed towards it, hoping to lose his pursuers and make his way back to Foosha. While sailing through the thick fog, he managed to shake off the Barrel Pirates, but visibility was extremely poor. Suddenly, another ship appeared out of nowhere and collided with Buggy's, causing significant damage and leaving him on the verge of sinking. Miraculously, the crew aboard the other ship spotted him and pulled him on board just in time.

The crew of the ship shouted frantically for Buggy to come aboard, their voices carrying over the tumultuous waves and whipping wind. Without hesitation, he climbed up the netting with practiced ease, muscles straining as he pulled himself onto the deck. Once safely on board, hands reached out to steady him and help him catch his breath. As he stood there, taking in his surroundings, Buggy couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation.

The ship was a Schooner, recognizable by its sleek design and size. But as he turned to look at the flag, he saw a skull with crossed swords - a symbol used by older pirates. Buggy felt a bit pale as he turned to thank the men who had helped him up. They spoke comically, introducing themselves as Ragetti and Pintel. Ragetti was tall and skinny with blond hair, while Pintel was short and round with gray hair. Each wore a faded blue coat and torn clothing. As they spoke, the rest of the crew appeared, led by a man with many scars on his face. He wore extravagant pirate attire, complete with belts, jewelry, and a large hat adorned with ostrich feathers. The man also had long scraggly hair, a mustache, and a beard, along with a wooden leg.

With a monkey perched on his shoulder, the man's intimidating appearance was only heightened as he began to speak. "Welcome aboard the Cobra, lad. I am Captain Barbossa, this be my fine vessel. What brings ye sailing through this treacherous sea all by yourself?" His commanding voice was offset by his relaxed demeanor as he tickled the monkey under its chin.

Buggy quickly thought up a lie and spoke calmly "My name is Bugs. I got caught in a storm while fishing and ended up drifting towards your ship. I was lucky enough to avoid a full collision, but my ship sank." Buggy tried to maintain a sense of being lost and kept his posture nonchalant.

Captain Barbossa gave Buggy a thorough look, noting his short messy blue hair tied in a haphazard bun and his worn clothes with the word "Party" emblazoned on them. But what caught his attention most was Buggy's round, red nose. "Looks like you've had some bad luck, lad. But it seems your luck may be turning around. We'll drop you off at the next port and have the ship doctor take a look at you." Barbossa led Buggy through the ship to the doctor's quarters. As he announced their arrival, he placed a hand on Buggy's shoulder. "Tia I’ve got a patient for ye to work your voodoo on." Then he turned to Buggy and said, "You'll be seen by the doctor first, and then she'll direct you to my cabin where we can discuss your job to pay your way to port."

As Barbossa walked away, Buggy found himself alone in the dimly lit room. It felt like a dark cavern filled with strange and mysterious objects. The walls were adorned with ancient symbols and skulls, while shelves held potions and oddities of all kinds. In the center of the room sat a voodoo witch doctor with a glint in their eye, surrounded by flickering candles and chanting softly. Unbeknownst to Buggy, there was also a small snail tucked away in one corner of the room.

A tall, dark-skinned woman appeared before Buggy, introducing herself as Tia Dalma. Her piercing eyes seemed to see right through him as she circled him, taking note of his every feature and movement. "You're a long way from home now, child," she said in a low, husky voice. "But have no fear, old Tia will take care of ya." She led Buggy to sit on a wooden table and asked him to remove his shirt, revealing the numerous scars that covered his back. "Such deep scars," she murmured, running her fingers lightly over them. "Tia can see that three lives were spared with each wound. A strong survivor, you are."

 Buggy's heart began to race as he listened to her words, feeling a sense of unease wash over him. But before he could question her further, she grabbed some vials filled with mysterious liquids and tended to his scrapes and cuts. "Don't worry," she reassured him. "Tia knows these things. Nothing can block my sight from the beloved children of the sea. And oh how the sea is calling for ya child! Not just because ya devoured a devil, but because she misses having you swim in her tides and travel on her waves."Buggy's heart raced at her words.

Ignoring Buggy's shocked expression and unspoken questions, she led him out of her room and instructed him to make his way to the captain's quarters. "Although if you happen to find a chance to escape, well... I won't stop ya," she added with a sly smile. With Tia leading the way and her eyes lingering on a dinghy hanging off the edge of the ship, Buggy knew he was too exhausted to even attempt an escape right now.

He could only hope to regain his strength and plan his escape during their journey.

Following Tia's instructions, he made his way to Barbossa's cabin. As he knocked on the door, Buggy heard a gruff voice permitting him to enter. Pushing open the door, he saw Barbossa sitting at a table laden with food, enough for two people. "Come in, lad," Barbossa said, gesturing for Buggy to join him. "Have some food before we discuss the work you can do to earn your passage."

Buggy's stomach growled at the sight and smell of the delicious food on offer. He eagerly sat down at the table and waited for Barbossa to begin eating before he dug in himself. As they ate, Barbossa made small talk with Buggy, asking about his experience on ships and other topics.

But soon enough, Buggy began to feel a drowsiness creeping over him. His eyes drooped as Barbossa spoke of tales about two children raised by the infamous pirate Gol D Roger - one with blue hair and one with red. The mention of his captain's name caused beads of sweat to form on Buggy's forehead as he struggled against the drugged food.

Suddenly, Barbossa stood up from his chair and started pacing around Buggy, the thumping sound of his wooden leg echoing across the deck. "I have been fortunate enough to witness Roger in battle myself," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "And I recall seeing a child who bore a striking resemblance to you at that time." He stopped in front of Buggy, locking eyes with him. "So here's my proposition: Tell me about the map I seek and I'll let you off at the next port."

Buggy tried to maintain his facade but felt a surge of fear as Barbossa seemed to know more than he was letting on. "I have no idea what you're talking about," he retorted, attempting to reach for a hidden knife.

Before he could even grab it,he felt cold metal cuffs being snapped onto his wrists. A sickening wave of weakness hit him. Buggy’s heart slammed into his ribs. Sea-Prism cuffs.  Through blurred vision, he saw Barbossa's sneering face. "You should have cooperated, lad. But you'll come around soon enough. Those Barrel Pirates did a good job." As Buggy slipped into darkness, he could only curse himself.

~flashback over~

Buggy clenched his arms around himself, the echoes of past screams ringing in his ears. His voice was hoarse as he muttered, "I must have been on that ship for at least three months, though it felt like an eternity. The captain would come to my cell every day, trying to convince me to join his crew or hand over knowledge about a map I didn't possess. And every time I refused, I was met with whipping, beatings, and starvation." Luffy's face contorted in anger as Buggy continued his story.

"But one night, with the help of Tia, the voodoo witch on board the ship, I managed to escape. I jumped into the sea, I didn't know why I didn't just straight drown being a devil fruit user. But when I woke up, I was at Twin Capes and immediately dragged myself to my old crew mates door. He was the ship's doctor I thought he would help me, but when I banged on his door, That fucking bastard answer it drunk out of his mind and muttering about ghosts, he slammed it in my face and left me bleeding on the doorstep. 

That's when Laboon, the whale we're currently riding inside of, came to my rescue and brought me to Drum Island.”

Suddenly, the hallway started violently shaking, throwing both Buggy and Luffy around like rag dolls into the walls. Instinctively, Luffy wrapped his arms around Buggy to protect him from hitting more walls as they careened down the hall. Buggy was shocked by this action of protection as Luffy shouted over the chaos, "What's going on?!”

As they were thrown around and bounced off walls down the hallway, the shaking eventually stopped and Luffy slammed into a final wall protecting Buggy. He quickly stood up and stumbled forward before realizing they were now standing near a waterway. Buggy floated in mid-air once again while Luffy struggled to regain his balance and prevent himself from sliding down the walkway.

"I'm sliding!" Luffy exclaimed as he desperately grabbed onto the wall for support. Despite Buggy's attempt to help by grabbing onto Luffy's shoulders, he too was dragged along as Luffy ran frantically and tried to regain his footing on the slick surface.

 Luffy ran forward at full speed, with Buggy desperately trying to halt Luffy's unstoppable charge, the young pirate cried out in frustration. "I can't stop! Please, someone stop me!" 

Buggy scanned ahead and spotted a massive iron door, with a smaller one directly in Luffy's path. Standing right in front of the door were a man and woman; the man wore a golden crown on his head with a '9' on each cheek, dressed as a prince, while the woman had blue hair tied up in a high ponytail and was wearing a long coat. Both of them held bazookas in their hands.

Buggy shouted to warn them: "Watch out! He can't stop!" The couple screamed and tried to move out of the way, but it was too late. Luffy crashed into them, causing all four of them to fly out of the door and over the green sea below screaming.

With Buggy clinging tightly to Luffy's back, they soared through the air towards the sparkling sea below. The wind whipped through their hair and the rush of adrenaline made their blood sing. Suddenly, Zoro's voice rang out in surprise, "L-Luffy and Blue!?" Luffy looked over his shoulder, waving excitedly as he shouted, "Guys! I knew you would be alright!" But as they began to descend towards the water, Luffy yelled out for help.

Buggy replied confidently, "Don't worry, I've got this. Just hold on tight." With a powerful burst of speed, Buggy flew them high above the ship before gently setting Luffy down on the deck. 

Usopp called out in amazement, "Hey, there are two other strange people here too." They splashed down into the emerald green waters, causing it to spray high into the air.

Zoro declared, "Who cares about them? Luffy and Blue come first." Usopp agreed with a nod.

Once Luffy was safely back on solid ground, Buggy reattached himself to his body and collapsed onto the deck face first, groaning in pain. Concerned for his well-being, Luffy knelt next to him while Zoro looked on with feigned disinterest. "Are you okay, Blue?" Zoro asked gruffly.

Nami chimed in with a sassy tone, "Yeah, you don't look so good Blue." 

Sanji added in his suave manner, "Yeah, do you need anything Blue?" 

and Usopp piped in nervously, "What they said...Blue."

As they bombarded Buggy with their concern, he became increasingly agitated until he snapped back at them in irritation, pushing himself up with his arms as he screeched. "Stop calling me Blue you Shitheads! What the hell! When did you start that Fuck!" But then the pain hit him like a ton of bricks, and he let out a cry before collapsing back to the ground. "Fuck it, I don't care.”

Buggy let out an exasperated sigh and said “I'll be fine I just have to use my Bara-Bara abilities to seal up the open wounds, and reattach some things," He glared at his companions and added, muttering in frustration. "Just give me some peace, you little shits."

Suddenly, an idea popped into his head. "Maybe you should save those two weirdos that fell with us. One was a woman, and the other looked like a prince with a golden crown."

This sparked excitement in Nami's and Sanji's eyes as they immediately sprang into action. Sanji dove into the water to rescue the female stranger while Nami barked orders at Usopp to retrieve the male stranger, kicking him off the ship and into the water below.

Zoro and Luffy exchanged glances above Buggy, Zoro suggested "That doesn't look very comfortable. Let's move you over to the railing." 

Luffy chimed in "Yeah, we'll help you lean against it. It'll be more comfortable that way." 

They both turned to Buggy who let out a groan and grumbled "Fine, do what you want as long as you leave me alone." Once he gave in, they carefully flipped him onto his back and laid him against the railing at the bow of the ship. However, they didn't notice the dark stain spreading on the back of Buggy's vest.

(Meanwhile with Crocus)

Crocus had climbed up the latter taking notice of two strangers and the two rouges that have been causing him trouble, trying to kill Laboon. '  one of those screams sounds very very familiar.'

But he does not have time to deal with them as the soul voice of Laboon cries out as another violent shake hits '  Stop It Laboon!'  

He runs to the room that had the sedatives and loads up the needle.'Stop hurting yourself!'

As he gets the syringe into position, he notes to himself out loud" I don't have much sedatives left. Looks like I need to make some more."

he pushes the needle into Laboon talking to him as the sedative takes effect" That wall Before you separates the oceans of the world. you won't be able to bring it down even if you keep on bashing it until you die!... So please stop Laboon." then he starts heading back to the ladder to deal with the two rouges and see about that familiar scream.

Nami's gaze drifted up to the painted mural on the ceiling, and she couldn't help but comment, "The whale is more peaceful now." She couldn't miss the calm green water surrounding their ship.

With Zoro's and Luffy’s assistance, Buggy had finally settled down on the deck, resting his head against the railing. "This whale is known as Laboon, though I have no clue why he was causing such a ruckus earlier. He was perfectly fine when I last encountered him." 

Nami appeared to have questions for Buggy, but before she could ask, Sanji and Usopp were hauling two strangers out of the acid ocean and onto the deck in front of Luffy.

Sanji took a seat next to Luffy on the left side, while Usopp stood across from Nami in front of the newcomers.

Luffy sat on the railing to Buggy's left and asked the newcomers, "So, who exactly are you two?"

The woman known as Miss Wednesday whispered to her companion "Mr. 9, these people are pirates," as she took note of their jolly roger.

Mr. 9 replied in a low voice, "I know, Miss Wednesday, but they seem like decent individuals."

In a sudden burst of fury, Crocus burst through the doorway and declared, "I won't let you harm Laboon as long as I'm alive!" 

Buggy couldn't help but think to himself, 'So he'll protect Laboon but not me?' 

Luffy turned to his crew with curiosity and asked, "Who is the old man?" 

Usopp exclaimed in surprise, "Oh, he's back?" As he was about to explain who Crocus was to Luffy,

Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday suddenly stood up laughing and announced, "Fufufu... We're inside the whale now!" They aimed their bazookas at its stomach and boasted, "It will be so easy to blast a hole in it!" 

The first cannonballs blasted toward the stomach lining.Buggy’s heart dropped. "NO!"

His legs refused to move, but his hands shot forward, desperately trying to pull himself up. “Stop!Don’t you fucking DARE—”

Before he could force them to work, Zoro placed a hand on his shoulder from the right and sternly said, "Calm down. You'll just reopen your wounds." Zoro narrowed his eyes suspiciously at Buggy's legs.

Meanwhile, Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday screamed, "We won't let you interfere in our whaling business any longer!" 

Crocus swore under his breath and leaped into the air to stop the cannonballs with his own body before falling into the stomach acid below.

Usopp exclaimed in amazement, "Did that old man really take that blast on his own?"

Buggy let out a scoff and leaned back against the railing, while Zoro's brow furrowed. Buggy said, "Old drunks like him don't die easily."

Luffy turned to Buggy with curiosity and asked, "Hey is he the same guy you told me about?"

Buggy scowled and replied, "You promised to drop it. It doesn't matter now." Luffy crossed his arms in frustration and glanced at his crew before shaking his head and looking away.

As Nami spoke up, "So he's protecting Laboon?"

In a monologue, Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday declared, "OH-OHOHO! Cease your futile resistance! Try to protect the whale if you still can! But it won't stop our town from using this whale as food." 

Usopp and Nami were confused and asked aloud, "What's going on? Why is that old man...?" Crocus growled while Buggy narrowed his eyes and aimed his arm at them.

Before he could attack, Luffy intervened and knocked both of them unconscious, saying firmly, "I might not know what's going on, but knock it off. You're upsetting my nakama. until I know what is happening stay asleep." Then Usopp and Sanji tied the two knocked-out whale hunters together with rope.

They carefully moored the Going Merry to the rocky shore of Crocus Little Island, expertly rolling up the sails to prevent any damage. As Sanji assisted Usoop in transferring Mr.9 and Miss. Wednesday onto the small island. Luffy walked over to Buggy" Hey, Blue,” he said with a grin.” Nami wants to find out what is going on. so she wants to talk to that old guy, wants to come with?" 

Buggy scowled up at Luffy not moving from his position then looking away, from him Buggy grumbled" I overused my abilities it's best if I don't move for now. So I will stay, I can hear from here." Then Buggy spotting Zoro and Nami watching with a smirk said loudly "And take the rest of the brats along, I might be able to nap."

Zoro immediately snapped back, his temper flaring. "You're younger than me!" he yelled. "Don't think I won't cut you damn it!"

Before Zoro could get more riled up Sanji came back onto the ship and held his hand out to Nami asking " May I help you off the ship Nami?" 

Nami rolled her eyes and said" Sure." taking his hand and going to the Island.

Buggy looked back up at Luffy who had a slight frown and Buggy said" Well get going, it's not like I can run away." Buggy finished with a self-mocking grin.

Luffy gave Buggy one last look then ran to Zoro and as he passed him Luffy said" Last on the Island is a rotten egg Shi shi shi." Zoro started chasing him shouting about not being last.

Zoro was left behind as Luffy swiftly climbed up the palm tree on the small island. Crocus, the caretaker of the island, had finished swimming to shore and was now settled in his beach chair, observing Luffy's antics. "I can't thank you enough for saving my life,.. but why?" Crocus said gratefully, but also curious about Luffy's motives.

Luffy shrugged off the thanks and replied, "I didn't do it to save you. I just didn't like those two upsetting Blue."

Confused, Crocus asked, "Blue? Who is that?" Before he could inquire further,

Nami interjected, "Actually, we're more interested in getting answers. Who are these people?" She gestured towards Mr.9 and Miss Wednesday who were tied up in front of her. Then she turned to Crocus and questioned, "And why are you living inside a whale?"

With his arms crossed, Corcus proceeded to explain, "The whale we are currently inside of is named Laboon. He's an Island whale, typically found in the West Blue. It's the largest species of whale in the world." He gestured towards the tied-up whale hunters and continued, "These two are rogues from a nearby town. Their goal is to hunt Laboon for meat, which could feed their town for 2-3 years." His voice grew passionate as he declared, "But I won't allow it!" Taking a deep breath, he added, "As for why Laboon constantly bashes his head against the Red Line and bellows towards Reverse Mountain... there's a reason for all that too. Long ago, when I was just a lighthouse keeper minding my own business, a friendly group of pirates came down Reverse Mountain. And trailing behind their ship was a little baby whale - Laboon. It seems Laboon had joined their journey in the West Blue, but fearing the dangers of the Grand Line, they left him behind... or so they thought."

Corcus leaned in closer and explained, "You see, island whales normally swim in pods together. To Laboon, those pirates were his pod members. But when their ship got damaged upon arrival here, they had to stay for several months to fix it. During their stay, I became quite good friends with them. And on the day they departed, their captain asked me, "Dear friend, could you please take care of Laboon for 2-3 years? Once we've sailed around the world, we'll come back for him no matter what." Understandably, Laboon has been patiently waiting for them here ever since.”

Nami nodded in understanding and said, "So that's the reason why he continues to bellow and throw himself against the Red line.." Luffy had climbed the palm tree in search of coconuts but stopped to listen to the story along with everyone else.

Crocus then added, "Yes, inside Laboon beats the heart of a human. He has been waiting for over 50 years now since his friends left him. But he still believes they will return someday." 

Zoro was amazed by this revelation, muttering "Fifty years..." 

Usopp asked, "So Laboon has been waiting all this time for his friends to come back?"

Nami nodded in understanding and commented, "No wonder he's so upset. Waiting that long would drive anyone crazy."

Luffy's eyes widened from the information about Laboon. Then Luffy and the crew looked over at the ship they could hear Buggy asking loudly, "But when I was here 17 years ago, Laboon seemed perfectly fine. So what changed?"

Chapter Text

Crocus turned toward the Going Merry at the familiar voice. ‘That voice… It’s the same as before.’ He frowned. ‘But I can’t hear their soul’s voice… no presence, no Haki. Either they’re a master at suppressing themselves… or they’re dead.’
Crocus’ gaze darkened. ‘But if they’re speaking… they can’t be dead. Right?’

Crocus turns to Luffy and questions," Is that another member of your crew?"

Luffy looks down at Crocus, grinning ear to ear. “That’s Blue! He’s my crew’s doctor!”

Crocus’s eyes widened as he took in Luffy’s blindingly bright smile.

Buggy hears Luffy from where he still has not moved on, The Going Merry and shouts at him, "Temporary, you little shit! Tem·po·rar·y! I am not part of your crew!" 

Luffy stretched himself out to the railing of The Going Merry, using his gomu powers to pull himself back onto the deck with a loud laugh. He turns to Buggy and stubbornly retorts, "I'll convince you, Blue! Just wait and see!" Suddenly, he paused and looks back over the railing in panic."How do we get out of here, guys?"

Nami shouted as she returned to the ship. "You idiot," she scolded Luffy, "we have to wait for the old man to open the giant door."

Crocus stood up and pointed to the already open door, saying, "The door has been open for a while now." This revelation caused everyone else's eyes to widen in surprise as they thought, ‘ How did we not notice that !? "‘

Crocus turns his attention to the three teenagers still on his island and inquires, "Why didn't your other crew member come ashore?" Sanji casually popped a sucker into his mouth as he follows Nami, with a mischievous grin, chims in, "Blue is just shy." 

Crocus simply shrugged and replied, "Fair enough. I'll guide you outside, kids." As Usopp and Zoro made their way onto The Going Merry, they overheard Buggy shouting about being called 'Blue' and being labeled as shy.

Sitting atop the neck of the broken figurehead of The Going Merry, Luffy watched as they drifted down the waterway that he and Buggy had discovered earlier. Buggy sat to his left, not moving from his spot against the railing at the bow, but now wiggling his feet. Luffy's eyes roamed around in wonder, commenting, "This is quite the waterway." 

Nami stood at the bow with them on the right side, peering over the railing at Crocus' ship that is  floating alongside them. She marvels, "I can't believe you were able to carve out such a big hole and live inside it.”

Then Usopp, from close to Nami, asked, “Is this just another product of a doctor's playful mind?"

Crocus replied modestly, "It's just a hobby of mine as a doctor. Don't get the wrong idea; I may not look like much, but I am a licensed physician. I even used to run a clinic at the Cape many years ago. And beyond that, I've spent a few years working as a ship doctor."

Luffy turns to Buggy and exclaims, "Look Blue? He's a doctor too, just like the one from your story! And he was a ship doctor too!" Blue, who looks sweaty and pale, glares at Luffy and grumbles, "You promised to drop it.”

Crocus moves from his small island and climbs up a ladder towards the last door, telling Nami that it was easier to work on someone as big as Laboon from the inside. Then Nami, let Crocus focus on opening the door, turning her attention to Buggy's pale appearance. She suggests that Crocus could help with his wounds, but before Buggy could respond, the gate open. Usopp, Zoro, and Sanji quickly lowered the sails and guided the ship out of the gate.

Luffy jumps up excitedly, throwing his arms in the air and exclaiming, "We made it! We can finally see the real sky!"

Usopp gestured at the tied-up whale hunters, looking mildly concerned. “Uh… so what do we do with them? Hand ‘em over? Let the old guy deal with ‘em?”

Luffy shrugged. “Meh. Toss ‘em somewhere.”

Usopp blinked. “…Somewhere where?”

Luffy grinned. “Dunno! Just somewhere.”

Zoro smirked. “That’s… reassuring.”

Buggy's voice was low and quiet as he looked at Nami, saying, "No, I'm fine." He pants, sweat runs down his cheek, causing her to frown.

Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday were untied and unceremoniously tossed overboard, landing in the deep waters of the ocean. As they regained consciousness, they feared they had been thrown into the stomach acid, but soon realized they were in the actual ocean. Luffy joined them at the back of the ship looking down at them he asks, "So, who are you two again?"

Which made Miss Wednesday yell, "Shut up! It's none of your business!" 

But Mr. 9 intervened, "Wait, Miss Wednesday. Perhaps it is actually their business, given that they are pirates."

Calming down, Miss Wednesday agreed and shouted at Luffy and his crew on the ship, "Our organization might have a use for you. Prepare yourselves!" They quickly swam away, warning the others to watch their backs, as they would soon claim the whale.

Sanji let out a dreamy sigh and commented, "So her name is Ms. Wednesday? What an intriguing mystery."

As Luffy picks something up off the deck, he mused aloud, "Did someone drop this here?"

Nami turns to Crocus and questions him, "Are you really just going to let them go? They'll surely come back for the whale."

Crocus replies, "Even if I don't let them go, there will always be other rogues who will come to take their place."

After docking the Going Merry at Twin Cape, the crew dispersed to relax on the shore, except for Buggy, who claimed he was content staying on board and could hear their conversation from there. Everyone began discussing the pirates who had promised to return to Laboon but never did. When Sanji suggested they were probably dead, Usopp grew upset.

Then, Crocus interjected with a somber tone, "The truth is far crueler, however," revealing that he had heard from a reliable source that those pirates had actually left the Grand Line. Nami was shocked by this news, as it meant they must have passed through the treacherous Calm Belt.

Crocus confirmed her theory with a solemn nod before adding, "If they did survive, they would never dare to return here again. to a place where the seasons, climate, currents, and winds could not be more chaotic. A place where common sense fails to uphold itself. That place is this sea, the Grand Line, and it rules with fear over the faint-hearted." 

Sanji sits at the table with the rest of their group, while Crocus gazed off at Laboon, who was fixated on the mountain in the distance. Sanji summarized, "So basically, those cowards were more concerned with saving themselves than keeping a promise. And as a result, the Grand Line has remained unvisited." 

Usopp's outrage grew as he exclaimed, "So they just left behind the whale? Even though Laboon never once doubted them?" His voice growing louder as he yells, "And now he's been waiting here for over 50 years! How could they be so heartless?" 

Nami interjects, "If that's the case, why haven't you tried talking to Laboon and telling him the truth? He can understand human language, right?"

Crocus replies sadly, "I've been telling him the whole truth for 16 years, but he refuses to believe me. That they abandoned him.”

Crocus remembers the moment when he had to break the news to Laboon that his friends would not be coming back. Despite his howling and refusal to listen, Crocus tried to tell Laboon but was met with a wave of water being thrown at him. "Laboon has been bellowing and crashing into Reverse Mountain ever since," Crocus explained. "It's like he's stubbornly holding onto the belief that his friends will return someday."

Sanji commented, "What a persistent whale...even after being betrayed." 

Zoro added, "There's no point in waiting any longer." 

Buggy, who had tears streaming down his pale face, heard their conversation from the deck of the Going Merry and thought, 'Stupid Crocus, why did he have to tell him like that?' Luffy, who was with the others, was lost in thought as he picked his nose before suddenly standing up and sneaking away to the Going Merry unnoticed.

Sanji turns and ask Crocus. "When you think about it, you have also been betrayed. Why not let the whale by already?" 

Crocus point at Laboon, "Look at the scars on his head; if he continues to recklessly bash his head against the wall, he'll definitely die. He has been my companion for 50 years. I can't just stand by and watch him die."

Tears stream down Buggy's face as he sat on the deck of The Going Merry. He looks up gazing at the sky and whispers, “But you could slam the door on me and leave me to die, right? If it were not for Laboon, I would have died.” Buggy heard footsteps approaching and turns to see Luffy walking towards him.

Studying Luffy's expression, Buggy remarks, "I know that look. Do whatever you want; just don't hurt my friend. If you do, I'll kill you." 

Luffy chuckles, "Don't worry, Blue. He saved your life, which means he saved my nakamas life. That makes him a friend, and I always help my friends." With that, Luffy wrapped his arms around the main mast and pulls it right off the ship. Buggy laughs, unaware of the red liquid spreading onto over the deck.

"Uooohhhhh!" Crocus, Nami, Usopp, Zoro, and Sanji are suddenly startled by the sight of Luffy running up the side of Laboon.

Usopp wonders aloud, "What is that idiot up to now?"

Sanji suggests, "Maybe he just enjoys climbing things?"

while Zoro curses, "Take your eyes off him for one second and..."

They all stop as they hear laughter coming from below. Nami exclaims, "Is that Blue? What the hell?"

They all watch as Luffy reaches the top of Laboon and shouts, "Gomu, Gomu, Flower Arranging!" He then plunges the mast of the Going Merry into an open wound on Laboon's head.

Zoro questions, "Hey, is that a mast?"

Usopp confirms, "Yeah, I think it's our ship's."

Sanji agrees, "Yup, it's our main mast, alright."

They all rush over to the cliff and look down to inspect the Going Merry, they can still hear Buggy laughing maniacally as they see that their main mast is now missing.

Laboon is taken aback for a moment before the searing pain sets in and he starts to howl in agony. He frantically shakes his head, trying to shake off the mast and Luffy.

Crocus, Nami, Sanji, and Zoro all shout in confusion, "What is he doing?!" 

while Usopp screams in horror, "He demolished our ship!"

Buggy cackles gleefully as his body sways back and forth. "Gahaha! This dumbass idiot! gahahah! This is captain, level stupid! gahaha! Rayleigh would have had a heart attack! Gahaha! Now we are stuck here, gahahah! I'm going to hit him.. ha… ha… uh why am... I... cold?" Buggy eyes slowly close.

Meanwhile, Luffy clings tightly to the mast that he just plunged into Laboon's flesh.Laboon comes to the realization that he won't be able to dislodge Luffy and changes tactics, aiming to slam his head against the cliff where the lighthouse and others are standing. Panic ensues as everyone tries to escape from the oncoming danger. Despite their efforts, Laboon's head narrowly misses them all, but he does knocks Luffy off in the process.

Crocus screams in a mix of anger and fear as he rushes towards Luffy, shouting for him to get away from danger, but Nami stops him, saying, "Don't worry about him; he won't die."

Laboon winces in pain after slamming his head into the stone, registering the self-inflicted injury. Luffy wipes off his face and teasingly remarks, "Heh heh, you big dummy!" 

This only fires up Laboon even more as he blows air out of his nose holes before using his head to knock Luffy away. Not one to back down, Luffy fights back by stretching out his arm and punching Laboon in the eye once again. In response, Laboon retaliates with another headbutt, launching Luffy into the lighthouse.

Zoro yells at Luffy, exasperated, "What the hell are you doing, Luffy?!”

Crocus watches in disbelief as Laboon lets out another bellow, and Luffy sits up and shouts at Laboon, "It's a tie!" Then he turns to Laboon, who is still in shock, and says, "I'm tougher than I look, huh?"

Laboon seems to understand as Luffy adds, "Our fight isn't over yet. We'll have to battle each other again! Your old friends may be gone, but I'll be your new rival." Everyone is stunned by Luffy's proclamation as he adds, "And once my crew sails through the Grand Line, we'll come back here to see you again."

Tears well up in Laboon's eyes as Luffy makes a promise, "And then we'll have another epic showdown!"

Laboon bellows happily in response.

Luffy finds some paint, draws a silly version of his Jolly Roger on Laboon's head, and covers the wound he caused with band-aids. He explains, "This will remind you of our promise to fight, so don't rub it off by ramming into the mountain before we return, got it?"

Laboon makes a noise of agreement.

Suddenly, panicked cries of "LUFFY!!!" ring out from the Going Merry, causing Luffy to rush back to the ship along with Nami and Crocus.

 [ a few moments earlier]

As the crew went to work on their respective tasks, Luffy talked to Laboon, and Nami could be seen meticulously charting out their path for the journey ahead. The boys, with their own duties in mind, scattered to different areas of the ship: Usopp to fix the mast, Sanji to prepare a meal, and Zoro to catch up on much-needed sleep.

But as they made their way back to the deck, they were met with a chilling sight. Buggy's head drooped, and his body slumped against the railing of the deck. He looked drained and pale, gasping for breath. Blood seeped from under his body, creating a red pool on the otherwise clean surface of the ship's main deck.

Rushing over, Usopp came to a halt at the railing while Zoro and Sanji stood in front of him. Zoro kneels down and grabs Buggy’s shoulders shouting. "The hell happened!" 

In response, Buggy's eyes flew open—glazed over and filled with pain— his eyes seemed to look through him as he tried to lash out with a punch Zoro.

"Don't touch me! Fuck off!" he screams, his voice trembling with fear and confusion.

Reacting quickly, Sanji grabbed onto the back of Zoro's shirt, pulling him out of harm's way. "Remember what I said about not grabbing him suddenly?" Sanji scolded.

Usopp’s breath hitched. His eyes went wide, hands trembling as he pointed toward the left side of the ship."B-b-blood…" The words barely made it past his lips.

Sanji and Zoro followed his gaze—and their stomachs dropped.

Blood.

Dripping. Smearing. Streaking down the side of the Merry. A trail of red soaking into the wood beneath Buggy’s slumped body.

Sanji’s sucker snapped between his teeth. “Shit!”

Zoro’s hand flew to his sword."Dammit!"

In a moment of panic, they all screamed, ” Luffy--!!!”

~ During the check-up exams/Flash Back~

The echoes of crashing and stomping could be heard from within the lounge, followed by a loud voice exclaiming, "Found it! You're first, overalls strip!" The door to the lounge slammed shut, and soon after, Usopp's high-pitched screams pierced the air as the others cowered in fear.

Luffy nervously chuckled. "See? Blue would make a great addition to our crew!"

Zoro stood with his arms folded, a conflicted expression on his face. "I don't trust that clown. He's the same guy who tried to kill us and led Arlong to us."

Sanji interjected, "I agree with Zoro. We shouldn't invite Buggy to join us. If he can break a promise to a lady, he must be trash and just putting up an act."

Nami, who had been quiet until now, spoke up. "Actually, I think Luffy is right. We should invite Buggy."

Luffy cheered as Nami agreed with him. Zoro and Sanji yelled out in confusion, "Why?”

Nami continued, "I think we may be missing something here. There are too many coincidences. First, the ship I stole was one of Buggy's ships. Second, we were able to escape easily, and it all seemed so conveniently timed now, looking back. Third, we defeated his crew quite quickly. And fourth..." She pulled out the map that Buggy had given her of Cocoyashi Village, "The Blue Wonder mark on this map... I lied, I’ve seen one before. It was on a map given to Bele-mere, and it was a map of Foosha Village. When I asked her about it, she said her little brother gave it to her. So there has to be some truth in what Buggy says."

Luffy cut in excitedly, "As captain, I get to decide who joins our crew!" He stomped his foot for emphasis. "Blue didn't try to kill us the first time, and he even helped us out after the storm. And he was even concerned about our injuries; he dried us off, providing blankets and food for us. I don’t know what made his older self so mean, But this Blue is a good guy!"

Sanji finished his cigarette "Well, we can test Buggy's medical knowledge and personality to see if he's telling the truth. You can't fake that kind of expertise. We can each test him and then compare notes."

But Luffy was determined: "I don't care; I'm asking him to join us permanently anyway." The other three let out a collective sigh.

Usopp hurried out of the lounge and sprinted down the stairs towards the rest of the crew. But he stopped in his tracks as they all turned to stare at him, worry etched on their faces. "What happened?" Zoro asked. "Did he do something strange or say anything suspicious?"

In a rush, Usopp recounted everything that had just transpired. "Buggy called himself the liar on his old crew," he explained. "He said he was the weakest one, but the rest were powerful monsters. His captain taught him about maps and navigation. And when we fought, he only won because you guys were all injured. He has like no self-esteem; if it were me, I'd be bragging endlessly." As Usopp caught his breath, he added, "And Nami, he specifically asked for you next."

Nami began to walk towards the stairs, but Sanji stood in her way, declaring, "Nami, I don't think it's safe for a beautiful lady like you to be alone with him." Nami scowled and used her staff to sweep Sanji's legs out from under him, saying, "Thanks but I didn't ask for your opinion, Sanji. I trust him, but I'll still test him." She continued up the stairs and into the lounge shutting the door behind her.

Meanwhile, Zoro and Sanji interrogated Usopp for more information, as Luffy picked his nose.

Nami emerged from the lounge a few moments later, laughing. As she made her way back down the stairs to the group, before she could talk, Sanji rushed past her and burst into the lounge, claiming that Buggy had done something inappropriate to Nami. Zoro and Usopp looked at Nami expectantly as she regaled them with her encounter with Buggy. "He knew exactly what he was doing," she explained.

"I flirted and teased, but he never crossed any lines. And when I set a trap for him so I could hit him, he warned me that he would retaliate if necessary." Nami finished leaving out the part where he would let himself be hit. Nami then frowned and added, "And he's a better thief than me; I have no doubt he could have gotten into Shell Town on his own and stolen the map effortlessly, why his older self plan for months instead of just doing it himself just adds to the timing."

After quite some time, Sanji emerged from the lounge, a bulging small bag clutched in his hand.A complicated expression on his face as he moved down the stairs, making his way over to the group, he reached for a cigarette in his pocket. With a twitch of his brow, he realized he was out and instead pulled out a red sucker from the bag he was carrying. He popped it into his mouth and declared, "He's legit, and I think he should come with us. And don't mention anything about the suckers; I can't smoke for a while, so these are my substitute." He briefly explained his examination, omitting any unnecessary details.

Then turning to Nami, he paused before speaking. "I'm sorry, I should have asked if you wanted someone else to go before you. It was wrong of me to assume." Nami accepted his apology, impressed by his consideration. Sanji then explained in a calm tone, "I also don't think anyone should suddenly grab our new crew mate without making a sound at least. Something bad must have happened to him."

There was a moment of silence, and then Luffy and others began asking questions.

Sanji simply replied, "I don't know what happened exactly, but it must have been very bad."He casually bit into a sucker, shattering it, then chewing it while Zoro entered the room next.

A bit later, with a deep red flush on his cheeks, Zoro stormed out of the lounge and yelled, "Luffy!!" Luffy started laughing and stretched his arms towards the second floor before heading into the lounge, leaving the door open behind him. Before anyone could ask him what happened, Zoro blurted out, "He comes; he is covered in bandages from his face down to his feet. If he said he only beat us because we are injured. I want to fight him when he is not injured." with an annoyed look on his face Zoro continued saying with a mocking tone" What does he count his wounds as a scratch?” he lets out a huff “Also, he refuses for anyone to treat him; a man has his pride, but he should also know when to ask for help, and that damn clown needs it." Zoro continued to rant about his exam with Buggy and how they were all being treated like children by him.

Nami's expression turned serious as she spoke. "So, we know nothing about this Buggy, not that we know anything about the older Buggy either with that 7th raid con stuff. But what we do know is that he lacks self-esteem and self-worth. He has a little brother, maybe in the Grand Line, that he cares deeply for. Buggy is also Bele-mere's little brother and therefore part of my family. Buggy is also skilled in medicine but not licensed, thievery, cartography, navigation, and fighting. So a jack of all trades." Nami turned to the group and asked if there was anything she had missed.

Usopp chimed in, mentioning Buggy's sensitivity towards his nose and his love-hate relationship with being called "Blue."

Sanji added that he was also a decent cook and used herbs in his cooking for medicinal purposes.

Zoro observed that Buggy's gait seemed slightly off due to past injuries, but he wasn't sure if they were from his recent accident or not.

Lastly, Nami summed up their findings by listing Buggy's low self-confidence, skills, and talents, possible past injuries, and mixed feelings towards his nickname.

She then proposed getting revenge for the uncomfortable medical exam they had just endured by seeing how long it took for Buggy to snap under the pressure of being called "Blue" or any other nice variations of his name, and just let them call him it.

The rest of the group eagerly agreed, already plotting ways to annoy their potential new crew mate. Nami also said, ” We need to know more about him than we do now. We don’t know if the older Buggy has enemies, so it would be better for us to call him a different name anyway for now. I will stick Luffy on him too. We all know he has a way of getting people to open up to him.” They all sighed in agreement at how easily Luffy could charm people into liking him and trusting him. After all, they each experienced it themselves.

~ back to present~

Strong Hands grabbed Buggy’s shoulders. He jolted, a distant voice cutting through the haze—

"Th-h--ppen--!"

Buggy’s breath hitched. The ship blurred around him. His chest tightened. No, no, this wasn’t—

'Where is the treasure of Aztec gold?' A voice reeked of rum and apples. 'Roger must’ve left a map!'

His vision flickered—past and present colliding. Blood. Chains. The crack of a whip.'hurts! It hurt! I don't know! Let go!'

'They abandoned you, lad. do you see you're worthless to them, a burden, lad. Join me, and we'll find the gold together.'

A scream lodged in his throat. His arms jerked—but there were no chains now, no shackles. Just hands trying to keep him still. ’No! Liar! Code Breakers!’ A voice—

"Maybe some sea prison tipped lashings will help your memory and help your mind you’re tongue, grab him, men!" 

His glazed-over eyes fill with memory of pain.—

* On a clear night, the ship rocks back and forth like a cradle. A woman stands next to him, helping him to the railing. The sea prison cuffs are gone. "It's okay, child. The sea helps keep its promises," she tells him. "Jump!" He finds himself on Laboon's back as snow begins to fall. He screams, "Why are you helping me? Barbossa was right; They abandoned me! He slammed the door on me! Let me die! Spark is better off without me! I’m worthless, a burden!" 

Then there is another kind man carrying him through the snow on his back, and a quirky-looking man with a hat who is constantly chattering.  " Stay awake! " he urges." She's a much better doctor than I am; you'll be okay."

Then there's an old woman with a soothing touch that makes him so angry it makes him scream. She screams back.  " But you made a promise to your Spark,  didn't  you? " reminding him of his promise. Racing towards the town square of Loguetown, he was almost there when Barbossa and his crew appeared out of thin air, then a bright light. Before he could react, they had seized him from all sides, their rough hands grabbing at his body.*  

He swung his fist towards the person who was grabbing him. "Don't touch me! Fuck off!" he screams, his voice shaking with a mixture of fear and confusion.

The grip on him disappeared.

He could hear frantic screams from a group of people nearby, calling out a name in a panic: "Luffy!!!"

 ' Luffy? Who is that? ... It's cold. What was I doing? '  His head throbs as he tries to remember.

He feels disoriented and confused, his heads swimming with foggy thoughts. As he slowly surveyed his surroundings, he noticed a ship without a mast and three teens nearby. He could hear more people in the distance and strained to turn his head in their direction. Through heavy breaths, he see an elderly man, another teen, and a girl approaching him.

He blinks once, then twice.

Then he hears a voice commanding, "Don't touch him!" He struggles to open his eyes fully, feeling hazy and disoriented. The voices around him are arguing, but they sound distant and indistinguishable.

Slowly, he begins to make out an older voice among the chaos, sounding desperate and pleading. "Buggy--le-- please! -tho--de---!" the older voice cries.

As he glances up, he sees a figure standing before him with outstretched arms, dressed in a red vest and a familiar straw hat. Surrounding him are others: an orange-haired girl wielding a staff, a blonde-haired boy poised for action, a moss-haired teen armed with two swords, and a long-nosed boy with his shaking legs holding a slingshot at the ready. ' They are protecting me. But why? ' 

In front of the group protecting him, a familiar man is kneeling and shouting, and the figure in the red vest shuts back.‘ Why can't I hear anything? Was I doing something? ’ All he can hear is blood rushing in his ears and ringing.

He recalls in flashes *lighting, time travel, Bele-mere gone, giving medical exams, and then Lapoon and Luffy falling off the ship.*

‘ I panicked and chopped at my Lumbar to reach for Luffy. I must have passed out while reattaching everything .’

He mentally scolded himself, 'I remember now; I am an idiot Fuck! ’ He drops his head, closes his eyes, and concentrates on feeling his body.

Speaking softly, he starts checking each body part:" Lumbar, L2, L3, L4-L5, L4-S1—all reattached. Sacral, S2, S2-S3—also reattached. Coccygeal: reattached. I can feel my legs and feet. ” 

He flexes his legs and wiggles his feet, then continues speaking out loud." External and internal oblique—attached. Serratus posterior inferior attached. Thoracolumbar fascia, attached. Gluteus medius, attached." Breathing heavily from the exertion and stress of the situation, his brow furrows as he thinks. ' Everything is reattached, so why is it so cold?'

A voice calls out to him, "Blue, open your eyes." Buggy slowly raises his head and sees Luffy kneeling in front of him with his hands raised. He meets Luffy's concerned and determined gaze, but he can't hear what Luffy is saying. He reaches out and grabs Luffy's wrist, hearing his soul voice filled with fear and worry. 'Blue, what happened? Why are you still bleeding? You said you were fine before. Crocus wants to help you, but you refused. What can I do? As the captain, I can't let my nakama die! I don't want to lose anyone else ever again! Please answer me!'

He maintains eye contact with Luffy, panting heavily as he speaks in a strained voice. "Why? he wasn't there when they were chasing me, and when I managed to escape and return..." He can feel tears rolling down his face as he continues, "He abandoned me…..I'm bleeding? Were, I can't even feel it?"

 The sounds of shouting grow louder, but as he looks into Luffy's eyes, he sees anger warring with concern. As he saw Luffy's lips move he said In a soft whisper, barely audible, "Sorry, I can't hear..." And in his mind, he thinks, ' I'm just a burden. They might as well toss me overboard. Being lied to, betrayed, and abandoned is nothing new for me. Red did it too.'

He could see the anger on Luffy's face as his eyes widened, but Luffy did not look away from him. 

Luffy pressed his free hand against his ear as he listened intently, but his lips moved as he heard Luffy's soul voice say, “‘I can hear you, but you're not speaking .’" He could see Luffy's lips move as he also spoke with his soul's voice, ‘"You are not a burden,"‘ Luffy shouts passionately, trying to convince Buggy of his worth. ‘"And I never abandon my friends!"‘ His words ring out with conviction and determination.

Then, without missing a beat, Luffy asks Buggy, ‘"What about your little brother? Didn't you say you were going to find him again?"‘ 

Buggy’s grip slackened on Luffy’s wrist, his fingers trembling before going limp. His body felt so cold. Was this what it was like to die?
His lips parted, voice barely above a whisper. “Spark…”

Luffy tensed.

Buggy’s breath hitched. It cold. Everything was so cold. But nothing more than the ache in his chest. His vision blurred. “I… want to see him… so badly.” His eyelids drooped. A quiet chuckle left his throat—soft, empty.
'Maybe if I die here… I’ll wake up back home.' His vision swam. 'Would that really be so bad?'

Chapter Text

Luffy and Nami sprinted to the ship, with Crocus close behind. As they reached The Going Merry, they saw Zoro, Sanji, and Usopp in a state of panic. Buggy was sitting on the deck, surrounded by a pool of blood that was slowly expanding. His pale complexion had grown even paler, and he was drenched in sweat. He panted heavily, and his eyes were glazed over with pain as he looked around in confusion. Luffy rushed towards him, shouting, "Blue! What’s with all this blood?" Nami caught up to them and added, "What happened here?" As they approached Buggy, his eyes closed, but they could still hear him gasping for breath.

The three hurriedly explained what had happened.

Sanji was the first to speak, his usual laid-back demeanor gone. “We just got back to the ship, and he was already like this.

Zoro, looking guilty, adds, "I grabbed him by the shoulders to ask him the same thing." He clenches his fist and continues, "He looked so scared; he looked right through me and tried to punch me. But it wasn't me he was seeing."

Sanji interjects, "I managed to pull Zoro back before he could get hurt. It would have probably hurt Blue more than Zoro."

Usopp, trembling, pointed a shaky finger toward the ship’s railing. “Th-the whole left side of the Merry—it’s drenched in blood!” His voice cracked. “That’s when we started screaming for you!”

Sanji's hand shakes as he puts a new sucker into his mouth.

Luffy knelt in front of Buggy, concern etched on his face as he turned to his crew. "Blue said he was okay, so why is he bleeding so much? He said he could fix the wounds with his Bara Bara abilities." Luffy then called out to Buggy without touching him, desperate for him to wake up."Blue! Hey, Blue, wake up! Blue!"

Nami stood between Luffy and Sanji, her hand dropping from her mouth as she exclaimed, "What an idiot! I told him to let Crocus look at his injuries, but he refused." 

Luffy mutters under his breath unheard “Crocus?”, as the others turn to look at Crocus. Who had frozen in shock upon seeing Buggy on the deck of the Going Merry. His face drained of color as if he had seen a ghost.

The sound of panicked screams for Luffy reached Crocus ears, and he quickly followed behind the two as they sprinted towards their ship. As Crocus stepped onto the deck, he saw Luffy and Nami already there, along with the three other boys, all gathered around something. The pair bombarded the boys with questions, desperate to know what had happened.

As they dispersed a bit, Crocus froze, feeling the color drain from his face. He spotted a familiar figure sitting on the deck leaning back against the ship railing. He has long blue hair tied up in a ponytail with a black bandana covering his head and tie underneath the pony like a bow. His eyes were open but glazed over, lazily rolling back and forth before closing again. But it was his round bright red nose that was unmistakable.

"Buggy!" Crocus exclaimed, shocked to see him alive. ’Buggy! But how? He’s dead. Rayleigh said Buggy was murdered; we hunted down and killed the code breakers before the Keepers could years ago.’ But here he was, reaching out with his Haki to try to feel Buggys Haki, only to feel nothing. How could this be? He remembered hearing Buggy talking earlier but hadn't recognized his voice.

They called him Blue for Enel's sake! But why did he still look so young? More importantly, how was he alive? What happened to his Haki!? Nami chimed in, scolding Buggy for not letting Crocus check his wounds. As the group turned to him, Crocus could see blood pooling underneath Buggy and rushed over to help him.

As the Mugiwara beside Luffy turns to Crocus, the old doctor's eyes narrow as he sees the blood pooling under Buggy's body. With a burst of energy, he rushes towards them, his voice filled with concern as he shouts out, "Buggy!" The rest of the crew tense up, unnoticed by Crocus in his rush to help Buggy.

As he gets closer, Sanji wearily asks him, "You know Buggy? How? Why?" Buggy manages to open his eyes for a brief moment before they shut again.

Crocus reaches out towards him, explaining to Sanji and the others, "The ship I mentioned earlier, I worked on it as a doctor. Buggy was just an apprentice back then. I've known him since he was a child, even younger than you." However, just as Crocus is about to touch Buggy, he is suddenly kicked back to the other side of the ship by Luffy.

With commanding authority in his voice, Luffy yells out, "Don't touch him!" He stands tall in front of Buggy, arms spread wide to prevent Crocus from getting any closer.

Nami and the rest of the crew quickly follow Luffy's lead: Nami pulls out her staff and stands to Luffy's left while Sanji braces himself to fly forward for a kick. On the other side of the group, Zoro draws two swords, ready for action. Usopp stands nervously at Zoro's right, his legs shaking as he aims his slingshot towards Crocus. The tension in the air is palpable as everyone prepares for whatever may come next.

Crocus stands up and yells at the enraged Luffy, "What are you doing? He needs help!" 

Luffy’s face was hidden beneath the shadow of his hat. His voice, however, was far from calm.“Crocus…” He spat the name like a curse. “You were a doctor on the ship Blue was on?

Confusion and intensity fill Crocus' eyes as he stares back at Luffy and responds, "Yes, my name is Crocus, and Buggy was is old crew mate of mine. Now let me pass, you rude brat!" 

But Luffy stood his ground, fists clenched. His hat still shielded his eyes, but his voice thundered across the deck—

“NO! He doesn’t want your help!” Luffy’s arms trembled with frustration. “After what you did—I should beat the crap outta you!”

Then he lifted his head. His eyes burned with fury.

Crocus recoiled as if struck, the accusation hitting him like a brick. 'Buggy doesn't want my help? because of what I did?' 

A buried memory suddenly resurfaced, causing Crocus's heart to sink.

~ Flash back ~

It was raining heavily that day, and he had returned to Twin capes just a few days ago and had started drinking again. But this time, it was worse than before. He was drowning in his grief and guilt over Roger's death and Buggy's murder. Buggy, who had been in Loguetown at the time, while Crocus was nearby. As he thought about their failure to take care of the enemy pirates after their captain's execution, self-hatred and guilt consumed him. The boys had gone to witness the execution, with Red and Blue sticking together as always. But something must have happened for Shanks and Buggy to separate afterwards.

Was it also because of us? Because we failed to protect the captain's children?' Crocus emptied another bottle of alcohol, opening another one and chugging it down as his thoughts spiraled deeper into despair. "We couldn't even find his body" His voice cracked as he whispered to the dead, "But we found every code breaker who was part of that crew and killed them. But it won't bring Buggy back."He stopped chugging the bitter liquid, tears streaming down his face as he apologized aloud. "I'm sorry, Roger... I'm so sorry, Buggy. I failed you both." The weight of his failures and regrets threatened to crush him under immense pressure.

A loud, urgent banging at his door jolted Crocus out of his drunken haze. He stumbled and wobbled as he reached for a new bottle, but the voice outside wouldn't let him ignore it. " Crocus! Help, please! Help me, please! Crocus! Help Me!" Buggy's panicked cries echoed through the door. Crocus struggled to stand, his legs feeling like jelly as he made his way to the door. Buggy's voice grew more desperate, sobbing and pleading for help. "CROCUS! It hurts; I'm hurt! Please, Answer! HELP ME!"

Finally reaching the door, Crocus ripped it open and was met with a shocking sight: what appeared to be Buggy's ghost standing before him. The ghost, Buggy, stood shirtless, covered in blood that revealed his protruding ribs and bony frame. His eyes were glazed over with fever, tears streaming down his face. His hair was matted and knotted with blood and water, and cuts and bruises covered his body.

But despite the ghastly appearance, Buggy's eyes lit up at the sight of Crocus. his hoarse voice from all the screaming, he had a weak smile on his face as he spoke out in relief. "Crocus, you're here."

But before he could finish his plea for help, Crocus cut him off, shouting, "Begone ghost! You're not real!" Swaying from the alcohol in his system, Crocus took another swig from the bottle still clenched in his hand, and muttered, "You're nothing but a ghost. You're not really here."

Buggy reaches out his hand towards Crocus, but Crocus quickly slams the door in his face. He finishes off the bottle in his hand and grabs another one as the banging and pleading on the door start again. "Crocus, I'm real! Please, let me in!" Crocus ignores the desperate screams as they turn into sobs. "Please, help me! I'm sorry; I don't want to die. Crocus, please!" Buggy's voice becomes quieter as he pleads, "Please don't abandon me, Crocus." 

But Crocus drowns out his cries with another bottle, telling himself that it's not real—Buggy is dead, buried in an unmarked grave that they can't find. The banging eventually stops, and all that can be heard is the rain and wind. When Crocus wakes up in the morning with a terrible hangover, he starts drinking again and heads outside. There is no trace of anyone ever being there; he vaguely notices that Laboon is gone but doesn't care as his den-den mushi starts ringing.

~Flash back over~

Crocus collapsed to his knees. His breath hitched, his shoulders shaking with long-buried grief.“I… I left him out there.” His voice cracked, barely more than a whisper. “I thought he was dead.”

He swallowed against the lump in his throat. “I was drunk. I slammed the door in his face.”Tears carved tracks down his wrinkled face. He lifted his gaze to Luffy, eyes shining with raw, unbearable regret.

“Please. Let me help him. Let me try to fix what I broke.”

A soft voice begins to speak, the rest of the crew step away a bit but still are in defensive stances as Luffy turns around and kneels back in front of Buggy. "Lumbar, L2, L3, L4-L5, L4-S1—all reattached. Sacral, S2, S2-S3—also reattached. Coccygeal: reattached. feeling in legs and feet." Crocus lifts his head, and everyone watches in concern and confusion as Buggy flexes his legs and wiggles his feet. Then with the same soft voice, he continues, "External and internal oblique—attached. Serratus posterior inferior (attached). Thoracolumbar fascia, attached. Gluteus medius, attached." Buggy's brow furrows as he speaks in a fragile whisper, "Everything is reattached...so why do I feel cold?"

Luffy's reached out his hand towards Buggy but stopping just before touching him. His voice echoes through the silence, a plea filled with determination. "Come on, Blue, open your eyes." Slowly, Buggy raises his head and blinks his hazy eyes open. They meet Luffy's gaze, which is full of worry.

With a trembling hand, Buggy grabs onto Luffy's wrist and holds on tightly. He maintains eye contact as he speaks in a strained voice as if answering an unspoken question from Luffy. "Why? he wasn't there when they were chasing me, and when I managed to escape and return..." Tears roll down Buggy's face and drip off his chin, landing on his bandages. He continues in a wavering voice, full of anguish. "He abandoned me." After a few heavy pants, Buggy's face contorts into innocent confusion as he whispers in disbelief. "...I'm bleeding? Were, I can't feel it."

Sanji and Zoro stood with heated glares, tensed, and ready to attack Crocus. Their eyes burned with anger as they growled at the man before them. "You Bastard!" Usopp's voice rang through the air, filled with fury and disappointment. "You are worse than those pirates that abandoned Laboon." His legs stopped shaking as he aimed his slingshot at Crocus.

But the old man still knelt on the ground, his face contorted in shock and guilt. "They chased him," he said, his voice trembling. "And I was not here." The once-proud and confident man was now filled with regret and sorrow.

But suddenly, Crocus' eyes hardened as he stood up to face his accusers. "You can beat me all you like," he said, his voice steady and resolved. "I deserve it for what I did, drunk or not. But before I accept this rightly deserved beating, please...! Let me treat him!" 

Nami stepped forward, her staff outstretched to stop the others from charging towards Crocus. Her gaze turned to Buggy and Luffy as she spoke firmly. "You guys, wait! Something is wired don’t move." The rest of the group turned to look at Buggy and Luffy, unsure of what was going on. In that moment, the air was thick with tension and emotions that threatened to boil over at any moment.

Luffy's gaze bore into Buggy's eyes, unwavering and determined. "Blue," he said, his voice laced with a mixture of urgency and concern. "Can you hear me? Will you let Crocus to treat you?"

 In a soft whisper, Buggy managed to reply, "I'm sorry, I can't hear..." The rest of the crew looked on in confusion, their minds racing with questions. ‘If he can't hear, how is he answering Luffy?’ Meanwhile, Crocus reached out with his own Haki, his senses attuned to the subtle energies that surrounded them. He could feel everyone Haki and hear there soul voices, except for Buggy’s.

Luffy's emotions are in turmoil as he gazes at Blue, still feeling angry towards Crocus for abandoning Blue and worried about Blues well-being. Despite his desire to kick the old man's ass,' Crocus abandoned Blue twice!’, Luffy listens intently as Crocus pleads for another chance to help Buggy. And Blue needs help. He can’t let his Nakama die. As he hears Blue muttering he turns back to Crocus trusting the others will watch his back.

Luffy leans in closer to Blue, his eyes filled with concern as he asks, "Can you hear me, Blue? Will you let Crocus treat you?"

Buggy's soft whisper barely reached Luffy's ears as he responded, "Sorry, I can't hear."

Confused, Luffy thought to himself, 'If you can't hear, how are you answering all my questions?' As he looked at Buggy, he heard him say, ‘I'm just a burden. They might as well toss me overboard. Being lied to, betrayed, and abandoned is nothing new for me. Red did it too.' A surge of anger ignited in Luffy's veins. 'Why does he think this? Lied, betrayed, and abandoned—who is this red? I will kick his ass too! Why does he keep saying that even as a grown-up? Buggy said that Shanks lied, betrayed, and abandoned him too, but Shanks would not do that it must be a misunderstanding. Right?'

Then, Luffy suddenly realized that Blue had been communicating without talking. He pressed his free hand against his ear and listened closely while staring into Blue's unwavering gaze. His determination grew stronger as he spoke what was on his mind.

The crew looks on in confusion as Luffy presses his free hand to his ear, a determined look in his eyes. "I can hear you, but you're not moving your mouth!" he says with conviction. His companions—Sanji, Zoro, Nami, and Usopp—exchange bewildered glances and shout out in unison, "What are you reading his mind now, Luffy!? The hell!?" In the background, Crocus starts to edge closer to the group, his curiosity getting the better of him as he eavesdrops on Luffy and Buggy's conversation.

While Luffy remains fully engaged in listening, Crocus ponders to himself, ‘I can clearly hear Luffy's soul voice, but not Buggy's. But the closer I get to him, I can almost make out his Haki.’ Ignoring his fellow crew members and Crocus, Luffy remains completely fixated on Buggy and his soul's voice.

"You are not a burden," Luffy suddenly shouts passionately, trying to convince Buggy of his worth. "And I never abandon my friends!" His words ring out with conviction and determination. Then, without missing a beat, Luffy asks Buggy, "What about your little brother? Didn't you say you were going to find him again?" The tension in the air is palpable as everyone waits for Buggy's response.

Buggy's heavy eyelids droop, his hand loosening its grip on Luffy's wrist. As Buggy's temperature drops, he mutters something almost inaudible: "Spark." His voice cracks and fades as he speaks again: "I want to see him...so much…ok." Unbeknownst to Buggy, Luffy hears the last remnants of his soul voice speaking. With a soft thud, Buggy's hand falls from Luffy's wrist falling back to his side as he falls unconscious.

Crocus stands behind Luffy now, his gaze filled with determination. "Let me help him," he pleads. "Please, let me try to make up for an old man's foolish mistake." 

Luffy was silent. His gaze never left Buggy. Then, without hesitation, he scooped him up in his arms.

Blood soaked into his vest—he didn’t care.

“Blue says you can do it.” His voice was low but firm, unwavering. He turned to Crocus, locking eyes with him.

“But I’m staying. I won’t leave him alone.”

Crocus nods and speaks urgently, "Quick, we must get to the lighthouse. All of my normal medical supplies are there, and he needs blood fast." He turns and takes off running, with Luffy close behind him.

Nami starts to follow, but Luffy calls out to her, "Hey Nami!" She stops as Luffy turns to her with a bright smile. "You guys stay here and take care of the ship. I bet Blue will be hungry when he wakes up. And I definitely need some meat." With that, Luffy runs after Crocus, carrying Buggy in his arms.

The remaining crew members share a look.

Zoro sheathes his swords and helps Usopp raise the mast, while Sanji heads to the kitchen to prepare a meal. Nami returns to her charts, determined to navigate them safely to their destination.

(lighthouse on the cliffs at the Twin capes)

Perched at the edge of the cliff, the lighthouse stood tall and solitary, its white walls reflecting the rays of sunlight. However, hidden within its quaint exterior was a small yet well-kept medical clinic. The first floor was divided in half; one side contained a cozy living area with a kitchen and counter, while the other held shelves full of neatly labeled jars of herbs and books. A complex refrigeration system hummed quietly in one corner. Upstairs, there were multiple rooms accessible by spiral stairs. On the far end of the room, a decent-sized bed sat next to a tray filled with various medical tools and supplies.

Crocus bursts into the lighthouse, followed closely by Luffy carrying Buggy. "Set Buggy on the bed and lay him face down," Crocus orders Luffy urgently. "I need to start a blood transfusion before I can find where he's bleeding from." Luffy carefully places Buggy on the clean bed with his front facing downwards and his face turned to the side, stretching his arms and using his fingers to help maneuver him in the air before setting him down.

Crocus moved fast—too fast for a man his age. He ripped open a storage cabinet, shoving aside old supplies until his fingers closed around a blood pack.

“Buggy’s a ‘B’ type…” He muttered, scanning the labels. His gut twisted. Only three bags left.

Hopefully its enough.

He returns to the bedside where Buggy lies, with Luffy anxiously hovering nearby and keeping a close watch on Crocus.

After Crocus connects the blood bag to the pole and needle, he turns to set it on the nearby tray. Then he faces Buggy and begins pulling up his left pant leg. However, when he sees that Buggy's leg is completely wrapped in bandages from the ankles upwards, Crocus is concerned. "Who did this to you?” Crocus grabs a scalpel from the tray and begins to cut away at the bandages and clothing.

But Luffy interrupts. "Wait, what are you doing?" Crocus continues to work, ignoring Luffy's questions. He's had plenty of anxious nakama who didn't want to leave their comrade alone while they received treatment.So as he cuts away at Buggy's pants and bandages,

Crocus explains his actions to Luffy."I have to cut through Buggy's clothing and bandages to get to his veins to start the blood transfusion."

Crocus' skilled hands carefully slice through Buggy's pants leg,revealing a maze of bandages. As he removes them he notices that beneath the bandages, Buggy's skin is unharmed. It seems they were used for compression, perhaps to alleviate the pain and swelling in his legs and ankles and improve blood flow.

Efficiently inserting a needle into Buggy's saphenous vein, Crocus begins the transfusion of blood. With each drop that flows through him, Buggy's complexion slowly shifts from pale to pink.

Luffy watches with a puzzled expression as Crocus cuts away at the blood-soaked vest. "If you cut off all of his clothes, what will he wear!?" Luffy asks in confusion.

Crocus shakes his head and replies, "Don't you have extra clothing on your ship?" Luffy nods, recalling Nami's extensive shopping spree in Loguetown.

As Crocus removes Buggy's vest, the extent of the bandages covering his upper body is revealed. They are soaked through with blood, from his hips up to his neck and down his arms to his wrists. Crocus instructs Luffy to fetch a bowl of warm water from the kitchen. The young pirate quickly grabs it and returns to Buggy's side saying “ Got it.” as he set it on the tray. With experienced hands, Crocus starts cutting and removing the blood-soaked bandages from Buggy's body.

The bandages sticks to Buggy's skin, sticky with dried blood and sweat as it is pulled away. As Crocus dips a cloth it into the clean water, he can't help but notice how pale and clammy Buggy appears due to blood loss. His breathing is still labored, and he lets out a soft groan as Crocus cleans the wounds on his back.

After wiping away all traces of blood from Buggy's back, Crocus' expression turns to one of anger. He struggles to remain composed as Luffy stares in shock at Buggy's scars. There are old faded bullet wounds, fading burn scars, and slowly healing pink whip marks covering his back. But the most prominent scar is a large, old burn mark on his lower back, appearing to be from a heavy object. This is also where the whip wound had reopened and continued to bleed, catching Crocus' attention the most.

Moving down to Buggy's arms, Crocus notices more old, faded burn scars accompanied by new and old bruises in various stages of healing. On his wrists and neck are slight marks that can only be caused by sea prison cuffs - the same ones used to restrain prisoners on ships. These too are fading, but there are still signs of prolonged exposure.

Crocus expertly tends to each wound, carefully cleaning and stitching them up. As he works, he mentally takes notes and checks for any progress on other older injuries. Applying necessary medicine and cream, that will help them fade and heal.

Replacing the blood bag with a fresh one, Crocus enlists Luffy's help in moving the still unconscious Buggy as they replace the bandages then place him back on his front with his head turned to avoid putting strain on his back. "Just like that," Crocus instructs. After making some calculations and checking the blood bag, he notices that Buggy's breathing has returned to normal and his complexion is gradually improving.

He turns to Luffy and says, "Buggy's blood levels will barely be at a safe level after this bag and the next one." Crocus then asks Luffy, "Do you know the blood type of yourself or any of your crew mates? Are any 'B' or 'O' type?"

Luffy scratches his head and looks confused, saying, "I think I'm an 'F' blood type." Then he slaps a fist into his hand and adds, "Blue did checkups on all of us when he joined my crew. Maybe he wrote down our blood types too." 

Luffy takes off his hat, places it on Buggy's head with a gentle smile, and says, "I'll be right back Blue. I'll bring some clothes and see if anyone has a, uh, 'B' or 'O' blood thingy. Take care of this for me, okay?" He rushes back to the ship, and the door shuts behind him.

Crocus tries to stop him, but then just sighs and mutters to himself, "An 'F' blood type is a 'B'. Oh well, he'll be back."

Crocus pulled up a stool and took a seat next to Buggy's bed. He closed his eyes and simply listened to Buggy's breathing for a while, feeling grateful that he was still alive and think on how Buggy got all those scars. Crocus opened his eyes and looked at the familiar sight of the straw hat resting on Buggy's head with a nostalgic grin. "That hat brings back memories," Crocus chuckled through watery eyes. "Shanks used to leave it with you when you were injured, and he had to leave. Until he would came back, that is." 

Crocus leaned forward, pressing his forehead against his trembling hands. His shoulders shook violently."You're here, alive and breathing. I'm sorry, Buggy. So sorry." he whispered, voice cracking under the weight of his grief.

Tears and snot streamed down Crocus' face as he thanked Buggy as he sobbed "Thank you for being alive, for surviving, for being here, and for not becoming another ghost."

Chapter Text

Nami curses under her breath as she glances at her compass for the 30th time. Frustrated, she lets out a loud yell as the needle continues to spin in circles. "What's wrong with you? You can't be malfunctioning," she mutters to herself.

After finishing fixing the main mast and putting away his tools, Usopp walks over to Nami's side. Zoro had already left to take a nap after the mast was secured in place. Taking advantage of the nice weather, Nami had set up her map-making station outside. Usopp leans over her shoulder to examine the spinning compass and asks, "Do you want me to take a look at it? Maybe it got damaged when we went over the mountain." Nami hands him the compass and responds, "Knock yourself out. I already checked it myself, but who knows, maybe you'll see something." Usopp takes out some small tools from his pocket and begins disassembling the compass at the table.

Nami let out a heavy sigh as she leans back in her chair, frustration etched on her face. "If we can't get the compass working, how am I supposed to figure out our next heading?" Usopp now has the compass spread out in pieces on the table, his goggles pulled down over his eyes as he inspected each fragment carefully.

Sanji appears with a tray of five drinks, placing them gently on the table and offering Nami a special tangerine concoction with a little umbrella sticking out. "Here's something special for the beautiful navigator," he said with a wink before heading upstairs, saying, "The food will be ready soon." Usopp and Nami thanked Sanji and took their drinks, savoring the refreshing sweetness as they continued to brainstorm.

After a few minutes, Nami suddenly jerked forward, startling Usopp and causing Zoro to stir from his slumber. She set her half-empty drink on the table and stood up, excitement emanating from her voice as she exclaimed, "That's it! Blue mentioned something about a log post needing to interact with the magnetic field once we reached the bottom of the mountain! But then we ran into Laboon before he could explain further." Zoro sauntered over and grabbed a drink, quickly downing it with a satisfied smack of his lips. "Needs some liquor," he declared before turning to Nami. "You can ask him when he wakes up if that quack doesn’t finish the job."

Nami flinches at the reminder of how much blood Buggy lost as Usopp stands up and yells, "Buggy will be fine; Luffy went with him; Luffy would not leave Buggy alone with Crocus after what he did!"

Zoro sets his empty glass on the tray and remarks, "You'd think so, but here comes our captain now, without that pain in the ass in tow." 

He gestures over his shoulder at Luffy as he runs and leaps onto the Going Merry, causing Nami and Usopp to shout, "Luffy!? Where's Blue/Buggy?"

Luffy tilts his head to the side and replies, "Hm, Blue is sleeping, but he needs more blood and new clothes. Crocus had to cut them off along with all the bloody bandages he was wrapped in." Upon noticing the drinks, Luffy stretches out a hand and grabs one, quickly pulling it back and saying as he gulps it down, "Mmm, this is really good!"

He walks over to set down the empty glass and grabs the last one as Usopp exclaims in surprise, "He's cutting off his clothes? But why?"

Nami chimed in with concern, "He needs more blood. What type does he need?”

Luffy finished off the last drink on the tray and turns, eyeing Usopp’s drink, "Yeah, he had to cut them off to get to a vein for a blood train thingy." Luffy sneakily grabbed Usopp's drink as he continued, "Crocus said Blue is a 'B' type and needs some more 'B' or 'O'. I told him I am an 'F', but I think Blue asked us when he was doing the check-up."

Luffy then sneakily put Usopp's now empty drink back and helped himself to Nami's drink while she was thinking out loud, "I bought a lot of different clothing in Loguetown before shit hit the fan with that older Buggy and Smoker. Something should fit him."

Once Luffy finished Nami’s drink and set the empty glass on the tray, as Zoro questioned, "How did he survive getting hit by lightning and not getting crushed by that platform? No one getting crushed is insanely lucky." Both Usopp and Nami nodded in agreement.

Usopp suddenly remembered something explains, "I think I remember where the papers Buggy was writing on were in the lounge. I can go look." As he went to finish off his drink, he noticed it was already empty and put it back on the tray with the rest. Out loud, he remarked, "Huh, guess I finished it and forgot. They were really good." He then looked up at the others and added, "I'll take the tray with me and take a look at the papers."

Nami decided to take care of finding an outfit for Buggy said, "I'll grab Blue an outfit. We should meet back here before heading over. I know I can't give him blood, but hopefully one of you guys can."

As Nami headed off to find clothes for Buggy, the boys made their way to the lounge to search for the paperwork.

Sanji is filleting the large elephant tuna when the boys enter the lounge. He glances up and sees Usopp carrying the tray, which he sets down before going to put the glasses in the sink. Usopp then heads over to the medical supplies as Luffy, drawn in by the delicious aroma of food, reaches out for a piece, but Sanji stops him with a stern hand. "Not yet," he scolds, "it's not done." Meanwhile, Zoro joins Usopp in searching through the medical supplies, looking for some specific paperwork.

Sanji notices them and questions with a worried expression, "Where's Buggy? Doesn't that old guy need more medical supplies?" Luffy explains their mission while Sanji prepares to say something else, but Usopp interrupts excitedly, "I found it! They were hidden under the clipboard. Now let's see who's an 'O' or a 'B'."

Usopp anxiously flips through the paper, his eyes scanning for any mention of blood type. Zoro stood over his shoulder, equally curious about the information they were searching for. After a few moments, Usopp's face twisted in confusion as he exclaimed, "Wait, everyone has two blood types?! I thought it was only one!" Zoro and Luffy both released surprised shouts, their faces matching Usopp's confusion. Meanwhile, Sanji continued to meticulously prepare the fish without skipping a beat.

Sanji chimed in to clarify, "No, everyone only has one blood type. But depending on which Blue Sea you come from, it may be labeled differently. The South and East Blue use 'F,' 'X,' 'XF,' and 'S' types, while the North and West Blue use 'B,' 'A,' 'AB,' and 'O' types.”

Usopp's eyes widened in realization as he exclaimed, "Really?" With newfound understanding, he combed through the paperwork once more and confirmed, "So that means I'm also an 'O' type like Sanji, and Luffy is a 'B' type. That means all three of us can donate blood to Buggy.”

Luffy's face lit up with excitement at the news as he declared, "Blue and I have the same blood type! I can give him mine right now!" Before anyone could offer their blood, Luffy bounded out of the lounge and over the railing to the main deck.

As he landed on the deck below, Nami came into view with a small bag in hand. Upon seeing her there, Luffy grinned and announced, "Nami! I have the same blood type as Blue, so let's hurry back before he wakes up alone with just that old guy." Nami nods in agreement, they quickly make their way back to the lighthouse.

Meanwhile, Usopp muttered to himself with relief that he wouldn't need to endure the pain of a needle. Luffy and Nami hurriedly rushed back, eager to make sure Buggy was okay.

Crocus hears a tired voice whisper, "Why?" Tears and snot ran down his face as he lifted his head to look at Buggy. The young pirate barely had his eyes creaked open as he stared back at Crocus. With a trembling hand, Crocus reached out to touch Buggy, crying, "Buggy, you're awake! How do you- " But before he could finish, Buggy shouts, "Don't touch me!" Crocus jerks back in surprise as Buggy continues, "I hate you! You left me to fucking bleed out on your doorstep because you thought I was a ghost!"

Buggy's anger boils over as he coughs weakly, too exhausted to move. He instead glares at Crocus with cold eyes and demands, "So tell me, the great doctor of the King of Pirates. Why! Why did you think I was already dead? Did you bastards think I was too weak and cowardly to fight back! That I would roll over and die?" His words are filled with heartache and bitterness as he bears his teeth with a snarl. Crocus's eyes grow wide with dismay as he realizes the full extent of Buggy's pain and anger directed at him.

Without hesitation, Crocus shouts back, "No?! Never!!" He stumbled backwards landing heavily onto a stool behind him, "Yes, you weren't the strongest front line fighter, but you were just a child back then. Hell, you're still a kid now. But don't ever doubt your own strength, Buggy! Out of all of us on the crew, you are the luckiest. The crazy stunts you pulled with Shanks and somehow always managing to survive the things we dragged you into. The things we let you be dragged into without any permanent injuries... it's nothing short of a miracle."

Crocus swallows, his heart dropping at the sight of Buggy's awe-struck expression. He can't help but wonder why Buggy believes such destructive thoughts, and then he remembers the scars on Buggy’s back. A deep sadness washes over him as he continues speaking. "If I ever dared to call one of Roger's boys a coward, he would come and drag me back to the other side with him. I don't know what rogue filled your head with such nonsense." Crocus shakes his head, recalling memories of Rayleigh and Roger scolding him for introducing Buggy to explosive chemicals by accident. But Buggy breaks the silence, looking away with a fragile voice. "Then why did you think I was a ghost?" and in a softer tearful whisper, "Why did you abandon me?"

Crocus move with a sense of urgency, dropping quickly to his knees so he his kneeling by Buggy's bedside as he pleaded for his attention. He knows it was important to speak now before the opportunity slipped away. "It's a long story," he began, "but we all knew you and Shanks went to the execution. I can't speak for the others, but I thought you two would have stayed together. We always relied on finding one of you if we needed the other. As long as you were together, neither of you ever got hurt. It was only when you two got separated that something really bad would happen—usually to Shanks." Crocus paused, taking a deep breath, as Buggy finally looked at him with curiosity in his eyes. "You deserve the whole truth," Crocus continued, "So I will try not to leave anything out." His voice grew heavy with grief as he recalled the painful memories from so many years ago.

"It was just about a year after the execution," Crocus explains slowly. "I thought you and Shanks were both still running around the East Blue. But Rayleigh came, breaking down my door with a black eye and a huge bruise on his chin. He forcefully sobered me up." Crocus took another moment to gather himself before continuing.

"I had fallen into a depression after Roger's execution because I was not able to cure him. I blamed myself for failing him as his doctor," Crocus admitted, his voice cracking slightly under the weight of his guilt. "Once sober, Rayleigh told me he had received news that...you were shot in the back and killed in Loguetown by the Villanueva pirates." Crocus clenches his jaw, anger, and guilt mixing within him.

"None of those big names should have been anywhere in East Blue," he growls. "Rayleigh tried to make sure all our enemies were in the New World or here in Paradise to keep you kids safe." Crocus reaches out and placed a hand next to Buggy's. "The only reason Rayleigh even stopped here instead of going straight to Loguetown was because he needed help...to make sure each one of those code breakers was put down before the Keepers could.”

Crocus met Buggy's gaze head-on, his eyes filled with tears and sincerity. "The person who told Rayleigh already killed those directly involved," he said, "but we made sure that not a single one of that crew or their allies who helped in any way...sails the seas or walks the land any longer." He paused for a moment, swallowing hard, before continuing.

"Then we looked for your body," Crocus said shakily, his voice cracking as he fought back sobs. "One of the code breakers said that you fell into the water and were washed away. Another said, They put you into an unmarked grave in Loguetown." His hands clenched into fists, anger bubbling up within him.

"We looked for you, Buggy," Crocus states firmly, desperation evident in his voice. "In the sea and on land in the East Blue, we looked for months and could not find you." Tears streamed down his face once again as he finished his tale, overcome by the emotions he had held onto for so long.

Crocus admits, "When I got back, all I could do was drink. I felt like I had let both you and Roger down. That's why I mistook you for a ghost and shut the door on you. It wasn't until Shakky broke through my door the next time that I was able to become sober again." Crocus clenches his fist and angrily pounds it on the ground, refusing to look at Buggy. He keeps repeating, "But that's no excuse! I should have realized that you were still alive and needed my help! I should have seen it! I'm a doctor dammit!"

Just as he's about to hit the ground again, a warm gloved hand wraps around his clenched fist on the bed. Crocus opens his eyes, realizing he had closed them, he sees Buggy, tears soaking the pillow beneath his head.

With pleading eyes Buggy sobs , "You thought I was dead? You didn't really abandon me? You looked for me?"

With a bloody and trembling hand, Crocus grips Buggy's hand tightly between both his hands and meets his gaze. "Yes," he soothes. "We thought you were dead. Yes, Rayleigh and I searched for you." He squeezes Buggy's hand again, overcome with emotion; he could feel Buggy's Haki now it feel weary, quiet and dejected. "I did abandon you. I failed you when you needed me most because I was drunk. I'm sorry, Buggy. I am so sorry." Crocus bows his head, tears streaming down his face as he sobs uncontrollably. "Thank you for surviving."

Shivering in the crisp air, he realizes he's only dressed in fresh bandages and half a pair of pants. A sharp sting shoots through his leg as the cold needle pierces his skin, causing him to flinch. But despite the discomfort, a sense of relief washes over him as Crocus grips his hand tightly, tears streaming down his winkled cheeks as he expresses his gratitude for Buggy still being alive. Lying on the pillow, he can hear Crocus' soul voice as he sobs apology's; he can hear how joyous Crocus is that Buggy is really alive; he can also hear the grief and anger at what had happened to Buggy and at what Crocus did.

'Rayleigh and Crocus were searching for me after I was shot. They thought I was dead this whole time.' A pang of guilt hits him as he thinks about how they must have suffered, but he buries it. 'Rayleigh was beaten up, and Crocus turned to drinking during those years. What shitty adults we had.' A wave of gratitude also washes over him as he realizes that they destroyed the Villanueva pirates. 'They didn't abandon me.' The knowledge that Crocus doesn't see him as weak or a coward brings a small smile to his face. 'He's happy I'm alive. Would Rayleigh be happy too?'

But then a thought crosses his mind, making him mutter a curse under his breath. 'Shit, does Red think I'm dead? But the older me had a bounty—does he know?' A mix of dread and anger swirls inside him at the mere idea. 'I have to know.' With a mental huff, he thinks, 'Not that I care. I hate him anyway. But if I heard he was dead...' The conflicting emotions continue to battle within him until he finally can't stand it and asks Crocus.

As Crocus finally managed to regain his composure, he clung tightly to Buggy's hand, letting himself feel Buggy Haki as his ragged breaths slowly calmed. With genuine concern in his voice, Buggy asked, "Does Red think I'm dead too?" Confusion quickly crept into his tone as he added, "And my older self has a bounty in this time as Buggy the Clown...so how did you think I was still dead? If you were still drinking, I would understand, but you said you've been sober for 16 years."

Crocus's brows furrowed at the mention of Buggy's "older self." Clearing his throat, he replies, "I don't know if Shanks knows. Ray would have been the one to inform him, if so. But I only saw how Shanks was doing a few years ago when he passed through here and got swallowed by Laboon." As Crocus spoke, Bug's face displayed a complex mix of emotions: happiness that Shanks was still a pirate, but also lingering upset.

Reluctantly, Crocus forced himself to let go of Buggy's hand so he could replace the now-empty blood bag with the next one. He explains, "After I got sober, I told Laboon what happened to the Rumbar Pirates and made it my mission to keep him alive. I couldn't bear to fail someone else. So that's would be why I didn't see your wanted posters. It's hard for a bird to deliver newspapers to someone living inside a whale."

Crocus carefully monitored the transfer of blood from the new bag into Buggy's veins, his brow furrowed in concentration. As he sat back down on the stool, he couldn't help but voice his curiosity.

"What happened to you, Buggy? The burns and scars—and what do you mean by your older self? Who is Spark, and why do you need to find him? And why can I only feel your Haki when I hold your hand?"Buggy fell silent for a few moments, his mind racing as he tried to organize his thoughts.

"Well, it all started in Loguetown," he began. "I got a call from Rouge after a run-in with a certain fire chicken. I had some trouble, and I ended up getting shot in the back and falling into the river. But this kid and his massive cat dragged me out, Then I made my way to Rouge." Buggy paused, taking a deep calming breath, before continuing with a slight glare on his face, daring Crocus to question him.

"Spark's real name is Gol D Ace," he revealed. "He's my younger brother—that's what Rouge told me. He's Captain Son."

Crocus was taken aback by this bombshell and started choking in shock. "Wait, Rouge and Roger? How the hell...and they named their child after a sword?" He coughs uncontrollably before managing to compose himself. Seeing the scowl on Buggy's face, Crocus quickly dropped the subject.

"Okay, yes he is your little brother," Crocus acknowledged, prompting Buggy to launch into the story of how he ended up at Crocus's door that night. Leaving out unneeded detail he did not want to go over.

Buggy hesitantly spoke up, "Laboon took me to Drum Island to get fixed up. Once I was better, I headed back towards Foosha village. But I was caught by the Barrel pirates with Barbarossa who was leading them in Loguetown, then I got hit by something, now I find myself 17 years in the future." Crocus stands up from his seat and begins pacing around the room, frantically searching for something while cursing under his breath. He rants about the Barrel pirates and Hector Barbossa, causing Buggy to feel a strange mix of embarrassment and joy.

Eventually, Crocus stumbled upon an ancient-looking Den-Den Mushi that had fallen to the ground during Laboon and Luffy's fight. Seeing that it was no longer alive, Crocus let out another string of curses before saying, "Well, there goes calling Ray to let him know you're alive and about those code breakers. I'll have to wait until I can get a new one. Poor old thing," Then, as Crocus walked over to Buggy, he said, " The only one with a time devil fruit is Toki, but I have heard no news about Wano opening its borders.”

Crocus sighed as he sat back down on his stool, "At least you get back somehow thanks to your older self being present. And now you're being dragged along by another kid with a protective streak who also happens to wear a straw hat." As Crocus glanced at Buggy's head, where a straw hat sat, Buggy followed his gaze and plucked it off, holding it up to his eye level.

"This thing is fucking cursed!" Buggy grumbles. "It's Shanks, apparently. He gave it to Luffy." Crocus couldn't help but burst into laughter at this revelation, settling back onto his stool.

Buggy continued to tell his story of how he temporarily joined the Mugiwara Pirates before eventually dozing off. In a peaceful sleep, the straw hat still held tightly in his grasp as thoughts of the past filled his dreams.

Chapter Text

( Grand Line,1496,Early-March)

Gol D Roger's face turned grave as he combed through his ship, the Oro Jackson. He sensed a familiar soul voice crying out in agony and torment, accompanied by a feeling of hopelessness that pained him to the core. His Haki coursing through the corridors guided him to a source deep within the ship. One of his crew members had been hurt, and whoever was responsible would face his wrath. The rest of the crew was partying on the upper deck, unaware of the situation unfolding below them. Only Roger seemed able to hear the soul voice and when he mentioned it to Rayleigh, his first mate couldn’t hear anything at all.

Roger’s attention snapped to a new sound—quiet sniffles echoing through the hallway. The walls were illuminated by hanging oil lanterns, casting a warm glow on his path. The seemingly endless hallway led to a turn, which would bring him to the final stretch of cabins before descending towards the ship's Bilge. It was a rarely visited area, reserved only for essential repairs due to the Oro Jackson's construction from valuable Adam Wood. To find one of his crew members hiding in such a neglected space was concerning.

Roger clenched his fists in frustration. 'No member of my crew should feel like hiding away if they are in pain,' he thought angrily. 'If any of them are struggling or hurting, they should feel comfortable coming to me! I am their Captain, after all.' His determination renewed, Roger quickened his pace towards the Bilge, determined to find and comfort whoever was suffering on his ship.

The sound of sniffling grew louder as Roger turned the corner, only to fade away as he suddenly stood back at the beginning of the hallway. His brow furrowed in confusion before realization dawned on him - it was the ship itself playing tricks on him. As he turned around, he came face to face with the Klabautermann of Oro Jackson. Dressed in a bright red and white raincoat adorned with gold symbols, Oro wore an unhappy scowl on her face. But even with Oro's presence, Roger could still hear the faint sound of sniffling, growing distant and then closer again.

"Oro," Roger spoke sternly, "now is not the time for games.”

But Oro stomped her foot and crossed her arms defensively. "No," she replied firmly, "The little Blue one is crying because of those deckhands you picked up on the last island. They said terrible things about him and laughed."

Roger growled in anger, "How dare they slander my little Blue Wonder! Let me through, Oro. I need to get to Buggy.”

But Oro stood her ground, refusing to budge. "Not if you're going to be mad at him," she retorted.

Realizing that Oro misunderstood his anger, Roger calmed himself down and crouched down to meet her eye level. "I'm not upset at Buggy," he explained patiently, "I'm angry at those deckhands. I need to get to him and make sure he’s okay.”

Roger could feel the sadness radiating off of Buggy's Haki now, leaking like a wound. Oro, now sensing Roger true feelings towards Buggy, let out a mischievous giggle. "He grabbed a bottle of wine," it shared, "and has been drinking it because Spencer told Blue and Red that 'it's his sad juice; he drinks it when he's down and then feels happy.' You can't be mad at him for trying to feel better."

Letting out an exasperated groan, Roger made a mental note to address Spencer's drinking habits later by throwing him at Rayleigh and Crocus.

Oro, perked up at the sound of Roger's groans and a smile tugging at her lips, she stopped hiding Buggy from her captain's sight.Soon enough, the sounds of sobs could be heard echoing down the hall.

As Roger past Oro,Roger had a sharp grin on his face, sending excited shivers through Oro as Roger said "Why don't you go and play with the deckhands responsible for upsetting my youngest?" Roger suggested, his voice laced with a hint of malice. With an evil giggle, Oro disappeared, giving a slight nod to her captain.

Roger followed the sounds of gut-wrenching sobs until he found Buggy curled up in a ball in the hallway, clutching an empty bottle of wine as he hiccuped and sobbed uncontrollably. The air was thick with the scent of alcohol and salty tears. Without hesitation, Roger sat on the ground in front of Buggy and reached out a comforting hand, gently placing it on the trembling child's head.

Buggy's raised his head showing how his eyes were red and puffy from crying and drinking. He let out a hiccup before diving into Roger's chest, releasing deep, guttural sobs. Roger caught him and rubbed his back, just like he used to when Buggy was much smaller. Letting Buggy cry it out, once the sobs started to subside, Roger spoke in a soothing voice. "It's okay, Buggy. Just breathe." Buggy's sobs turned into sniffles as he began to calm down.

Roger then helped Buggy to stand on unsteady feet and checked him over for any injuries. "Let me take a look at you, Blue," he said softly, concern etched on his features. Buggy kept his fists clenched in Roger's shirt as he stood unsteadily on his feet, still sniffling and tears rolling down his face. His eyes looked glassy from the wine and filled with all the sadness in the world, making Roger want to go and rip off each of the new deckhand's heads. But Roger smiled at Buggy and let out a chuckle as he pulled out a handkerchief and wiped away Buggy's tears, drying his cheeks with gentle strokes as he said, "Good lad."

"Now tell me," Roger continued, "what made you so upset that you hid away instead of coming to your captain? " His voice softening as he says "It's my responsibility to make sure my Nakama are okay. If I can't do that, what kind of captain am I. And that goes double for mine boys, So tell me what happened."

Buggy let out another hiccup, tears streaming down his face as he tried to speak. "It's stupid . I'm stupid, with this freaky round red nose. You should never have kept me. I'm not like Shanks, all bright and full of potential. I'm just a burden, good for nothing." He broke into sobs once more, using one hand to rub at his eyes in a futile attempt to stop the flow of tears.

Roger's usually vibrant gray eyes darkened with anger, turning a shade closer to the deep, stormy clouds outside as he sat on the floor. Buggy clung onto Roger's shirt with tightly clenched fists, struggling to stay upright on his drunken legs. As Buggy continued to mumble slurred words of self-deprecation and recount the cruel things said by new deckhands behind his back, Roger felt a mixture of rage and blood lust wash over him. Before he could say anything, Buggy spiraled into a confession about all his fears and insecurities.

"I'm a coward and selfish," Buggy mumbles between hiccups. "I don't deserve to be with you, and they're right." His voice cracks with emotion as he admits, "I tried to run away. But I couldn't even do that right." He lets out a sad chuckle before adding dejectedly, "And now I can't even swim. And am even more worthless and I lost my map."

Roger’s anger vanished, replaced by a gnawing dread. His ten-year-old son had tried to run away. Gently, he asked, ‘What do you mean, Blue?’”

Buggy whimpers and buries his face in Roger's chest once again, seeking comfort and solace. His shaky voice reveals how a few months ago, after the raid of another pirates crew ship, some of their new crew mates didn't give him his fair share of the treasure because they believed he hadn't helped enough. So he stole a treasure map he found during the raid, since they would not give him his share.

And then he heard from Shanks about the devil fruit that cost a fortune, so he pretended to eat it. So with his treasure map to under water treasure he was planning to take a dinghy and sail to an island where he could sell the fruit for money.

"To get my own ship," Buggy explains desperately, "and make my own crew. We could go treasure hunting using my treasure map, and I'll finally find treasure for myself so no one can say I can't have it. Then we'll go on adventures with my own strong crew and we would not have to fight scary monstrous pirates or marines who make so many voices disappear." His voice cracks again as he continues, "And I can prove to everyone that I can be great like Shanks and you! Even if I can't fight like Shanks and can only hearing voices all the time."

Roger's chest tightens, a pang of guilt hitting him deep in his gut. Hearing voices? Buggy had always been hearing voices?

Buggy never spoke about it, not once—not to Roger, not to Rayleigh, not even to Shanks. But now, between hiccups and sobs, he was confessing something Roger had never even considered. Something that had shaped him all along.

My child… my youngest.

The realization struck Roger harder than any storm at sea. Buggy had always been different, always a little sharper with his words, always reacting to things unseen. But Roger had assumed it was just his personality, his sharp tongue and stubborn pride. He had never thought about why Buggy covered his ears sometimes, or why he hated places that were too quiet, too empty.

Buggy’s face was blotchy, his nose running as he pressed his tear-soaked cheeks into Roger’s shirt, muffling his sobs. His small hands bunched into Roger’s coat, shaking like he was trying to hold onto something—onto him.

"I couldn't even do it right," Buggy sobbed, recalling how Shanks had caught him off guard and caused him to accidentally consume the cursed fruit. "I got angry and yelled at Shanks, causing the wind to snatch my map from my grasp and send it flying into the ocean. I jumped in after it, but almost drowned because of the devil fruit's curse - now I can't swim."

He wiped his nose on his sleeve before continuing with another hiccup. "It was the one thing I could do better than Shanks, and it made most of the voices go soft but now...he will surely become the greatest pirate after you now."

Buggy hiccuped, trying to hold back his emotions as he poured out his insecurities. "He's always been better at everything - fighting, braver, making friends easily. And all I can do is hope that he'll let me join him so I can could help him but-." The boy's self-deprecating words became sharper and more frantic as he spiraled deeper into distress. "I'm just a weakling who can't even have a dream for myself. All I'm good at is drowning and losing treasure maps!" Buggy's voice cracked and grew shrill as he rambled on about his perceived inadequacies.

Roger's attempt to calm Buggy down was more of a desperate plea than a suggestion - that he should fight Shanks to be the greatest. But instead of easing the tension, this idea only caused Buggy to stare at Roger with glazed, unfocused eyes, overwhelmed by the effects of too much wine on his system.

As he sobbed, waves of fear and worry crashed through Buggy's mind, threatening to drown him in his own emotions. "But you gave him your hat! Shanks is your legacy! I’m nothing, and what if Shanks kills me?" His voice cracked as he continued to cry, unable to control the overwhelming flood of thoughts and fears racing through his head. "What if I kill Shanks or he hates me? What if you try to stop us, you're already sick and we could end up killing you!"

Then, Buggy’s entire body seized as his voice warped into something distorted, almost unrecognizable.

"And then your voices will be gone! I don’t want to hear that!"

His hands clamped down over his ears, his distorted voice sobbing, "I don’t want to hear you disappear!"

Roger felt it immediately—Buggy’s Haki.

It flared wildly, erratic and unstable, wrapping around Buggy like a suffocating blanket, as if trying to protect him from the very world itself. Roger could feel the storm raging inside of him, his power surging like a living thing, both trying to bury itself deep within and threatening to explode outward at the same time.

Finally, unable to bear the weight any longer, Buggy collapsed to the floor in a heap. He clung to Roger like a lifeline, shaking and sobbing, the words spilling from his lips turning into an incomprehensible mess of emotions.

Roger's heart raced in panic and fear as he heard Buggy's soul voice screaming in deep anguish at the thought of Shanks and Roger dying.The once-over confident bright joyful tone now cracked and faltered growing despondent and broken slowly fading. He could see the toll it was taking on Buggy his eye becoming empty as his Haki struggled to bury itself within him, Roger knew that if this continued, Buggy's willpower would eventually shatter.

And Buggy would become a empty shell with no willpower. In that moment, Roger made a decision - he gently lifted Buggy off the ground, cradling him against his chest with one arm while using his other hand to wrap his conqueror Haki around the trembling sobbing form.

Buggy clung to him, his small fingers curling into Roger’s coat, his face pressed against his captain’s neck. Roger held him close, his own Haki pulsing in steady, warm waves—reassuring, steadying.

"You’re clever," Roger whispered. "Quick. Smart. More cunning than most men I’ve met." He felt Buggy’s breathing slow just a little, his body still shaking, but no longer as violently. "You’re my little rogue, aren’t you? My little Blue Wonder."

A hiccup. A deep, shuddering breath.

Then, Buggy mumbled something, his voice hoarse and small.

"The voices… they’re gone."

His fingers twitched against Roger’s shirt. "Your voice… it’s warm. Bright… like a beacon."

Roger stilled.

A beacon?

And then, it clicked.

Buggy wasn’t just hearing random voices.

He had Observation Haki.

Not just any Observation Haki, but Natural observation Haki—he could hear soul voices.

He had been hearing them all his life.

And no one—not even Roger—had realized it.

Roger made a mental note to discuss Buggy’s range with Rayleigh later—right after throwing Spencer into the ocean multiple times for putting the idea of “happy juice” into both Buggy and Shanks’ heads. Spencer would be dry for a long time after this. No more ‘juice’ for him.

Roger’s eyes dropped to the wine bottle lying on the floor, the label catching his attention. Marsala.

Damn. That’s new—and strong. And it was a full bottle.

His jaw clenched as he adjusted his grip on Buggy, who hiccupped softly against his shoulder. Focus. First, get Buggy to Crocus, make sure he doesn’t get sick— then he could deal with everything else.

As he continued rocking his youngest in his arms, Roger allowed his Haki to gently blend with Buggy’s, creating a shield that left a piece of himself within the boy—an anchor, something steady to hold onto. Buggy, still hazy with drink and emotion, clung to Roger’s coat, his small body warm and fragile against him.

Roger started walking toward the upper deck, his mind lingering on one final thought.

If Buggy wants to help Shanks become a great pirate… then I’ll give him a legacy to carry, too. One that’s all his own.

Roger’s deep voice broke the quiet hallway as he spoke, his words calm and deliberate. “You are my legacy too, Buggy. Not just Shanks. You’re a late bloomer, just like me.”

Buggy, still half-dazed, blinked up at him in confusion. His breath was warm against Roger’s collar as he slurred, “We’re a late bloomer?”

Roger chuckled, rubbing a hand through Buggy’s messy blue hair as he carried him. “Yep. I couldn’t even use Haki consciously until I was well into my thirties. Rayleigh learned faster than me.” Then, a mischievous glint flickered in his eyes as he added, “Now, about that treasure map you stole right under our noses, you sneaky little pirate…”

Buggy’s cheeks tinged pink—not just from the wine but from the pride evident in Roger’s voice. He ducked his head slightly, embarrassed but pleased. In a weary, more sober tone, he asked, “You’re not mad that I stole the map and the fruit?”

Roger carried on through the dimly lit hall, his grin widening. “You’re a pirate, aren’t you? And pirates steal.” His voice softened slightly as he added, “Though you should have told me, your captain, that you weren’t given your fair share. I’ll be having a word with Rayleigh to make sure you and Shanks both get what you’re due.”

His expression darkened slightly as he continued, “And if it happens again, fight back. Don’t stay quiet. And if that doesn’t work, you come to me. I’ll throw those slugs off my ship myself.”

Buggy let out another hiccup before tightening his grip around Roger’s neck, burying his face into the captain’s shoulder. His small nose made a faint ‘honk’ as it squished against Roger’s coat, and a quiet laugh rumbled in Roger’s chest.

The warmth of Roger’s Haki wrapped around him, stronger than the lingering effects of the wine. It wasn’t the same suffocating kind of power Buggy had felt from others—it wasn’t meant to crush or bend. It was steady. Protective. Safe.

The muffled sound of laughter, shouting, and music drifted down from above as the party continued in full force. Roger carried his youngest child effortlessly, the flickering lanterns casting their shadows against the wooden walls. He smirked as he looked down at Buggy.

"How about I teach you my cartography skills, my little Blue Wonder?" he asked playfully. "Then you can make your own treasure maps."

Buggy suddenly lifted his head, his glassy eyes lighting up with excitement despite his groggy state. He swayed slightly in Roger’s arms but let out a delighted giggle. “Really? You’ll teach me maps and stuff? I can remake the treasure map—I memorized it! And I’m not little! I’m ten.”

His slurred speech and pout only made Roger chuckle harder.

“Of course,” Roger said, still grinning. “Then you can show me this ‘unforgettable’ treasure map you stole… and then lost, you little rogue.”

Buggy’s pout deepened, but his lips twitched with amusement. He snuggled closer into Roger’s warmth, looping his arms around his captain’s neck.

“No take-backs. Promise?” he murmured sleepily.

Roger glanced down at the boy in his arms, his expression softening. His voice was quieter this time, more solemn.

"I swear on the seas, my Blue treasure, gifted from the ocean."

Buggy giggled again, a drowsy, pleased sound, before his body fully relaxed against Roger’s. His eyes drooped, going hazy and unfocused as his body finally relaxed.

Roger exhaled through his nose, amused, and stepped up to the door leading to the main deck. Pushing it open with his foot, he stepped outside—his youngest child nestled in his arms, Buggy’s chin resting on his shoulder, his small hands clutching onto the fabric of Roger’s bright pink shirt.

As he stepped onto the deck, the Oro Jackson seemed to come alive.

The Oro Jackson was alive with celebration. Laughter echoed across the deck, mixing with the rhythmic beat of drums and the crackling of a bonfire burning in a sturdy metal basin. The salty sea breeze carried the scent of roasted meat, charred fish, and spiced rum, adding to the warm, carefree atmosphere.

Crew members were scattered everywhere—some dancing wildly, stomping their feet to the lively music, while others lounged in clusters, swapping stories over overflowing mugs of ale. A large cauldron of steaming hot pot sat at the heart of the deck, the broth bubbling with rich flavors that had even the rowdiest pirates pausing between their revelry for a taste.

Roger’s keen gaze swept across the familiar scene. He spotted his core nakama, each engaged in their usual antics. Rayleigh and Crocus stood near the rail, both deep in conversation, their faces flushed with the telltale signs of one too many drinks. Spencer and Gaban clinked their glasses, their laughter booming over the music, while several others hollered drunken shanties at the top of their lungs.

Above them, lanterns swayed in the ocean breeze, casting a flickering golden glow across the deck. Colorful flags, stolen from countless conquests, fluttered from the rigging, a testament to the countless adventures they’d had.

Everything was as it should be.

Until—"Buggy, where are you?!" The panicked yell could be heard over the merriment.

Roger’s ears perked up as he stepped onto the deck, his sharp grin widening. He turned to shut the door behind him, the warm weight of his youngest child still snug in his arms.

Across the deck, a small red blur darted through the crowd, shoving aside drunken pirates in frantic desperation.

It was Shanks.

His wild black eyes were wide with fear, his chest heaving from exertion as he practically crashed into Rayleigh, gripping the vice-captions shirt with trembling hands.

"Rayleigh-San! Buggy’s missing! I can’t find him anywhere!"

The laughter around them faltered. Nearby pirates exchanged glances, some looking mildly concerned, others simply amused.

Rayleigh, still comfortably drunk with a light blush on his cheeks, let out an easygoing chuckle.“Relax, Shanks. Buggy’s fine. He probably just fell asleep somewhere.” He patted Shanks on the head, clearly unbothered.

But Shanks' scowl only deepened.

"No! He’s not ‘just asleep’!" His voice cracked slightly, a rare edge of genuine fear slipping through. "Something happened! We have to find him!"

Roger, still unnoticed, grinned as he approached the group.

The captain could feel Buggy gently humming against his shoulder, the boy’s quiet, drunken hiccups blending into the rhythm of the drums in the background. Completely carefree. Absolutely wasted.

And yet—Shanks was in complete distress.

As Shanks started to scowl angrily at Rayleigh for not helping him find Buggy, he suddenly noticed Roger standing there. However, in his panic and concern doesn't seem to notice Buggy in Roger's arms at all. Shanks darts towards Roger, grabbing his shirt shouting "Captain Roger! I can't find Blue anywhere, something happened and now he is missing!"

Rayleigh, Crocus, and Gaban turned, their eyes landing on Shanks as he rushed to Roger—only to see Buggy cradled protectively in the captain’s arms. Rayleigh sobers up when he sees small swirls of Roger's conqueror Haki gently enveloping Buggy, effectively masking Buggy's own Haki and presences.

But it's not just the display of Haki that has the rest of the main crew quickly snapping out of their drunken stupor - it's the sharp glint in Roger's eye and the promise of retribution that makes them sober up in an instant. The rest of the crew continues party unaware of the event currently taking place.

With a tender gesture, Roger affectionately ruffles Shanks' hair with his hand. His eyes quickly locks onto Rayleigh's as he lets out a deep chuckle, saying "It's alright, my Fierce little Red. Our little Blue Wonder seems to have gotten into some of Spencer's infamous 'Happy Juice'." He says to Shanks.

At this, Spencer curses and receives a sharp hit upside the head from Gaban.

Roger continues, "But it does seem… you know how Buggy ended up drinking a full bottle of Spencer’s Marsala Happy Wine?"

Spencer swears as he his hit again by Gaban,Crocus eyes focus on the wasted Buggy and Shank's expression turns to one of intense anger but softens when he sees Buggy in Roger's arms. A glimmer of angry tears form in his eyes as he remembers the disrespectful comments made about Buggy moments ago.

Determined, Shank speaks up, "Those new hands you picked up on the last island, they-" But before he can repeat the hurtful words said earlier, Roger ruffles Shanks' hair again, silencing him. "No need to speak such vile things, Red," he snarls with a menacing look that sends shivers down the spines of those around them.

Turning to his dear friends and partner, Roger declares, "They’ll tell me exactly what they said—word for word. To my face." He then looks down at Shanks with a proud gleam in his eyes and praises him, "Good job trying to make sure Blue is okay. And he will be."

As Roger turns back to Rayleigh, he remarks, "Seems like our Blue Wonder is already a natural at Observation Haki. He’s been hearing everyone’s soul voice non-stop."

The surrounding crew pales at the revelation. Shanks’ eyes widen in awe. "Buggy has been using Haki? That’s incredible!" he exclaims, his initial distress giving way to admiration.

Rayleigh and Crocus exchange wary glances, fully aware of what it means to be born with such a talent.

With a bloodthirsty grin, Roger issues his next order. "Gaban, I want those new hands—and I want to know everything. Though… you might have some trouble finding them, since Oro is playing with them right now."

Gaban eagerly nods, his own grin just as fierce. Without hesitation, he grabs Spencer, who groans in frustration, already anticipating another hit. The two of them share a dangerous gleam in their eyes as they set off, ready to track down the newcomers who dared to harm the youngest among them.

Meanwhile, Roger’s expression shifts. He turns to Rayleigh, brows furrowed. "Rayleigh, we need to figure out Buggy’s range once he’s sober and stable."

At the word stable, Rayleigh’s gaze sharpens in concern. He looks between the drunkenly swaying Buggy and Roger, his mind racing. He can still feel the remnants of Roger’s Conqueror’s Haki wrapped around the boy, a silent force protecting and steadying him. The power seeping into Buggy is both awe-inspiring and alarming—if not controlled properly, it could overwhelm him.

Rayleigh opens his mouth to press the issue, but Roger waves him off with a casual hand. "We’ll talk soon, partner. First, I’m keeping my boys with me."

He turns to Crocus, voice edged with urgency. "You’re coming too, Doc. I need you to make sure both Blue and Red are well."

Noticing that Shanks still hasn’t let go of him and doesn’t protest being checked up on, Roger ruffles his hair before easily picking him up in his other arm.

Shanks stiffens in embarrassment, his cheeks burning, but he doesn’t fight it. Instead, he instinctively clings to Buggy’s shirt for comfort, his fingers twisting into the fabric as he buries his face against Roger’s chest.

Shanks instinctively clings onto Buggy's shirt for comfort and hides his face in Roger's chest, embarrassed at being picked up but not protesting.

Roger chuckles, shaking his head as he shifts his grip to hold both boys securely.

As he strides toward his cabin, Rayleigh and Crocus follow, each with a purpose driving them forward—one determined to ensure his captain’s sons are safe, another to settle them under his watchful eye, and one more, burning with the need to see justice served.

Behind them, the rest of the main crew, now fully sobered, exchange glances. They know what’s about to happen.

Roger’s words linger in the air: “The rest of you know what to do.”

And they do.

In the warmly lit room designated as Roger's private quarters, Crocus had checked on Buggy, giving him medicine to ease his intoxication, while offering Shanks a calming drink to settle his nerves. Now, Blue and Red lay soundly asleep on Roger's luxurious bed, tucked in with care. A candle flickered softly nearby, casting a golden glow over their entwined forms beneath the thick quilt. Even in sleep, their closeness remained evident—instinctively seeking comfort in each other.

At his desk, Roger sat in heavy silence, his expression grave as he relayed the night's events to Rayleigh and Crocus, who stood beside him. His hand trembled slightly as he explained why he had used his Conqueror’s Haki to shield Buggy—protecting him from the relentless onslaught of soul voices that had overwhelmed his young mind. More than that, the barrier had stabilized Buggy’s own Haki, which had begun to devour itself in his drunken, over-emotional state, dangerously close to shattering his will.

A piece of Roger’s own Haki now lingered within Buggy, woven into the boy’s presence. It would fade with time, but for now, it kept him grounded.

Rayleigh exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple before fixing Roger with a pointed glare. “You vowed on the seas, Roger! Really?! I haven’t even taught them what that means yet!” His voice was exasperated, a rare break in his usual composure.

Before he could continue—before he could fully voice the weight of his concerns for both Buggy and Roger—a resounding knock echoed through the room, sharp and deliberate, interrupting their conversation.

All three men turned toward the door, their moment of contemplation shattered.

Someone was waiting. And they had something to say.

Crocus stood watch by the door, keeping an eye out for any potential danger while Roger and Rayleigh had been gone for over an hour, dealing with the new deckhands who couldn’t keep their mouths shut. According to Gaban and Spencer, they had found the men tied up and hanging off the stern of the ship by their ankles—clearly terrified.

When Rayleigh opened the door and held it for Roger to enter, Crocus turned his head in acknowledgment. Roger stepped inside with purpose, wiping fresh blood from his hands onto a cloth before tucking it into his pocket. Both men carried the weight of their task in their darkened expressions, but as their eyes landed on Blue and Red, peacefully curled up on the bed, the hardness in their gazes melted—replaced with quiet warmth.

Roger crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed, carefully ruffling both boys’ hair, mindful not to wake them. A soft smile graced his lips as he looked down at his sons. Rayleigh leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a fond smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as he observed the scene.

In his sleep, Buggy's face contorted into a scowl and he covered his ears with his hands, rolling away from Shanks in a fitful slumber.

He mumbled something—low and fast, slipping into a tongue, Crocus did not recognize.

Crocus immediately moved to grab a nearby bucket.

“The medicine should help with the effects of the wine,” he muttered, keeping a close eye on Buggy. “But he drank a full bottle.”

It proved to be the right call. Buggy suddenly shot upright, his eyes glazed and unfocused.

Buggy didn’t answer. He removed one hand from his ear, furrowed his brows, then quickly clamped both hands over his ears again. He turned to Shanks, repeating the same odd motion, before muttering something in that same unfamiliar language.

Then his face turned a sickly shade of green.

Roger barely had time to react before Crocus shoved the bucket into his hands. Buggy lurched forward, emptying his stomach as Roger rubbed his back reassuringly.

“Good lad, let it out,” Roger murmured.

Rayleigh appeared with a glass of water and once Buggy had stopped vomiting, Roger helped him drink some water while he swayed unsteadily.

But Buggy still wasn’t quite present. His glassy eyes flickered between the three men, his hands moving in that same strange pattern—covering and uncovering his ears, glancing at each of them in turn, repeating the action before muttering, “Three? Why three?”

beat of silence.

Roger was the first to speak. “Three? Three what, Blue?”

The nickname seemed to anchor Buggy slightly. His brows knitted together, and he clumsily crawled into Roger’s lap, staring up at him with unfocused eyes.

“Beacon?” Buggy mumbled, his voice small and confused.

Roger tilted his head. “Beacon?”

Buggy didn’t answer, just continued his odd little ritual—covering and uncovering his ears before looking up again, this time questioning, “One?”

Roger’s frown deepened. “Are you counting the voices you hear?”

Buggy nodded.

Rayleigh’s eyes flickered with realization. “But there are four of us here.”

Buggy mumbled something again in that same foreign language, his face scrunching in frustration. Then, as if testing a theory, he stretched his arms out toward Rayleigh.

Rayleigh sighed, already knowing he wouldn’t be ignored. He took Buggy from Roger’s arms and held him securely. Buggy repeated his previous motions, then frowned harder.

“Two?”

Rayleigh’s grip on the boy tightened. His gaze met Crocus’s, concern evident. "What was in that wine!? He's acting like he did when he was found."

Crocus frowned, rubbing his chin. “The medicine should be stabilizing him by now… but if this is something he’s done before—”

Roger furrowed his brow in thought as Rayleigh pestered Crocus about the effects of the medicine he had given Buggy. Meanwhile, Buggy remained in Rayleigh’s arms, being gently rocked to sleep by his constant pacing.

Still, even in his dazed state, Buggy wasn’t done. His fingers twitched slightly before he pointed at Roger.

“Beacon.”

Then he pointed at Rayleigh.

“Scatter.”

Finally, he pointed at Shanks.

“Parhelion. Three.”

Rayleigh frowned deeply, but Roger’s eyes suddenly lit with understanding.

“Conqueror’s Haki.”

Rayleigh, still rocking Buggy slightly, froze. “What?”

Roger stood, expression firm. He reached for Buggy, taking him back into his arms. “How many voices do you hear now?”

Buggy, eyes half-lidded with exhaustion, let out a small yawn.

“One.”

Roger passed him back to Rayleigh. “And now?”

Buggy rubbed his bleary eyes, his tiny body curling into Rayleigh’s hold. He let out another soft yawn before murmuring,

“Two.”

Then he drifted back to sleep.

Rayleigh sighed, gently tucking Buggy into bed next to Shanks, who had unconsciously searched for his friend in his sleep. As soon as Buggy was close, Shanks latched onto him, their bodies curling together instinctively like a pair of kittens.

A thoughtful silence settled in the room before Roger broke it.

“Rayleigh, didn’t you say Shanks has the potential for Conqueror’s Haki?”

Rayleigh crossed his arms, nodding. “I can sense it deep within him. But it hasn’t fully awakened yet.”

Roger crossed his arms with a satisfied smile on his face. “Then my suspicions were correct. At this close proximity, Buggy can only hear strong voices. And those who possess Conqueror’s Haki have the strongest voices of all. When touching, Buggy can only hear mine.”

A grin spread across Roger’s face as he continued, “Well now we have a way to find a starting point for Buggy’s range. And Rayleigh, it looks like you'll have to teach the boys about vows, swears, and promises now.”

Rayleigh simply shook his head with a small sigh while Crocus looked on in bafflement at the whole situation.

Roger just chuckled.

Chapter Text

As Buggy drifted off to sleep, Crocus couldn't help but feel a mix of outrage and relief. Outrage at the Barrel pirates who caused Buggy's injuries, but even more at Barbossa for orchestrating it all. It was a relief that he was able to help Buggy now. He stood up from his chair and checked the last blood bag, thinking, 'He lost a lot of blood. It's pure luck that he didn't go into hypovolemic shock. He needs at least two more pints of blood to make up for what he has lost'. With a relieved sigh, he looks at Buggy's sleeping form "I need to get a den-den and call Rayleigh fast. He needs to know everything." Crocus wonders when the next carrier, Coo-Coos, would arrive. 

Luffy then bursts into the lighthouse with excitement, shouting, "I'm back!" He rushes over to Buggy's sleeping form and exclaims, "I have the same blood type as you, Blue, so I can give you all you need." With a proud grin on his face, Luffy retrieved his hat and placed it back on his head before turning to Crocus and asking, "Okay, what do you need me to do?"

Crocus motions for Luffy to take a seat on the stool, his weathered hands carefully arranging the supplies needed for the blood donation. As he sets up the new bag and attaches it to the IV line, Crocus expertly inserts a sterile needle into Luffy's antecubital fossa vein. The crimson liquid begins to flow smoothly from Luffy's arm and into the bag. Crocus checks the progress of the donation and nods in satisfaction before speaking. "Buggy needs just two more pints of blood. This five-pint bag will be fine; once it is filled to the necessary level, I will transfer it directly to Buggy." Luffy watches in awe as his blood fills the bag.

Nami finally reaches the open door of the lighthouse, gasping for air as she enters. She immediately shouts at Luffy, who is sitting happily in the room before her: "Luffy, you idiot! You left me behind!" As she catches her breath, she takes in the scene before her. Buggy lies on his stomach on the bed, his upper body is wrapped in clean bandages and one leg is bare with a needle inserted into the back of his knee. Luffy sits on a stool nearby, hooked up to a blood bag that is slowly filling.

He scratches the back of his head sheepishly as he greets Nami with a grin: "Sorry, I just wanted to get here before Blue woke up." Then Luffy turned back to watching Blue and then turns to watch his blood slowly fill the bag, which was going to help Buggy.

Nami lets out a sigh of frustration and holds up a small bag of clothing she is carrying as she turns to Crocus."I brought some clothes for Blue, but I guess we'll have to wait until he wakes up to ask about that log post and why we need it." Nami lets out a huff, crosses her arms, "Also, do you know why the magnetic fields are making the compass spin in circles?"

Crocus' brow furrows with a slight alarm as he gazes at Nami, his weathered face reflecting concern. His voice is gruff and full of disbelief as he says, "You've come here without knowing anything?" He raises a bushy eyebrow in astonishment before continuing, "I'm quite amazed. Did you come here to just throw your lives away?"

Nami and Luffy exchanged confused looks as Crocus shook his head and moved two chairs closer to Buggy and Luffy, positioning himself between them for a better view.

Nami took a seat and explains, "Blue mentioned something about a log pose needing to connect to a magnetic field as we were coming down the mountain.”

Crocus nods knowingly and began to explain, "The Grand Line is an ocean that defies common sense. The reason your compass is spinning is due to a geomagnetic anomaly across the Grand Line, caused by the rich deposits of various minerals on many of the islands. And not only that but the currents and winds here are incredibly unpredictable. As a navigator, I'm sure you understand how terrifying that can be.”

Shivering slightly, Nami rubbed the back of her head sheepishly and admits, "No wonder Blue looked panicked when I asked what a log pose was.”

Crocus keeps a watchful eye on both the blood bags and Buggy for any signs of discomfort as he continued, "Yes, to navigate the Grand Line, you'll need a Log Pose. It's a special type of compass that records the magnetic field.”

Luffy spoke up from where he was seated, his gaze fixed on the blood filling his bag. "So it's just a weird-looking compass?”

Crocus chuckled lightly "Well, it is rather oddly shaped as well." Luffy reached into his shorts pocket and pulls out the strange object he had picked up earlier from the deck. Holding it out for Crocus to examine, he asked, "Like this?”

Crocus studied the small glass orb with a suspended compass needle and a wristband attached. "Yes, that's it," he confirmed. "Of course, it's quite difficult to obtain one outside of the Grand Line."

Nami gracefully rises from her chair, her eyes fixed on Luffy as she makes her way over to him. "I see," she begins, a hint of frustration creeping into her usually calm voice. "But hang on just a second." Her hand swiftly reaches out and snatches the Log Pose from Luffy's grasp, causing him to flinch in surprise. Using her other hand, she vigorously rubs his hat and heads underneath it, letting out an exasperated yell. "Why the hell do you have one?!" Nearby, Buggy lets out a soft hum in his sleep as Nami's angry echoes fill the room.

Luffy whines in protest, trying to protect his beloved hat from Nami's rough rubbing. "Stop messing up my hat! I got it from those two weirdos earlier; they accidentally left it on our ship."

Nami wraps the Log Pose around her wrist and continues, "Oh, them?" She inspects the device closely, turning it over in her hand. "So this is a Log Pose. There's no marking or anything on it?"

Crocus stood up, his weathered hands gently checking the IV lines that connected Luffy and Buggy to their blood bags. He carefully removed the needle from Luffy's arm, a small trickle of blood escaping before he quickly bandaged the spot. Moving over to Buggy, he set up the new donated blood bag from Luffy to flow into his IV.

As he spoke, his voice was soft but authoritative. "The islands of the Grand Line each have their own unique magnetic fields that surround them," he explained. "In order to navigate this treacherous ocean, one must record the magnetic field interactions between each pair of islands before moving on. The Log Pose is the only reliable way to do so in this world where conventional means of navigation are useless."

Crocus gestured to the massive mountain outside the window. "From here, you will choose one out of seven magnetic fields to record, which will lead you to different islands. No matter which path you take, they will all eventually converge into one," he said, emphasizing the importance of their journey with a grave tone.

Crocus' voice echoed through the room, his words filled with a sense of awe and wonder. "And at the end of this perilous voyage lies Raftel, the legendary island known as the final stop in the Grand Line," he continued. "It is said that only the Pirate King and his crew have ever confirmed its existence in history. It is an island shrouded in mystery and legend." The room fell silent as Luffy and Nami absorbed this information, their minds racing with excitement and curiosity.

Suddenly, Buggy let out a grumble, breaking the tense silence. He had just woken up from a dream where he was cocooned in warm light. "Just how many times have you practiced that speech, Crocus?" he complained.

Nami and Luffy rushed over to him, their faces beaming with excitement. "Blue!" they exclaimed in unison.

Luffy asked eagerly, "How are you feeling, Blue? Are you ready to head out?"

Nami chimed in, "I have a new outfit for you to change into!" She held up a small bag for Buggy to see.

Crocus moved closer to them, taking a look at Buggy's blood bag before saying, "It will be another twenty to thirty minutes until this last bag is empty. Then you can get up, Buggy, but don't move too fast. And I did not practice you, rude child."

Buggy responded to all the questions and said with a grin, "I'm feeling flashy and starving. Thank you, Nami, for the outfit. And I will be careful, Crocus." His body relaxed as he spoke.

Meanwhile, Luffy stretched his limbs and grinned widely. "I am hungry too!" he declared confidently. "There is nothing to worry about. We can see for ourselves once we're there!"

Nami set the small bag on a nearby stool and said, "I will go tell the others you are up and see if the food is ready. We can eat at the table outside." With a smirk directed at Buggy, she added, "You will look great in this outfit. And if you're still injured, I'm sure Luffy or Crocus can help you."

Nami then left to gather the rest of the crew and prepare for their meal. Buggy grumbled while Luffy cheered about food, and Crocus chuckled at their antics.

(Twin capes, on the sea?)

Mr. 9 peered through his binoculars at the Mugiwara pirates, who were setting up a small feast outside the lighthouse. while himself and Miss Wednesday stand on a crudely made wooden raft. Miss Wednesday stood next to him, her expression tense with anticipation. "Well? Can you see them, Mr. 9?" she asked impatiently.

"It looks like they are setting up a small festival," Mr. 9 responded, adjusting the focus on his binoculars. "And I believe that woman has our Log Pose."

Miss Wednesday scolded him, her voice filled with frustration. "How could you have been so careless as to accidentally drop our precious Log Pose?"

Mr. 9 quickly apologized, bowing his head in shame. "I sincerely apologize for my error, Miss Wednesday. I know how important this Log Pose is to us, and we cannot return to our town without it."

Miss Wednesday let out a nervous sigh. "We're already long overdue in our mission to catch the whale. If we don't hurry back and report to the boss, we'll be in serious trouble."

Lowering the binoculars, Mr. 9's expression turned serious. "We may have lost our weapons, but we have no choice but to take them back by force. We cannot continue standing around waiting for the perfect chance any longer."

Suddenly, both Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday heard the sound of flapping wings and a clacking noise coming from above them. They turned their heads towards the sky and saw two figures descending upon them.

Mr. 9's face paled with fear as he recognized the infamous Unluckies—Ms. Friday and Mr. 13.

"Oh no, we're too late!" Miss Wednesday cried out in shock.

Diving down towards them was Ms. Friday; she is a large, black-feathered vulture with white feathers toward the neck. Her skin is pink and her beak is a light yellow. She is wearing sunglasses and a flower-patterned skull cape, holding a square-shaped bomb in her talons. The long wick is by Mr. 13, a mysterious sea otter wearing a spotted jumpsuit and sunglasses who was clapping his clams together to ignite the bomb's wick.

As they get closer, Mr. 9 screams out in desperation. "Wait! There's a perfectly good explanation for why we're late! It's all because of those damn pirates interfering!"

Miss Wednesday joined in, her voice filled with panic. "We were just on our way back to report to the boss! We haven't betrayed the organization!"

But Mr. 13 continues clapping his clams together, successfully igniting the wick and making it sizzle. Then, without hesitation, Ms. Friday dropped the bomb onto the raft where Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday stood, causing a massive explosion that sent the two agents flying into the ocean.

Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday swim to the nearby coast, dragging themselves onto land. They are both smoky and crispy from serving the bomb Ms. Friday dropped on them. Fortunately for them, Sanji and Usopp happen to be passing by, taking empty dishes back to the Going Merry. As soon as he sees Miss Wednesday, Sanji quickly hands the dishes to Usopp and kneels in front of her, extending his hand. "Miss Wednesday, may I offer you a hand?" She graciously takes his hand and stands up, thanking him. Sanji then guides her away, while Mr. 9 calls out from behind, "Wait! I have a request!"

(10 minutes earlier)

Buggy strides out of the lighthouse, his new outfit accentuating his features. As usual, his blue hair is pulled back in a high ponytail, and he wears a black head scarf covering his forehead and tied under the ponytail, the excess fabric cascading down his back adding an extra flourish to his already eye-catching appearance. The words "mode" are emblazoned in white on the back of his half-mesh black vest, matching Nami's mode shirt that she had changed into after getting soaked inside Laboon's stomach. Buggy's loose gray pants hug his ankles tightly, and he has a white scarf wrapped around his waist, with "mode" written in gray across the fabric.

As he approaches the group gathered around the table, laid out with a variety of dishes made by Sanji, Buggy takes in the scene. The centerpiece is a succulent elephant tuna fish, its purple and pink scales glistening in the sunlight. Nami is deep in conversation with Usopp about the Log Pose and why their normal compass has stopped working, while Zoro and Luffy sit nearby. Zoro sits with his arms folded and a little sleep bubble floating from his nose. Luffy looks like he is holding himself back from the food.

Buggy joins them at the table, settling between Zoro and Usopp. He looks over to see Crocus gently petting Laboon's head and can't help but smile at the peacefulness of the moment.

Once Buggy finally settles down at the table, Luffy shouts, "Blues here! I can eat now!" echos through the air. With a wide grin on his face, he begins piling food onto his plate and devouring it in record time. Soon enough, everyone else follows suit, eagerly filling their plates with Sanji's delicious creations. However, Zoro remains asleep in his chair, completely oblivious to the feast happening around him. Meanwhile, Buggy happily keeps pace with Luffy bite for bite, both of them raving about how incredibly tasty the food is.

Meanwhile, Sanji and Usopp are engrossed in conversation with Nami as she excitedly explains the paths they can take to reach Raftel, the legendary island. As they discuss their plans, Usopp turns to Crocus, who has stepped away from the table with a full plate in hand. Unnoticed by Buggy and Luffy as they continue to eat at lightning speed.

Suddenly, Usopp interrupts their lively conversation with a pressing question: "Does that mean that's where the One Piece is hidden is on Raftel!?"

Crocus pauses for a moment before responding, "Who knows? No one has ever reached there to confirm it."

Upon hearing this answer, Buggy starts choking on a large bite of food and begins coughing uncontrollably. Amidst his coughs, it sounds like he's muttering something along the lines of 'bullshit,' but no one can understand him except for Crocus, who gives him a stern look.

Buggy's loud, choking coughs jolt Zoro awake. He bolts upright in his chair and sees Buggy struggling to breathe. Acting quickly, Zoro grabs a mug of water off the table and pours it down Buggy's throat while shouting, "You idiot, stop trying to off yourself! Chew your food properly! Dammit!" Zoro forcefully slaps Buggy on the back, helping him swallow and stop choking.

After catching his breath, Buggy thanks Zoro. "Thanks, and I do chew my food," he insists. "I just heard something funny and wasn't ready."

Unbeknownst to everyone else, Luffy finishes off the remaining food on the table and unguarded plates. But instead of leaving any scraps, he chews up even the fish bones and leaves the plates spotless.

Nami remarks to Usopp, "This is why the Log Pose is so important." She turns to her own Log Pose on her wrist and promises, "I'll make sure to take good care of you. The fate of our journey depends on you."

Zoro looks at the clean table with a dropped jaw as Luffy casually reassures Usopp, "Don't worry, Usopp, we'll know soon enough." Luffy finishes chewing the last bit of bone, and Crocus can't help but look at him with intense curiosity.

As Luffy stands up with a satisfied stretch, he suggests, "Shall we get going now? I'm finished eating." This causes both Usopp and Sanji to stare in disbelief at the empty plates.

Usopp whispers in shock, "Even the bones are gone." 

Meanwhile, Sanji shouts at Luffy in frustration, "You ate everything by yourself!! That was for all of us, you glutton!" He goes to kick Luffy, but Zoro beats him to it by hitting Luffy in the back of the head and knocking him off balance.

Luffy stumbled back towards Nami, his movements unsteady. Nami, still cooing at her new Log Pose, didn't notice Buggy's attempts to get her attention until it was too late.

"Nami, move!" he shouted, but the warning came too late. Luffy fell towards her, and they both crashed to the ground on a hard rock. The log pose shattered upon impact with the stone, Nami's face contorting in shock and disbelief.

Luffy sat up with a whine, wondering why he keeps getting hit today. "If you were hungry, you should have eaten," he muttered.

But Nami was not in the mood for jokes. With a dark aura surrounding her, she growled, "Zoro!!~ Luffy!!~" before proceeding to beat them both senseless. "You absolute morons," she fumed, "can't you go two seconds without breaking something?" Zoro and Luffy knelt on the ground with large smoking bumps forming on their heads as they apologized in unison.

Usopp watched nervously as Nami continued to scold them while eyeing the broken Log Pose on her wrist. Gathering his nerves, he blurts out, "Ahhh! Wasn't that compass, like, super-duper important, Nami!?"

Buggy let out a painful groan and started swearing with his face in his hands. Sanji, meanwhile, began gathering plates and muttering about Zoro stealing his hit.

Amidst the chaos, Nami turned to Crocus with panic etched on her features. She pointed at the broken log pose with tears in her eyes and cried out, "What do we do, Crocus!? Our precious log pose is...!"

Crocus remained silent for a brief moment, his gaze shifting from Luffy to Buggy and then back to Nami. "Don't worry," he reassured her in a calm, soothing tone. "I'll give you a new one as a sign of my gratitude for helping Laboon and taking care of Buggy." Nami couldn't help but smile along with Usopp as they cheered, while Buggy protested loudly at the notion of needing someone else's care.

Luffy let out a boisterous laugh, and Zoro and Sanji breathed sighs of relief now that the tension had dissipated. Just as things started to settle down, Sanji grabbed Usopp by the arm and exclaimed, "Hey, help me with these plates!"

Usopp hesitated before suggesting, "Couldn't we make Zoro, Luffy, or even Bugs do it?"

Sanji tilts his head towards Zoro and Luffy, shooting them both a knowing look. "Those two idiots would probably just end up breaking them," he replied with an exasperated sigh.

As they began to gather the dishes, Sanji nodded towards Buggy, who was now carefully making his way over to Crocus. His hands were already detached from his body and clenched onto Crocus' shirt as Buggy was cursing at Crocus ”I can take care of myself just fine, you retired old sea dog!”

However, Crocus simply smiled warmly at him "Yes, you can, Buggy. But you also have a good crew here looking after you now." This caused Buggy to blush and mumble something about Crocus always having a witty comment about his nose. But there was an undeniable warmth in his face as he blushed at Crocus' gentle teasing.

Not wanting Buggy to injure himself again, Sanji remarked with a roll of his eyes, "He's still healing. We don't want him tearing something apart again."

Usopp nods in agreement as he said, "Yeah, that's a smart idea. I'll grab the rest of these dishes; let's head back to the Going Merry." And with that, Sanji and Usopp made their way back to the ship, carrying the remaining dishes with them.

[ Present] 

Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday kneel in front of Luffy, their clothes wet and crispy from being blown up earlier. Luffy sat with his legs folded on the stone table, a careless expression on his face. Sanji stood behind him on his left, placing a fresh sucker between his lips, while Usopp stood on his right with his arms crossed, trying to exude an air of intimidation. Nami sat in one of the chairs to Luffy's right, her arms crossed and a look of distrust on her face. Buggy, meanwhile, occupied one of the chairs to Luffy's left.

Luffy tilted his head in curiosity and asked, "Whiskey Peak? What's that?" His voice was casual but tinged with genuine interest.

Mr. 9 replied nervously, "It's the name of our town." Luffy responded bluntly, "So you want us to take you there because you lost your ship?”

Nami kneels to be at Mr. 9's eye level and spoke sharply, "Don't you think that's asking a bit too much, Mr. 9? Especially considering you tried to kill Laboon.”

Usopp chimed in, demanding, "Yeah, just who are you guys anyway?"

Both Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9 were sweating bullets as he answered hesitantly, "I'm a king." 

Nami scoffs and pulls on his cheek in anger, saying, "You liar."

The air grew tense as Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9 shared a nervous look before bowing down and shouting, "We cannot say! But please! Please take us back to our town. We swear we'll return the favor!"

Miss Wednesday continued pleadingly, "We'd really rather not keep things hush-hush about everything, but 'Mysteries' is our organization's motto. And so we absolutely cannot tell you anything more." She then turned her pleading gaze to Luffy and said," Please help us out from the kindness of your hearts!"

Crocus advises the Mugiwaras before him. "Don't listen to them. They're nothing but trouble," he warns, his voice carrying the weight of experience.

Nami stands up and, with a falsely concerned expression on her face, holds up the broken log in her hand. "Well, we accidentally broke our log pose," she admits, her voice laced with a hint of mischief. "But do you still want a ride with us?"

At this, Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday leap to their feet, their faces contorted in outrage. Mr. 9's voice cracks as he yells, "W-what!? You broke it!? That was ours!!" while Miss Wednesday's sharp words cut through the air. "How dare you try to take advantage of our misfortune when you're just as unfortunate as we are?!”

But Nami, with a wicked grin and mischievous glint in her eyes, makes Buggy snicker as she adds, "Oh right! I forgot to mention that Crocus here gave us another log pose." The two agents quickly bow down to Nami, desperation evident in their voices as they beg for her kindness. But deep down, they can't help but think,  'This bitch is toying with us!'

However, before Nami could continue to tease them, Luffy cut in bluntly. "Ok, they can come along if they want."

Buggy lets out a snort at Luffy's predictability and quips, "I thought you would say something like that, cloud head."

As dusk settles over the sky and the crew prepares to set sail, Buggy proves himself to be more helpful than expected. He uses his detached hands to hold Merry's head in place so Usopp can reattach it and prevent Luffy from pouting about his special set. Nami, guided by Buggy's expertise, charts their course with the map. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew works together to get the ship ready to sail. Sanji welcomes their new guests, and Zoro assists Usopp in pulling up the anchor, all while Luffy sits contently on Merry's head. Watching from the railing, Buggy smiles as he watches Crocus go over to Mother Hen Nami.

The crystal-clear waters lapped against the shore as Crocus called out to Nami from the safety of the land. His voice was deep and weathered, a testament to his years spent on the Grand Line. "Alright then," he reminded her, "your Log should have been recorded by now. Is it properly pointing towards the place indicated on Buggy's map?

Nami double-checked the Log Pose and compared it to Buggy's map, nodding in confirmation. "Yup, it's pointing towards Whisky Peak," she confirmed.

Crocus turned to Luffy, seeking reassurance. "Are you sure about this, kids? Picking Whisky Peak all because of these ruffians?" He shook his head in dismay and let out a heavy sigh. "The only place where you can choose your own route on this treacherous sea is here.”

But Luffy remained confident from his perch on Merry's head. "It's fine," he declared boldly. "If I don't like the route, we can always sail around once and choose a different one next time.”

Crocus couldn't help but grin at Luffy's determination. Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday covered their mouths as they snickered, thinking to themselves,  'Pukukukuku! Idiotic pirates!'

As they set sail, Luffy waved excitedly at Crocus, calling out, "Bye then, Flower Gramps!"

This made Buggy laugh heartily "Gahaha! Flower Gramps!" before he too waved goodbye to Crocus, shouting, "Make sure you get some fresh air once in a while and read a newspaper." He waved a hand in farewell as he shouts, "May your journey be filled with calm seas!"

Nami also chimed in with a grateful "Thanks for the Log Pose!" before the rest of the crew bid farewell to Crocus. He shouts back, waving with a smile, "May the winds guide your sails!”

As they sailed away, Crocus couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. "Perhaps they're the pirates we've been waiting for," he mused aloud to himself. "That Captain has quite a mysterious aura about him, and he even has your Blue Wonder with him."

He gazed out at the vast ocean before him, lost in thought. "What do you think, Roger?" he spoke to his old friend and captain, who had long since passed away but still lingered in his memories.The ship continued on its journey, leaving behind a trail of waves in its wake. And as it disappeared into the horizon, Crocus couldn't help but hope that soon a Coo-Coos would be by so he could get a new den-den to call Rayleigh and tell him about Buggy.

Chapter Text

The Going Merry glides through a winter wonderland, its decks blanketed in pure white snow. Luffy, Usopp, and Buggy have all been lured by the playful atmosphere, and they are now hard at work constructing snowmen on the deck. Zoro, however, remains asleep by the ship railing as the three play.

As the snowflakes swirl around them, Usopp lets out a shiver and exclaims, "It's freezing!" But he continues to shape his snowman with determination. Buggy stifles a sneeze as he adds the finishing touches to his own creation—an igloo that he hopes will catch Zoro off guard when he wakes up.

Meanwhile, Luffy's snowman is taking shape rapidly; it boasts a cape made of cloth and a barrel for a hat, with two eyes, a long wooden nose, and two wooden arms. As Luffy adjusts the nose, he declares proudly, "There we go! Done! The man who fell from the sky is Mr. Snowman!"

Usopp looks on with amusement as Luffy revels in his snowman. "Hahah," he chuckles. "Such a childish snowman."

Luffy turns to him with surprise in his eyes and asks, "What!?"

In response, Usopp gestures towards his own creation with a flourish. "Behold! My masterpiece of snow art is the Snow Queen!" The figure sitting on a plush chair made of packed snow is none other than Kaya from Usopp's hometown village; she is dressed in very detailed, warm winter clothing.

Luffy's eyes widen in amazement at Usopp's creation. "Holy cow! That is amazing!" he exclaims.

But Buggy has one more trick up his sleeve. "Really," he says smugly, drawing the two's attention. "Just what you'd expect from kids. But watch this—a true snow trap!" He gestures towards a small circus tent-shaped igloo that covers Zoro completely, except for his feet sticking out. "When Zoro wakes up from his nap and sits up," Buggy gloats, "Boom—a face full of snow! Ghahah!"Luffy and Usopp applaud in awe at Buggy's prank, making the pirate puff out his chest with pride.

But Luffy is not one to be outdone,"Well," he declares confidently. "Mine can fight! Just watch this!"

Luffy runs up behind Mr. Snowman and pushes his left stick arm, sending it flying into Usopp's Snow Queen with a loud cry of "Snowman Punch!" The snow queen is obliterated, causing Usopp to become furious and kick off the head of Luffy's Mr. Snowman while shouting, "What was that for?!" As the head of Mr. Snowman tumbles to the ground, Luffy drops to his knees in despair, wailing, "No! Mr. Snowman!" the two start throwing snowballs at each other in retaliation.

Buggy can't contain his laughter at the scene before him and soon joins in on the snowball fight. Amid the chaos, Buggy realizes his bandages are getting wet and makes a hasty retreat towards the lounge, dodging snowballs as he goes and laughing at Luffy, who falls face-first into the snow after being hit by one giant snowball thrown by Usopp.

Nami peered out of the window from her cozy lounge, bundled up in her long green winter coat, yellow and red-plated scarf, and pink earmuffs. The snow outside was falling steadily, covering everything in a thick blanket of white. Her sharp gaze followed the three younger boys as they played gleefully in the snow, their rosy cheeks and bright smiles standing out against the wintry landscape.

"Jezz," she muttered to herself, "how can those three be so lively when it's fucking freezing cold out?" She turned to look at Sanji, who was diligently shoveling the deck despite the frigid temperatures. He had on a black coat, gloves, and a scarf wrapped tightly around his neck. When he caught her eye through the window, he flashed her a flirty smile with his cigarette dangling from his lips. Buggy had finally given him permission to start smoking again just that morning, and he couldn't help but feel elated by the nicotine rush.

"Nami!" he called out, his voice filled with playful charm. "How much longer would you like me to shovel the snow as a show of my love?" Nami rolled her eyes at his antics but couldn't help a small smile from tugging at her lips.

"Until it stops snowing, Sanji," she replied teasingly. Sanji blew out a heart-shaped puff of smoke and nodded dramatically.

"Yes, my lady," he said with mock formality before returning to his task of clearing the deck.

As Buggy enters the lounge, he struggles to shake off the snow that clings to him like a second skin. Mr. 9 is huddled in a thick blanket, shivering from the cold. He turns to Nami and asks, his teeth chattering, "Hey, doesn't this ship have a heating system or something?"

Miss Wednesday, bundled up in a blanket across the table from Mr. 9, nods in agreement as she says through chattering teeth, "It's freezing in here."

Nami's face contorts with anger as she snaps at them: "Shut up! You're not guests here; go outside and help shovel the snow or do something useful! Except for you, Blue," she adds, whipping around, her finger accusingly pointed at Buggy, who freezes in place."You shouldn't be doing anything with those bandages on! What if they get wet and your wounds worsen!? Put on a coat!"

Buggy defends himself by saying, " Hey! I noticed my bandages started to get a bit cold, so I came inside to ask for a coat.” Buggy then rubs his head and asks, "Humm, Nami, I was wondering, when was the last time you checked the log pose?"" As he mentions the log pose, a bolt of lightning strikes outside with a deafening crack and blinding flare. Buggy jerks in surprise at the sound, his heart skipping a beat at the sudden change, in weather.

Nami rushes to the window in confusion, exclaiming, "Lightning!? What's going on with the climate here?" In a softer voice filled with contemplation, she adds, "Just moments ago, it was clear and warm, and then it started snowing. This is just like what Crocus warned us about—that the seasons and climate here are completely unpredictable."

Mr. 9 chides Nami with a knowing tone as he says, "It seems you're underestimating the Grand Line quite a bit."

Miss Wednesday agrees by saying, "Yes, and you've left your rudder alone for a while now; are you sure that's alright?"

Nami is confused and says, "A while?"

Buggy interjects "Nami, look at your log pose."

Nami brings her arm up to check the device as she says, "But Blue, I just checked our direction." As she looks at her log pose again, Nami lets out a blood-curdling scream that startles everyone on board. Usopp and Luffy shout in alarm, looking around frantically, "W-what is it!?" Meanwhile, Zoro remains asleep in his icy tent.

Sanji shouts with concern, "What's the matter with our beloved Navigator!?"

With a sense of urgency, Nami rushes outside the door to the lounge and onto the upper deck, stopping at the railing. Her eyes widen in disbelief as she looks down at her log pose and shouts, "This can't be happening!" She then turns to face Usopp and Luffy on the main deck and orders, "Turn the ship around 180 degrees! Hurry!"

Luffy, with a ball of snow in his hand, asks innocently, "Did we forget something?"

While Usopp shouts in confusion, "180 degrees!? Why are we turning back!?"

Nami holds up her log pose, her expression filled with frustration. "No, the ship turned itself around and is now heading directly away from our intended destination." She then turns to Buggy and exclaims, "I only took my eye off of the log pose for a second, and the waves were calm too. What happened?"

Buggy opens his mouth to start to explain, but Mr. 9 cuts him off with a snide tone,"Looks like you've been played by the waves."

Miss Wednesday chimes in with a question: "Are you really a navigator?"

Embarrassment floods Nami's face as Buggy scowls and walks behind Mr. 9, clearly not approving of his attitude. Miss Wednesday continues, "That's the kind of ocean this is—the winds, skies, waves, and even the clouds. You can't trust any of them. The only thing you can trust out here is the way your log pose points." She finishes with a mocking smirk on her face and asks pointedly, "Do you understand?"

Buggy speaks up from behind Mr. 9, holding one of his daggers against Mr. 9's throat and causing Miss Wednesday to freeze in fear. Nami looks on wide-eyed as Buggy defends her as he growls saying, "Nami is still learning, you shit's." He looks at Nami with a scowl and guilt shining in his eyes. "I should have said something once the snow started falling, but I got distracted playing sorry."

Seeing the guilt in Buggy's eyes, Nami reassures him, "No, I told you I wanted to experience the Grand Line and test my skills without someone holding my hand. So it's not your fault, Blue."

Miss Wednesday speaks up again, sweat gathering at her brow as she looks at Buggy with curiosity. "So you're a seasoned navigator who knows the Grand Line? Then why are you not navigating?"

Buggy's face becomes blank as he looks at Mr. 9 who shaking in fear with sweat running down his face and Miss Wednesday who is sweating nervously. He sternly reminds them, "I will remind you to mind your manners; you are on this ship due to your request to their captain, which he accepted; you are not here under the terms of Parlay, so watch it." With that, Buggy removes his knife from Mr. 9 throat and ignores Miss Wednesday's question as he steps away.

Mr. 9 is still in shock as he stammers out, "B-but you are all just a bunch of teenagers. How do you know about the old code and ways?"

Nami has had enough of their condescending attitudes toward both her and Buggy, so she kicks Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9 out of the lounge. They let out an "Aghh!" sound as they stumble outside the lounge while Nami shouts after them, "Stop acting so high and mighty and start helping out!" She then turns back to Buggy, fire in her eyes as she points at him and demands, "You! Put on some dry bandages and then help if you can, but do not tear anything." This catches Buggy slightly off guard, as he quickly moves over to the medical supplies to start changing the bandages on his arms.

Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9 bolt down the narrow stairs to the main deck, their footsteps echoing against the wooden panels. Mr. 9 grumbles about Nami's violent tendencies and the ridiculousness of a clown being on board, while Miss Wednesday quietly follows behind, her gaze fixed on the billowing sails above.

Nami bursts out of the lounge onto the upper deck, her eyes scanning the horizon as she shouts orders to the crew. "Catch the wind from the right side! We'll use it to turn the ship around 180 degrees to the left!" She quickly points at Usopp, commanding him to take control of the Jib sail. Usopp eagerly responds with a confident "Got it!" before racing off towards his designated task. Nami then directs her attention to Sanji, ordering him to man the rudder.

With hearts in his eyes, Sanji declares, "Just leave it to me, Nami!" as he rushes up the stairs into the lounge.

Nami adds one more command before he disappears from sight. "And be quiet!"

Meanwhile, Buggy has removed his vest and is busy finishing bandaging his injured left arm as Sanji takes over at the Rudder.

As outside on the main deck Usopp suddenly yells out, "Wait! The winds have changed direction!"

Nami turns to look at him in shock, unable to believe that luck would be so cruel. But just as she does, the snow clouds unexpectedly part ways and allow a warm beam of sunlight to break through.A strong breeze blows onto Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday's faces, causing them both to let out a sigh of relief. "Ah, the first breeze of spring," they say in unison.

Nami stands frozen in disbelief for a moment before finally screaming out in frustration. "What? How could this happen?" In a desperate attempt to wake up their slumbering comrade Zoro, Usopp starts kicking his protruding feet from underneath the makeshift igloo that Buggy had constructed as a prank. "Zoro, wake up! We're in an emergency!"

Luffy stood at the bow of the ship, his gaze fixed on the horizon. Despite the strange weather they were experiencing, he seemed unfazed as long as the sky was clear. Suddenly, he pointed off the side of the ship and shouted excitedly, "Hey, look over there! dolphins! Nami Let's follow them!"

Nami let out a frustrated roar. "Can you just be quiet for once?" But before she could say anything else, Usopp's voice rang out in alarm as the ship tilted to one side.

The calm sea had transformed into a raging storm with powerful winds and towering waves. "The waves are getting higher!" Usopp yelled, desperately trying to control the sails. As the ship tilts in the other direction, he looks in the distance he calls out again, "Iceberg spotted at 10 o'clock!"

At the same time, a thick fog began to envelop the deck. Sanji, who had been kicked off the rudder by Buggy so he could help on deck, shouts, "And now there's a fog!"

Nami grabs her head in frustration and screams, "What is wrong with this ocean!?" Despite the chaos, Zoro remained fast asleep while Usopp, Luffy, and Sanji worked frantically through the storm.

With determination and quick thinking, Nami gave orders to Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday to help secure the ropes, while Luffy shouted updates from his vantage point at the front of the ship. The storm raged around them, winds whipping through their hair and rain pelting their faces as Buggy struggled to steer the rudder with help from his Bara-Bara abilities. From inside the warm and dry lounge, Buggy could hear Luffy's voice again soon after: "We just grazed the iceberg!" But their troubles were far from over as Sanji yells " Water has began to leak into the lower deck!" Nami immediately barked instructions for it to be sealed up while Usopp sprang into action.

As Buggy watched from the prompt open door to the lounge, he could see Nami becoming overwhelmed by both the storm and her crew members shouting for her attention. Her normally cool demeanor was faltering under the pressure. But then Buggy remembered what Roger had once said to him when he got to navigate the terrifying New World for the first time. With a fierce determination in his eyes, he screamed at Nami, "Calm down! Take a deep breath and focus on the weather. As long as we don't capsize, we'll be okay. Prioritize! I'm at the helm, so tell me where we need to go."

Nami heard Buggy's words and closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath before opening them again with renewed determination. She quickly shouted orders and moved to help Luffy and the others battle against the raging typhoon. "The winds are too strong to raise the sails, they are going to tear pull them up!" she yells over the howling wind.

Everyone on board rushes to follow Nami's instructions, each member doing their part to keep the ship afloat. Nami kept a close eye on her Log Pose, making sure they stayed on course despite the chaotic weather. Sanji whipped up a plate of rice balls and passed them out to everyone, urging them to keep their energy up. But he couldn't resist hitting Luffy when he ate too much and even tossed one at Buggy, who caught it expertly in his mouth.

After a few hours, the storm finally passed, and the sun emerged from behind the clouds. Seagulls cawed overhead as everyone lay exhausted on the main deck.

With a loud yawn, Zoro stretches his arms upwards and breaks through the icy walls of the igloo that Buggy had built around him. As he blinks away the last remnants of sleep, Zoro suddenly finds himself buried under a pile of snow. The cold shock radiates through his body, and he quickly jumps up, trying to shake off the snow that has seeped into his shirt.

"Damn, it's freezing!" he exclaims, looking around in confusion. "Where did all this ice come from? I was having a good nap too." After brushing off the remaining snow, Zoro notices that everyone else is lying on the main deck, except for Luffy, they all seem to be asleep. "Hey guys, I know the weather is nice and warm, but are you being just a bit too lazy?" He asks with a hint of teasing in his voice.

Turning he sees the exhausted Nami and Buggy lying on the second deck, Zoro stretched with a yawn. “Hey, we better be heading the right way."

A collective thought ran through the crew: 'You son of a bitch!'

Taking advantage of the melting snow on the main deck, Buggy slyly detached his hands and sent them to scoop some up and shove it down the back of Zoro's shirt, causing him to dance around in discomfort while cursing and shouting about where this sudden ice came from. Luffy can't help but burst out laughing at the sight, and even Nami and Buggy can't help but feel a little lighter after the prank.

Zoro once again shook off the cold, wet slush from his body as he noticed Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday lying on the main deck of their ship. Confused, he asked, "What are you doing here on our ship?"

Mr. 9, panting heavily, replied, "You're just figuring that out now!?"

Luffy, perched on the railing leading to the figurehead of the ship, chimed in, "We're giving them a ride home to a place called Whisky Peak."

Zoro grumbled, "We're not a passenger ship; we're not obligated to help everyone we come across, Luffy. We already have the Blue Mummy on board." Luffy clapped his sandal-covered feet together and said with a mischievous grin, "I know."

Buggy, who had been dubbed the ‘Blue Mummy’ by Zoro, retaliated by dumping more slush on top of Zoro's head, causing him to hop around and yell, "Who the hell is doing that?" He whipped around to see his crew mates lying on the deck exhausted, while Luffy fell backwards in hysteria at seeing Buggy's hands hide after committing the deed.

Zoro stopped hoping around and narrowed his eyes as he took a closer look at the two agents' faces. His gaze was filled with suspicion, and his voice dripped with menace as he spoke. "There is something sinister about your faces; what did you say your names were again?" Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday shifted uncomfortably, their faces glistening with sweat as they nervously repeated their names to Zoro. The swordsman's hands went to his swords as he looked up and pondered saying, "Those names have been nagging at me since I first heard them. I feel like I've heard them before."

Then with a chilling smile, Zoro turned back to face the two just as he was suddenly struck on the back of the head. Enraged, he whirled around, ready to fight whoever dared to attack him. A green aura began to emanate from his body as he suddenly faced Nami, who was seething with anger and surrounded by a deadly red aura. Her hand was still clenched in a fist, ready to strike again. "Did you enjoy your little nap, Zoro~ We couldn't wake you up no matter what we tried!" she spat at him.

Zoro growled in response, "What could have possibly happened while I was out?" Nami proceeded to pummel him, berating him for missing out on the important events. Eventually, Zoro found himself sitting on the deck with three smoking red bumps on his head, wondering how Nami had managed to defeat him so easily.

She then informed everyone, "Don't let your guards down; everyone, Crocus and Blue are right! You can never expect what might happen out here! I underestimated the Grand Line! And now, I have had all my navigation skills fail to work here!"

Usopp timidly looked over at Zoro and worriedly questions, "Are we going to be alright?"

Nami's eyes were filled with determination as she reassured Usopp and the rest of the crew. "We'll be fine," she said confidently. "Things always work out for us. Look, we've made it through the first leg of our journey!" She gestured towards the figurehead of the Going Merry, drawing everyone's attention to the view ahead.

As the clouds shifted, a magnificent island emerged from behind them. Towering, cacti-like mountains dotted the landscape, giving off an otherworldly vibe. The crew crowded around the front of the ship, taking in the sight before them. Usopp exclaimed, "I see giant cacti!" while Luffy grinned and declared, "So this is Whiskey Peak!"

Behind them, Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday let out a cheer of relief. "Thank God, we arrived alive!" they cheered. Without hesitation, they both jumped onto the railing of the Going Merry and shout back, "Thanks for the ride, but we'll take it from here." With a simultaneous "Bye-bye, baby!" they gracefully back flipped into the ocean and swim towards the island in the distance.

The sudden departure of their strange passengers left the crew a bit shocked. Usopp sweat drops as he remarks, "Well, I guess they're gone."

Zoro shook his head in confusion. "What's up with those two?"

But Luffy was already focused on their next destination. "Never mind them," he said eagerly, "let's prepare to land!"

Nami scanned the view ahead and pointed towards a river just beyond their bow. "It looks like there's a good spot to dock inland," she noted with a hint of excitement in her voice.

As the ship glided down the river, Usopp's nerves began to fray with worry over potential monsters lurking on the mysterious island ahead. Sanji, puffing on a cigarette, reminded them that they were in the treacherous waters of the Grand Line and that encountering monsters was highly probable.

Luffy shrugged with a carefree attitude,"Well, we can always run if that happens,"

But Buggy interjected, "Nope, we would still have to wait for the log pose to set."

Luffy questions"Why?" and Nami chimed in, re-explaining that the Log Pose needed time to record the unique magnetic field of each island they encountered.

Buggy nods in agreement from where he sit on the railing, adding with a shrug, "It could take hours or even days for it to calibrate. Until then, we're stuck."

This revelation sent Usopp into a panic as he yelps, "So even if there are monsters on this island that we want to escape from, we might not be able to! We'll be trapped here!"

Nami agrees with a worried expression, while Luffy brushed it off with his usual nonchalance, saying, "We'll deal with it when it happens. Let's just go today!"

Buggy grabs and pulls Luffy's cheeks as he scolds him. "You should be worrying about this now! You idiots have no way of communicating or signaling to each other if something goes wrong! Is your head just filled with cotton were your common sense?!" He released Luffy's cheeks with a pop as they snap back, Luffy pouts and rubs his cheeks.

Buggy turns to Nami and instructed her, "As soon as you get a chance, buy some den-den mushi. If you find any, come find me, and I'll steal them if necessary." With a mischievous grin, he added, "It will be fun exploring if none of you little kids die."

Luffy confidently reassured him, "We'll be fine. It'd be weird not to explore when there's a river waiting for us."

Nami complains, “Den-den mushi are too expensive, but I’ll let you know if I find some Blue." She then turns to Luffy and, with a smirk, added, "And I highly doubt we'll die."

Sanji, ever the chivalrous gentleman, offers with a grin, "If you want Nami, I can protect you!" as he lit up another cigarette.

Zoro agreed with Luffy's approach, stating, "Yeah, what he said. There's no use worrying about it now. Let's just go." He shot a sharp glare at Buggy before adding, "You're younger than me anyway, and with your track record, you'd probably be the first one to kick the bucket!"

Buggy just blew a raspberry in response at him while Usopp dramatically trembled and announced, "Guys, I think I've suddenly developed an incurable 'can't-enter-islands' disease!" He then proceeded to describe his imagined illness in great detail.

The Going Merry glides smoothly down the fog-covered river, its sails billowing in the light breeze. Nami lets out a sigh and says, "Fine, let's go in then."

Usopp, his voice tinged with nervousness, adds, "I'm serious guys, My-can't-enter..." But before he can finish, Zoro interrupts, "Ready? Be prepared to fight or run at a moment's notice." Buggy, ever on edge, quickly pulls out some gleaming daggers as he hears a faint sound in the distance.

Squinting through the thick fog, he remarks, "I can hear people, but this fog is too thick to see them." The tension among the crew rises as they approach the mouth of the river. Suddenly, a town comes into view and the sound of cheering fills their ears. The locals are shouting praises and greetings to the pirates, celebrating their arrival at Whiskey Peak.

Sanji is thoroughly confused by the warm welcome, while Usopp breathes a sigh of relief that it's people and not monsters. He starts blowing kisses back at the cheering crowd, thrilled by their enthusiasm. Luffy cheers “Yahoo!” back, happily exchanging cheers with the townspeople. Sanji is still on guard until he catches sight of some pretty girls and loses all focus, waving frantically at them and joining in on the cheering.

Meanwhile, Zoro, Nami, and Buggy remain vigilant, exchanging wary looks with each other. Buggy leans in to whisper to Nami and Zoro, "No island welcomes pirates like this unless they're under that crew's protection. Something doesn't feel right."

As they finally dock at Whiskey Peak, they are greeted by the mayor himself, Igarappoi. A tall man with a bulbous red nose and hair resembling a powdered wig, he sings out "Ma-ma-maa" as he welcomes them onto shore. The crowd joins in with cheers and applause. "You may be surprised at our warm welcome," he tells the crew with a smile, "But this is Whiskey Peak, where liquor and music flow freely. Hospitality is our middle name, and we have an ocean's worth of fine drinks to offer. Please, I cordially invite you to our banquet and hope that you will entd-." He clears his throat and continues singing "Ma-ma-mama~".

Luffy interrupts with a childlike grin, "Haha, I like your hair! It's so extra-curly!"

Igarappoi laughs along with him before adding, "Entertain us with tales of your adventures." Usopp, Luffy, and Sanji enthusiastically throw their arms around each other, exclaiming "Gladly!" while Zoro, Nami, and Buggy stand back with slightly amused expressions. Nami looks at the three with a slight smile and thinks to herself, ‘The Idiot Trio.’ Zoro stands with his arms crossed, looking exasperated at their behavior. Buggy, on the other hand, is busy eyeing the cactus mountains and thinking to himself , 'Something still doesn't feel right...but hey, free food and drink.'

The now-named-idiot trio, consisting of Luffy, Usopp, and Sanji, sprinted through the raucous crowd of cheering citizens. Nami approaches Igarappoi with a charming smile, gesturing towards her log pose and asking, "By the way, how long will it take for this island's log to be recorded?"

Igarappoi brushed off the question, saying, "Log? Let us put aside such weary thoughts and focus on resting from your journey." He then placed a firm hand on Nami's shoulder, turning her to face the still-cheering crowd as he declared, "Everyone! Prepare the banquet! Let us sing and celebrate these brave adventurers!" The crowd roared in agreement, shouting, "Time for a party!" As the sun began to sink below the horizon, Whisky Peak was bathed in a warm golden light. The group was swept up by the spirited crowd and led to the grand party awaiting them.

As the full moon rose high in the sky, its silver light illuminated the lively party at Whiskey Peak. The crew had been welcomed into a large building and were now fully immersed in the festivities with the townspeople. Everywhere you looked, people were laughing, dancing, and indulging in delicious food and drinks prepared by the skilled cooks.

The air was filled with the upbeat melodies of various instruments as talented musicians from the town played their hearts out. The sound was infectious, causing even those who claimed not to have any rhythm to tap their feet or sway to the music.

Meanwhile, Usopp had become the center of attention, surrounded by an enraptured crowd hanging onto his every word. With a drink in hand, he regaled them with tales of his adventures, exaggerating for dramatic effect and making them gasp and cheer at all the right moments.

"And so I coolly said to him," Usopp boasted, his voice dripping with confidence, "Don't you dare lay a hand on my crewmates, you sea king bastard!" As a group of girls swooned and fanned themselves, declaring him "So cooool," the men raised their drinks in admiration.

But Usopp's bravado couldn't hide the truth for long. "Well, to be perfectly honest," he admitted with a sheepish shrug, "Even I trembled a little during our great escape from the clam belt." He paused for emphasis before delivering his punchline. "Trembling with excitement, that is!" The gathered group erupted into cheers and laughter as Usopp basked in their adoration.

Nami had been convinced to enter a fierce drinking competition, with the grand prize being 10,000 Beri. She had persuaded Zoro to join her, knowing his impressive tolerance for alcohol and his history of debt owed to her from their time in Loguetown. As Zorro expertly downed another mug, he slammed it onto the table as his opponent collapsed onto the surface with a defeated groan. The crowd erupted into cheers and applause, impressed by Zoro's ability to out-drink ten others.

Meanwhile, Nami wiped foam from her mouth and laughed triumphantly as she finished off her own mug. "Bring me more!" she declared, eager to continue the contest. The crowd cheered again as they announced that Nami had bested twelve opponents. Some of her competitors stumbled and fell backward from their seats, unable to keep up with her impressive pace.

Across from the drinking competition, there was even more excitement as Luffy and Buggy engaged in an eating competition. The captain and his temporary doctor had devoured enough food to feed forty people, causing two cooks to collapse from exhaustion. "Holy moly!" someone shouted. "Look at these two! They've eaten enough for 40 people!"

Two more cooks collapsed from exhaustion, and one of the cooks pleaded for mercy as Luffy and Buggy eagerly reached for another plate of food. Buggy washed it down with a mug of liquor while Luffy shouted for more, determined to win the contest. The spectators could only stare in awe at the incredible appetites of these two heavy-hitting competitors.

Sanji reclines on a plush, circular couch with a glass of wine in hand, surrounded by a bevy of giggling and blushing women. The crowd around him erupts into cheers and whistles, marveling at the sight before them. "Take a look at this lady killer!" someone calls out. "He's flirting with 20 women all by himself!"

Meanwhile, Igarappoi strolls through the groups of townspeople, his heart filled with joy as he watches the festivities unfold. He raises his voice above the lively chatter and music to address the Mugiwara pirates. "Hahah! What a  Festib-!" Suddenly, he falters and clears his throat as he struggles to contain his excitement. With a wide grin, he bursts into song, his voice carrying over the sounds of merriment. "Ma-ma-maa~ Festive night this is! Your enjoyment means the world to us."

As he gazes upon the dancing townspeople and the happy faces all around him, Igarappoi can't help but feel grateful for this moment. "Truly, it means the world," he says with a smile.

In a cozy, dimly lit log cabin, Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday sit at a low table. As Mr. 9 finishes carefully penning the final lines of their report, he lets out a sigh of relief. "Good," he nods to himself, "if we send this to the boss, I'm sure we'll be cleared of our shame."

Miss Wednesday smiles and agrees, "Yes, let's hurry and put it in the unluckies' box."

Once they have walked outside with her hand outstretched, she eagerly awaits the rolled-up report from Mr. 9's hands. Once she receives it, she expertly slips it into the mailbox, adorned with an otter and vulture metal sign on top. Beneath that is a skull with crossed swords behind it, its wings spread wide as if ready for flight. Above the image reads the word 'Baroque', adding a sense of mystery and danger to the scene. Miss Wednesday confidently states, "They'll be sure to deliver our report directly to the boss."

The raucous crowd surrounding the drinking contest erupted in cheers as Zoro slammed back his mug of liquor and then promptly collapsed face-first onto the table. "I...hic...can't drink anymore," he slurred, earning a chorus of sympathetic groans from the onlookers.

Nami, undeterred by her crewmate's defeat, confidently lifted her own mug and faced her opponent with a sly smirk. "J...eeeez...so pathetic, Zoro..." she teased before taking a deep swig herself.

The crowd eagerly announced, "But this girl's on her 15th opponent now, and it's the sister!" referring to the nun standing across from Nami.

The nun shook her head disapprovingly, "It'd be best for you to stop as well. For your health's sake, you know?" But both Nami and the nun continued to drink from their new mugs of beer with determination.

Luffy lay sprawled on the ground next to them, burping loudly and looking like a balloon about to burst from all the food he had devoured. "I can't eat anymore. Thanks for the meal," he mumbled contentedly before drifting off into a food coma.

Buggy, who had just finished his last plate of food, let out a satisfied yawn and took a long drink from his mug before murmuring, "Thanks for the flashy meal. I'm going to sleep now." He then promptly dozed off at the table amidst all the empty plates.

Nami's eyes widened as she watched Luffy and the others pass out from their eating competition. She quickly set down her own mug and pointed at the round-faced captain, laughter bubbling up from deep within her chest. "We are no match for you guys!" One of the cooks declared with a weary sigh, collapsing to the ground in exhaustion.

But Nami couldn't stop laughing, even as the liquor competition group exclaimed, "She's the type to laugh when drunk!"

The food-eating groups cheered and jeered, "Five cooks have collapsed now, and it's a tie!" Nami finished off her mug with a swig and swayed in her seat, her face flushed red from the alcohol.

With a giggle, she laid her head on the table, arms spread out in front of her. "Everything... feels so good," she slurred happily before passing out.

Usopp, also drunk with a faint blush on his cheeks, stumbled over to join her on the couch. "Ah, what a great town this is!" he announced before promptly falling asleep.

Meanwhile, Sanji had been pulled over by a group of girls and was now lying across their laps, his face also tinged pink from the drinks. "This is surely heaven," he swooned before giving in to unconsciousness like the others. The scene was one of pure chaos and bliss as the night went on.

As Mugiwaras drifted off into sleep, Igarappoi took charge and directed everyone to different tasks before leaving the house. Stepping outside, he looked up at the full moon and murmured to himself, "It looks like they've fallen asleep. Sweet dreams, my fellow adventurers." He gazed out at the jagged cactus-like mountains that surrounded them and marveled, "Oh, how beautiful they are, dancing beneath the moonlight tonight."

Suddenly, a voice interrupted his thoughts from behind him. Mr. 9 was sitting on the second-floor balcony with Miss Wednesday, looking down at Igarappoi. "You are quite the poet, aren't you, Mr. 8?" he remarked.

Igarappoi turned to face them and replied casually, "Oh, it's you." As Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday leapt down from the balcony to join him on the ground, she asked about the sleeping pirates. "And what about them?"

Igarappoi glanced back at the house and answered coolly, "They've fallen deeply—to hell, that is." From inside the house, the nun who was in the drinking competition stumbled out of the door and made her way over to them.

She seemed a bit agitated as she exclaimed in a loud voice, "Oh, dear lord! That bunch sure knows how to eat and drink! And here I was just drinking sparkling barely tea!"

As she approached them, she started removing her nun coif and complaining, "Is there really even a need for this whole welcome party? They are only a bunch of weak-looking brats!"

Mr. 8 greeted her as "Miss Monday."

she continued grumbling, "We should have crushed them at the harbor instead. The town is already struggling with food shortages." Shooting a sneer at Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday, Miss Monday added snidely, "It's not like we were counting on whale meat or anything."

Infuriated, Miss Wednesday snapped back, "Don't talk about us like that!"

Mr. 9 chimed in with a defensive tone, "That's right! We gave it our all!"

Taking off her nun disguise to reveal a checkered dress underneath, Mr. 8 tried to calm them down, saying, "Let's just calm down for now and take a look at this. I've researched this crew extensively.” He held up a wanted poster of Luffy with a bounty of thirty million beli, causing the other three to gasp in shock.

Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9 exclaimed in disbelief, "Them!?"

Mr. 8 scolded them, "To judge a pirate's strength from appearance alone is quite foolish, Miss B-...Ma-maa~...Miss Monday." After she apologized, he continued, "But in any case, they're already out cold. This should make an excellent report for the boss."

The three of them agreed, and Mr. 8 started issuing orders: "Now go confiscate any money or treasures on their ship and tie them all up! If we kill them, we'll lose 30% of the bounty money. The government would rather do public executions of criminals, after all."

Suddenly the agents froze as a deep voice rang out, "Sorry, but would you mind letting those guys sleep a bit longer? They're all exhausted from their journey over here." Then some agents came bursting out of the house and ran over, shouting that one of the pirate crew members had escaped.

Mr. 8 angrily demanded, "Why you...? Weren't you passed out cold after all the drinking just moments ago!?"

As the moon drifted behind the figure, a glint of steel caught the dim light—a blade resting casually in the man’s grip. His silhouette sat perched on the roof, features obscured by the darkness.

"A true swordsman never lets alcohol dull his senses."

The voice was calm, laced with confidence.

Zoro smirked as the crowd below turned to face him, confusion quickly giving way to alarm. He rose to his feet, surveying the sea of enemies gathering beneath him.

"So this is how it is... a town of bounty hunters, picking off overconfident rookies the moment they drop their guard."

His gaze swept across the mass of foes, sizing them up. With a low chuckle, he adjusted his grip on his sword.

"Looks like there’s about a hundred of you," he mused, eyes glinting with anticipation. "Should make for a decent warm-up."

Gasps rippled through the hunters. How did he know?

Mr. 9 took a step forward, voice shaking with disbelief. "W-what!? How do you know the name of our organization!?"

Zoro rolled his shoulder, unfazed. "You lot tried to recruit me once, back when I was still a bounty hunter." He shot them a lazy grin, as if sharing an inside joke only he understood.

"Funny thing about your little club—no one knows each other’s real names. No one knows who’s actually pulling the strings." His expression darkened slightly, eyes sharp.

Then, with a chuckle, he mockingly added, "Heh... was that supposed to be a secret?"

The bounty hunters’ faces twisted with rage at the taunt, murmurs of anger spreading through their ranks.

Mr. 8 declared with a dark sneer, "This is quite an inconvenience... but if he knows our secret, we have no choice but to eliminate him." He then ominously uttered, "Another tombstone will be added to Cactus Rock tonight!" revealing that the needle-like points on the mountains were all made up of tombstones from pirates they had killed.

Mr. 8 points at Zoro and commands, "Kill him!" But as they turned their attention back to the roof, they discovered that Zoro had disappeared without a trace. Panic spread through the group as they frantically searched for him, shouting and yelling in confusion. Suddenly, Zoro reappeared in their midst, copying their movements of looking for him once they noticed him.

Zoro had eyes gleaming with confidence and a cocky grin plastered on his face. "Now then... shall we get things started?" he taunted.

The bounty hunters all aimed their guns at Zoro in unison and shout, "Shoot!"

The bounty hunters fired off rounds of bullets, their guns aimed at the elusive Zoro, who moved like a blur, dodging every bullet with ease. As they continued to shoot, Zoro would suddenly vanish and reappear in another spot, causing the hunters to unintentionally shoot each other. Mr. 8 watched in frustration as his comrades fell at their own hands because of this skilled swordsman. "You fools!" he shouted, unable to control his anger.

One of the hunters cried out, "He disappeared again! He's too fast!"

Mr. 8 gritted his teeth, demanding, "Hurry up and kill him already! He is just one  swordsman." But before he could finish his sentence about Zoro's speed, he saw a glint of a blade as a sword pierced through one of his curls from behind stopping to rest by his face. Fear seized him as Zoro's voice echoed in his ear. "Are you sure you want to add only one tombstone tonight?"

Suddenly, someone yelled, "There he is!" All eyes turned to see Zoro standing behind Mr. 8 with his back against him. The hunters trained their guns on Zoro but also pointed them at their own leader.

With wide eyes filled with terror, Mr. 8 screamed, "Stop you fools! Are you planning to shoot me too?" But no one paid attention to him as they took aim.

Desperate to stop his impending death, Mr. 9 quickly pulled out a saxophone, began playing it frantically, and leaned backward over Zoro. A barrage of bullets flew out towards the agent about to shoot Mr. 8. During the chaos and dust kicked up by the bullets, Zoro managed to escape and hide behind a nearby building.

Taking a deep breath, he muttered to himself, "Whew, was that a shotgun? Talk about dangerous."

As the dust settled it revealed that Zoro had vanished again and most of the bounty hunters had fallen to the ground. only Mr. 9, Mr. 8, Miss Monday, and Miss Wednesday remained unscathed. With gritted teeth, Mr. 9 spoke up, "It looks like we'll have to deal with him personally."

Chapter Text

Hidden on the other side of a building, Zoro strains his ears to listen in on the conversation happening between the bounty hunters searching for him. His muscles tense as he hears Mr. 8's voice ring out, “Where did that swordsman disappear off to now? Is he seriously planning to take on all of us, all by himself?" Zoro leans back against the rough plaster wall, contemplating his next move. At the same time, Mr. 8 continues in a menacing tone, "It does not seem like he truly understands the power of Baroque works."

Inside the house where the party was held, Sanji lies sprawled on the floor, Usopp hanging precariously off the back of a couch nearby. Nami is dozing with her head resting on the table, and Luffy snores loudly on the ground. A figure stirs among them and slowly rises to a sitting position. Buggy looks around and surveys the scene with amusement noting Zoro's absence.

“So a den of bounty hunters?" He stretches as he stands up and says, "Well, they should have some treasure hidden somewhere.” He then glances over at Nami and, with a sly tone, says, "Looks like I'll get to keep all that treasure to myself if everyone is asleep."

Nami shoots up from her sleeping position, veins pulsing in her forehead as she retorts, “Now hold it! That beli is mine!" Seeing Buggy's mocking grin, she knows she has been played and demands, “How did you know I was faking it? No one's seen through it before."

Buggy chuckles and replies in a lighthearted tone "I can't give away all my secrets. You can keep the money; I want the treasure." Nami and Buggy engage in an intense stare-down as sparks seem to fly between them.

Finally, Nami breaks the silence with a proposition: "20/80. You're young; you wouldn't know what to do with so much."

Buggy snorts and counters with, "Yeah, no way, 30/70."

Nami fires back, "With the amount of food you and Luffy consume, we need funds for the ship. 40/60."

The tension in their gaze is palpable, as Buggy suggests: "Any treasure we find, we split 10% before distributing the rest to the crew. Unlike Luffy and Usopp, I can handle my treasure." He extends his hand towards Nami and says with a smirk on his lips, "Deal?"

Nami grins wickedly and takes his hand, sealing the deal with a shake. Nami says, "You go left; I will head right; we will cover more ground this way."

Buggy nodded in agreement and said, “We can meet back here once done." Buggy and Nami quietly leave the house and run off, going in opposite directions, to gather all the treasure and money they could find.

As Zoro leans against the wall, he can't help but think that this is the perfect opportunity to test his new swords. He grins mischievously and murmurs, "Now then, this will be an excellent chance to see what my new blades are capable of. Blue just removed my bandages, so I won't have to hear his nagging now." With a flick of his wrist, he draws one of his swords from its sheath and speaks to it as if it were alive: "No need to hold back, boys." Little does he know, a dangerous man is lurking on the rooftop above, taking aim with his gun.

Lucky for him, the gunman yells out in his excitement. "Yeehaw! I found him!" Zoro quickly jumps backwards, breaking a door as a bullet whizzes past him into the ground. He continues rolling through the doorway and out of harm's way. The gunman grumbles in frustration as he shouts to his comrades below, "He rolled into the house!" But Zoro isn't going down without a fight. As he emerges from his roll, he dives behind a table. He uses it as a shield against the hail of bullets coming towards him.

"First up is Yubashiri," Zoro announces confidently as he unsheathes the sword and slices through the table with ease, catching two gunmen by surprise. He sprints out of the house and passes by other unsuspecting bounty hunters who look at each other in shock before they can even react. Cuts appear over their bodies, and blood gushes out.

Examining Yubashiri closely, Zoro can't help but comment, "Very light! A fine blade indeed." But there's no time for celebration as another shout rings out behind him: "I see him! He's over there!" Zoro curses under his breath, realizing that he's been spotted. He quickly runs up a set of stairs onto a nearby rooftop just as the bounty hunter announces, "He's going up!" On top of the roof, Zoro finds himself face-to-face with another enemy, this time armed with a bazooka.

"Eat this!" the man shouts as he aims the bazooka at Zoro and fires. In a split second, Zoro leans back and uses the stair railing for support as he narrowly dodges the explosive projectile flying towards him. "Shit! That was close," Zoro swears, relieved that he manages to avoid being blown to pieces.

As Zoro rises and gets to his feet, the bounty hunters sneer and taunt him with a cruel laugh. "This is as far as you'll get," he spits, his voice dripping with malice. Suddenly, a battle cry erupts from the roof of the nearby building, and a liquor barrel comes hurtling towards Zoro from none other than Miss Monday herself. With practiced precision, Zoro turns and slices the barrel into four pieces that quickly take out the four bounty hunters now behind him.

With a sigh, Zoro remarks, "What a waste of such fine liquor."

Miss Monday curses at him in response, her frustration evident in her every word. Just then, another man charges at Zoro from behind, wielding a massive stone sledgehammer.

Reacting quickly, Zoro draws his new sword, Kitetsu, to defend himself against the attack. As it slices right through the axe, to his surprise, the sword starts to emit an intense blood lust that sends shivers down Zoro's spine. "This one cut through a stone axe!" he marvels. "This Sandai Kitetsu has some sharp edges; but a masterwork blade only cuts when its user wishes to cut something." Zoro feels the blood lust within the sword grow more intense, he mutters, "This one's going to be a problem child, alright.”

It is then that an actual child appears and attempts to stab Zoro with a dagger. In one swift motion, Zoro disarms the child without causing any harm. The child begins to cry but is quickly comforted by a nun who pulls him close and prays, "May the Lord have mercy on us!" Zoro watches with a frown as the nun continues to pray for protection from Zoro. As he looks away from her, the nun quickly pulls out a cross and aims it at Zoro. It blows out a cloud of smoke.

Stepping out from the other side of the smoke cloud with a stern look, Zoro addresses the duo. "If you're going to pull tricks like that, do it on someone more gullible and innocent," he scolds. The nun and child quickly fall unconscious to the ground.

Without a second glance, Zoro turns and begins to walk over to a wooden ladder, muttering to himself, "I hit you with the back of my blade. That's as much mercy you'll get from me." His resolve is evident as he starts to climb up a ladder.

As the bounty hunters search for the elusive swordsman, they barge through the house where the rest of the sleeping Mugiwara are. In their haste, they knock Usopp to the floor, accidentally brushing his hand against Sanji's as he sleeps. In his dream, Sanji grabs Usopp's hand and asks his imagined lady to dance. Luffy stirs in his sleep, rubbing his belly and mumbling about meat.

Zoro is spotted halfway up a ladder by a group of pursuers who call out in frustration, "He's climbing up another ladder!"

Another voice chimes in, "Go after him, you idiot!" as a bounty hunter tries to follow Zoro up the ladder, shouting threats, "There's nowhere for you to run up there!"

The others laugh heartily at this until Zoro reaches the top of the ladder and unexpectedly shakes it with a mischievous grin before pushing it back and causing everyone on it to scream as the ladder starts to fall backwards. The bounty hunter below shouts a warning: "The ladders are falling! Watch out!"

But Zoro has already used the falling ladder as a step to launch himself into the air and onto another nearby building.Bullets whiz past Zoro as the rooftop gang fire their guns at him, but every shot misses its mark. With a smirk, Zoro confidently declares, "Two sword style—hawk wave," taking out all of his attackers in one swift move.

Then another group attacks from above. Thinking quickly, Zoro draws a circle on the ground with the tip of his Kitetsu and steps outside it just as his attackers land on that spot. As they fall through the roof with surprised yells, Zoro calmly warns them as he walks to the door leading inside the building, "Be careful now. The floor right there has been cut through."

The full moon illuminates the night sky as Miss Monday appears behind and swings a ladder at Zoro. It barely misses his head as he swiftly drops to the floor, narrowly avoiding her attack. Sweat glistens on his forehead as he lays on his stomach, gasping for breath. "That was too close," he mutters as he starts to get up and turn around thinking ’Good thing I saw her shadow.’

Miss Monday's eyes flash with determination as she slips brass knuckles onto her fingers and lunges towards Zoro, grabbing him by the throat. With her superhuman strength, she lifts him off the ground and slams him down with incredible force. "Super Human Flour-Grinder!" she shouts, delivering a powerful blow to his face.

The blow causes the ground beneath them to crumble and break apart. Miss Monday boasts, "I am the strongest woman alive! I have never lost in a game of strength." But Zoro is not finished yet.

Zoro grabs the front of her head and squeezes with all his might. She screams in agony as Zoro pushes her off himself and now holds her in the air with one hand, causing the nearby bounty hunter to sweat nervously. Zoro taunts her, "Where is that strength you're so proud of?" As he tightens his grip, Miss Monday begins foaming at the mouth and passing out from the pain. 

The surrounding bounty hunters are shocked and dismayed at seeing one of their fearless leaders defeated in such a manner. One cries out in disbelief, "He beats Miss Monday with pure strength!" while another exclaims, "That's impossible!"

Zoro turns to the other bounty hunter and licks the blood from his lips that leaks from the wound on his forehead caused by Miss Monday's earlier attack. And with a smirk on his face, he says, "Shall we continue Baroque works? A fight is no mere game, you know."

In a desperate attempt to make sense of the chaotic scene, Mr. 8's mind races with the possibility that the wanted poster is simply a mistake on the part of the Marines. "I got it!" he exclaims. "That must be it! This man is not their captain at all; it was a mix-up!"

Mr. 9 quickly agrees, saying, "Of course! It all makes sense now. He must be their true captain, worth 30 million beli."

Miss Wednesday nods in understanding and replies, "Then let us act accordingly. I always found it strange that their supposed captain is that grinning idiot."

Mr. 8 takes in the gruesome scene before him. The bodies of defeated hunters litter the ground, their weapons scattered and broken. He glares at Zoro and declares, “How disgraceful to be beaten to this extent by a single pirate swordsman, especially as proud members of the Baroque Works entrusted by the boss to watch over this town. We have a responsibility to fulfill."

With determination fueling his movements, Mr. 8 places his saxophone on his lips and takes a deep breath, his eyes locked on Zoro. As he exhales, he shouts, "Igarappa!" A flurry of bullets erupt from the instrument, aimed directly at Zoro, who swiftly jumps out of the way with a shout of "Whoa!"

Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9 work together to capture Zoro. Mr. 9 leaps onto a nearby building, executing impressive front flips to gain a better vantage point for his attack. At the same time, Miss Wednesday lets out a piercing whistle using her pinky finger and calls out, "Come, give me a hand, Karoo!" A duck appears from around the corner, its yellow-brown feathers glistening in the sunlight and its black-tipped wings flapping excitedly.

The duck is adorned with a black band around its bill and stands as tall as an average human with tetradactyl feet that boast ostrich-like talons. Its attire includes a blue-and-white chullo hat, pink goggles, and a large saddle carrying multiple saddlebags. Around its neck hangs a small barrel-shaped canteen with a drinking straw protruding from it.

As soon as the bird, known as the Super Spot-billed Duck or Karoo, spots Miss Wednesday, it lets out an eager quack and extends its wing towards her. However, she snaps back sharply, saying, "Not literally! Come here!" With a few quick hops, Miss Wednesday climbs onto the saddle and commands, "Alright! Show your famous speed that can outrun even a leopard!" In response, Karoo quacks in affirmation before sitting down on the ground. Miss Wednesday hits him on the head, causing him to quack louder as she scolds, "Who the hell told you to sit down!?"

Zoro fiercely wipes the blood from his face, determined not to let it cloud his vision as he faces his opponent. His voice is low and menacing as he mutters, "If that pain in the ass says a word about this, I'll cut him." He glances down at Miss Wednesday and a duck who seem to be doing some kind of strange dance below him. Confusion and frustration cross Zoro's features as he looks down at the duo and loudly voices his thoughts. "What the hell!"

From above him, a voice echoes through the air, and laughter rings out: "Are you sure you should be looking somewhere else right now?" Zoro turns his head to see Mr. 9 standing confidently on top of a towering bell tower. As he gracefully flips down the building, he taunts Zoro with a challenge, "I wonder if you can keep up with my acrobatic finesse?" He picks up speed and charges towards Zoro, shouting out "Nekketsu nine-Konjou bat!" as he brandishes two shiny metal bats and swings them at Zoro with incredible speed.

Zoro quickly blocks the attack with his sword, but before he can counter, Mr. 9 flips over him and warns, "Be careful not to let your sword get chipped! These are no ordinary bats!" With a confident landing on his feet, Mr. 9 smirks at Zoro's thoughtful expression.

But just as he starts to mock Zoro's hesitation, the swordsman suddenly stands right in front of him with lightning-quick reflexes. Mr. 9 lets out a surprised scream as he leans backwards to dodge the flurry of sword thrusts aimed at his face. Struggling to keep up with Zoro's blizzard-like attacks, Mr. 9 starts to retreat under pressure, taking steps back.With a sly grin, Zoro asks, "What happened to your acrobatic finesse?"

Annoyed by Zoro's taunting, Mr. 9 back-flips away from him while shouting back, "Oh, I'll show it to you alright! Just make sure to keep your eyes open." However, in his haste to perform another flashy move off the rooftop, Mr. 9 miscalculates and falls, crashing to the ground below.

Zoro lets out a scoff, turning around in aggravation. He mutters to himself, "Isn't there anyone more competent around here?" Suddenly, while he is lost in his thoughts, Karoo comes running up with Miss Wednesday riding on his back.

They stop right in front of Zoro, and as Miss Wednesday stands up on the saddle, she confidently declares, "If you're looking for someone competent, look no further! Prepare yourself, Mr. Bushido!" She sprays a cloud of alluring perfume into the air and starts swaying her hips seductively as she commands him to gaze at her body with a flirty voice. "Now, surrender to my irresistible Miwaku memai dance!" The strong scent of the perfume mixed with the mesmerizing movements of Miss Wednesday's circles from her top overwhelms Zoro, causing him to fall to his knees, dizzy and disoriented.

Miss Wednesday takes advantage of Zoro falling to his knees, gracefully pulling out her peacock slasher. With a flick of her finger, the razor-sharp blade spins in rapid circles, creating a deadly weapon. She sits back on Karoo's back, her long hair trailing behind her as she gives a confident smirk.

"Let's go, Karoo! Show them the power of my peacock slasher!" Miss Wednesday calls out, urging the giant bird forward.

Zoro struggles to shake off the effects of Miss Wednesday's perfume, but his efforts are halted when he notices Karoo running straight past him.

"You're going the wrong way!" Miss Wednesday scolds Karoo, who continues to run forward. She shouts, "We're going to fall!" But it's too late. The duo goes running off the rooftop and lands with a thud on the ground below.

Cringing in second-hand embarrassment, Zoro mumbles to himself, "I can't believe I have to fight these losers." He quickly dodges another one of Mr. 8's saxophone shotgun shots, slicing a perfect circle into the floor before falling through it.

As he plummets down towards the lower levels, Mr. 8 sneers at his escape tactic. "Cutting a hole to escape below...how futile," he remarks coldly. And with a sinister smile creeping onto his face, he declares, "Allow me to show you the true terror of my strength."

Zoro's feet pound against the road as he runs through the deserted town, desperately seeking a moment to catch his breath. He darts into an alleyway, and in between gasps of air, he mutters to himself, "That shotgun is a real problem. How can I close the gap to go in for a close attack?"

Suddenly, a noise catches his attention from a nearby alley. It's Mr. 9, emerging from the broken wood he had landed in after their previous encounter. Spotting Zoro, he brandishes his metal bats and growls, "How dare you harm me to this extent? I won't forgive you!"

Zoro retorts with a annoyed shout, "You jumped off the building yourself!"

Before he can finish, Mr. 9 shoots the tip of one of his metal bats at him, shouting, "Hidden home run-bat!" The tip warps around Zoro's forearm, and Mr. 9 gloats with glee, "HAHAH! I've sealed up one of your arms!"

Examining the wire now encircling his arm, Zoro realizes it's not just any ordinary wire—it's made of iron. As if things can't get any worse, Mr. 8 suddenly appears on the scene as well.

With a manic grin, as he spots Mr. 8, Mr. 9 shouts, "Now, Mr. 8! Finish him off!" He tightens the iron wire around Zoro's arm as he shouts, holding Zoro in place.

As Zoro readies himself to attack, Miss Wednesday arrives with Luffy in tow. She holds a sword to Luffy's sleeping throat and warns Zoro, "Move even a single muscle, and consider your precious friend's life forfeit."

Mr. 9 can hardly contain his excitement as he laughs, "Hahaha! Nice one, Miss Wednesday! Not only can he not escape anymore, but he won't be able to attack either."

Luffy continues to snore loudly, completely unaware of the danger he is in. Zoro clenches his teeth in frustration and mutters, "That idiot, you could have at least woken up before becoming a hostage, you dumb ass!"

With a swift tug on his tie, Mr. 8 activates the hidden cannons within his hair, their metallic barrels gleaming in the dim light. He lets out a roar of "Preparation Complete!" before pulling on his tie again to fire them, shouting "Igarappapa!"

As he narrowly avoids being caught in the barrage of bullets, he exclaims, "What the hell is he, an action figure!?" Reacting quickly, he uses the iron wire wrapped around his arm by Mr. 9 to lift himself into the path of the bullets and then straight into Miss Wednesday and her companion, Karoo.

Mr. 8 continues to fire at him, and Zoro leaps onto Luffy's still-food-inflated stomach, using it as a springboard as he shouts, "I'll borrow your stomach!" With a powerful swing of his sword, he launches himself at Mr. 8 and slices through his body with ease, causing him to collapse along with Miss Wednesday and Karoo.

After emerging victorious from the intense battle, Zoro casually tosses aside Mr. 8's unconscious body and kicks Miss Monday off the roof to join her defeated comrades below. Surveying the scene before him, Zoro can't help but feel a rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins. He reaches for a bottle of liquor that had been left behind by one of his opponents and settles down to savor the peaceful night sky above.

( Outskirts of Whisky Peak)

In the distance, a group of bounty hunters scurry through the night, desperately trying to escape from Zoro. They are halted in their tracks by two unexpected adversaries, Mr. 13 and Miss Friday, known as the Unluckies. The pair is on the brink of killing the frightened humans before they are interrupted by a duo of new voices.

 "Wait!" an authoritative female voice calls out. "Even in the dead of night, this town is boisterous with commotion." A deep, masculine voice adds with disdain, "Hmph. I can't believe we were ordered to come all the way out here to the front lines."

The bewildered bounty hunters demand to know who these newcomers are, and they introduce themselves as Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine.

The Unluckies' nerves twitch as they hear the mention of the higher-numbered agents, and before they can react, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine unleash their powers, causing an explosive end for the fleeing group. The air is thick with smoke and debris as the dust settles on the battlefield.

Zoro sits atop the rooftop, taking in the breathtaking view of the town below while sipping on a bottle of liquor. He pauses and speaks to himself, "Is that just my imagination? Did I just hear something?" Suddenly, from below, he spots Mr. 8 coughing up blood. Panic and determination flash through Mr. 8's mind as he tries to get to his knees, thinking, 'I can't die here! I still have an important mission to complete!'

Mr. 5 speaks up behind him: "How pathetic that you lost to a single swordsman?" Mr. 8 turns and sees a tall, dark-skinned man with black hair in short, spiky dreadlocks. He wears a brown trench coat with a pink cravat and a pair of sunglasses, and a white number 5 is on the front, along with a tall young woman with short blond hair and dark eyes. She wears a yellow and orange hat, as well as a yellow dress with a lemon-like pattern, a lemon earring, and white high-heeled shoes.

Mr. 8 shouts, "Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine!?"

Mr. 5 lets out a harsh sneer and demands, "Well? Are you fools simply playing games?" Miss Valentine's laughter is sharp and mocking, a high-pitched cackle that echoes through the air.

She turns to Mr. 5 with a wicked grin and taunts, "Kyahahah! Give them some mercy; they could never match our skills."

Struggling to his knees, Mr. 8 trembles with exhaustion and pain as blood drips down his chin and soaks through his torn shirt.With a ragged voice, he asks, "Did you come here just to mock us?"

As he pants heavily, Mr. 5 confirms, "That's one reason."

Miss Valentine chimes in with a laugh, the sound like shards of glass grinding together. "Kyahahah. But we also have business to attend to."

As Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday attempt to rise from their battered positions on the ground, Mr. 9 declares, "With your help, those pirates stand no chance against us!"

Miss Wednesday nods fervently in agreement, adding, "Yes! Please, go deal with that troublesome swordsman once and for all."

Mr. 5's mouth curls in disgust, his lips twisting into a sneer as he speaks. "Stop joking around," he says sharply, the tone of his voice putting the three companions on edge.

Miss Valentine chimes in mockingly, her words dripping with venom. "You think we're just your backup? Do you honestly believe that we would be ordered to make this treacherous journey all the way to the edge of the Grand Line just to help you fight off a pesky swordsman? Kyahaha!"

Mr. 9's brow furrows in confusion and disbelief as he questions them. "What!? Then what business do you have here?"

Mr. 5 taunts him, a smirk playing on his lips. "Surely you must have some idea or suspicion of why the boss would send us out here personally." The air hangs heavy with tension as they all turn to face Mr. 5, awaiting his answer. He continues, his voice low and dangerous. "The boss's direct words are, 'My secret has been found out.' Of course, we have no idea what that secret may be, but our organization's creed is a mystery—no one is allowed to pry into the real identities of our members. It's inexcusable for our boss's true intentions to be revealed.”

Miss Valentine interjects with a sly smile, sharing her findings. "After conducting some investigation, it seems an agent from a certain kingdom has infiltrated Baroque works."

This revelation causes Mr. 9 to jump up from the ground and frantically wave his hands in front of him. "What!? Wait a minute! I may dress like a king, but I am not actually royalty."

Miss Valentine shoots him a disgusted glare before setting her sights on Miss Wednesday, who sits in stunned silence. Karoo lets out a worried quack, and Mr. 8 can feel himself panicking internally. ‘They know everything. Is this the end for us?’

Nami stands hidden just around the corner, her ears straining to catch every word of the tense conversation.

[A little bit earlier]

Nami is holding out the bag containing the small amount of money and treasure they found to Buggy. "It looks like Zoro is heating things up out there. You should go back first. I'll do a quick sweep and meet you at the ship," she says, flashing him a teasing grin. "After all, you're the most unlucky one here. You might open your wounds again; we can't have our temporary doctor bleeding out again."

Buggy huffs as he takes the bag and grumbles, "Fine, I'll drop this off at the ship, then grab Sanji, Usopp, and Luffy. And put them on the ship too. We should probably get out of here before we get dragged into something stupid." Nami nods in agreement, knowing that they need to move quickly before getting caught up in any more trouble.

[Present]

The deep timbre of Mr. 5's voice carries through the air as he declares, "The spy we're discussing is from the illustrious Alabasta Kingdom-"

But before he can finish his sentence, Mr. 8's booming shout cuts through: "Igarapapa!" He quickly positions himself in front of Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9, his body tense and ready for battle. "I will not let you harm her!" he bellows, firing a relentless barrage of bullets and shouting another "Igarapapa!" as he proclaims, "I swear it on my honor as head of the Alabasta royal guards! Our beloved princess will not be harmed."

Tension thickens in the air as Miss Wednesday cries out "Igaram!" only to have Igaram himself yell desperately at her, "Please! Run away!"

On the second floor above them, Zoro watches with growing concern as chaos erupts below. He takes a long swig of his drink before muttering to himself, "This isn't good. I left Luffy down there with them."

Miss Valentine's shrill laughter pierces through the chaos as she and Mr. 5 remain unscathed by the explosion caused by Mr. 8's attack. With lightning speed, she leaps towards Miss Wednesday and aims a swift kick at her head, shattering her ornate metal hair ornaments in the process and causing her hair to cascade down around her shoulders.

But Miss Wednesday is equally quick and agile, gracefully dodging the blow while simultaneously swinging her peacock slasher at Miss Valentine. However, the cunning woman simply floats into the air, skillfully evading the attack while laughing hysterically before landing back at Mr. 5 side.In the smoke Mr. 5 flicks a booger at Igaram through the continued gunfire, hitting him directly and causing him to explode in a cloud of smoke.

Mr. 5's voice rings out, his words dripping with malice as he reveals, "The name of the spy is Igaram, the esteemed head of Alabasta Kingdom's royal guards, and the second spy." He holds up a portrait of a young woman who bears a striking resemblance to Miss Wednesday and announces, "It is none other than Alabasta's beloved princess herself, Nefertiti Vivi!"

Vivi grits her teeth in rage as Igaram falls to the ground. "You vile monster!" she snarls before turning to face Mr. 5 and Ms. Valentine with fierce determination in her eyes.

Mr. 9 amazed at the news prostrates himself on the ground before Vivi, his butt comically sticking up in the air, he exclaims in disbelief, "You were a princess all along, Miss Wednesday!?"

Vivi rolls her eyes and snaps at him, "Not now, Mr. 9."

Amid all this chaos, Zoro appears and quickly grabs Luffy by the back of his shirt before dragging him away, crossing between Vivi and Mr. 9 and Miss Valentine and Mr. 5 while saying. "Geez, what a noisy night. Don't mind me, just keep fighting amongst yourselves," he grumbles as he makes a hasty retreat.

As Mr. 5 slyly picks his nose, he declares, "In the direct orders of our baroque works boss, we shall hereby eliminate you two!"

Ingram's voice rings out in desperation as he yells at Vivi, "Run away, please, for the sake of our country."

But Vivi refuses to back down, her hands spinning her signature peacock slashers with determination. "Don't underestimate me!" she shouts bravely.

As she tries to charge forward, Mr. 9 steps in front of her, standing between her higher-level agents, blocking her way. Mr. 9 says, "I may not exactly understand what's going on," he admits, "but you're still the comrade-in-arms that I've partnered with for a long time." He turns to Vivi with a grin on his face and offers, "I'll hold them off for you, so hurry up and run away, Miss Wednesday!"

Vivi calls out to him in gratitude as he begins to flip forward towards Mr. 5, shouting "Bye-bye Baby!" In an impressive display of strength and skill, Mr. 9 unleashes his Nekketsu Nine konbu bat attack upon Mr. 5.

As they close in on each other, Mr. 5 nonchalantly plucks a booger from his nose and retorts, "Hmph, the only thing that matters to us is the successful completion of our mission; such trivial things as compassion for one's comrades will only invite death."

With a flick of his wrist, Mr. 5 sends his booger flying towards Mr. 9 with deadly accuracy, declaring it his Nose Fancy Cannon attack. The explosion behind Vivi serves as a warning as she continues to run over to Karoo from the dangerous battle between the two opposing forces.

Zoro watches with wide eyes and mutters under his breath, "Damn, that's one dangerous booger, alright."

Then suddenly, Zoro feels a strong grip on his ankle startled he looks down to see Ingram clinging on to him for dear life. He lets out a shout in surprise, "Ah!" When he realizes who it is, he shouts with frustration, "You again!?"

Ingram tightens his hold on Zoro's leg, his bruised and bleeding face contorted in desperation as he pleads, "Mr. Swordsman. With your impressive strength, I beg you to grant me an unreasonable request."

Zoro interrupts, shouting back, "Hell no, let go of me! I'm not helping you just because you're trying to suck up to me!"

But Ingram persists in his begging, crying out, "Those two are ability users, and I am powerless against them! Please, I implore you to protect the princess in my stead."

Zoro, pissed, shouts back. "Hell no! You were just trying to kill me!"

Vivi quickly jumps onto the back of her trusty steed Karoo and shouts urgently, "Hurry Karoo, run for it!" The giant duck takes off at top speed as they try to escape their pursuers.

Miss Valentine watches coolly and remarks to Mr. 5, "Looks like she's running away."

But Mr. 5 remains unconcerned and replies confidently, "She can't escape from us." Without missing a beat, they begin chasing after her with deadly intent.

Ingram desperately begged Zoro, his voice straining with fear and urgency. His face is pale and sweat-drenched, his clothes is torn and blood-stained. "If you successfully send her safely back to Alabasta," he cries out, gasping for breath. "I swear you will be greatly rewarded! I beg of you, sir! Please protect the princess!" The sound of his coughing mixed with the rustling tumbleweeds and dirt underfoot.

Amidst all this chaos, Nami couldn't resist butting in at the mention of a reward. She leans over the railing on the second floor, her eyes gleaming with interest. "Greatly rewarded, you say?" she calls out with a sly grin. Ingram's eyes widened in surprise as he looked up to see her there. Before he could respond, Nami continues. "Alright then! How about a billion beri then?" She pointed her finger teasingly at Ingram with a playful taunt.

"Nami!" Zoro shouts, shocked to see her suddenly appear after being passed out from drinking too much alcohol earlier. "Weren't you out cold from all the booze?"

Nami gracefully jumps from the railing and lands lightly on the ground. Her sweet voice carries through the air as she explains herself. "Oh, please, how could I just drink and let my guard down? Even Blue told us that towns in the Grand Line only welcome pirates if the town is under their protection."

Zoro scoffs at her words and crosses his arms skeptically. "Yeah, but that didn't stop him from passing out," he retorts with a hint of annoyance.

Nami shakes her head and lets out a small laugh. "Nope, he's was up before me; he's moving the others to the ship right now." She then turns towards Luffy, who is still sleeping soundly, and says with a mischievous smirk, "Though he might come looking for Luffy once he sees him gone." She glances back at Zoro before adding, "Blue may like to act all scowls and angry, but he cares."

Zoro can feel a headache start to grow as he rubs his forehead in frustration. "Shit, you might be right," he grumbles under his breath.

Meanwhile, Ingram is still choking and gasping for air as he sings out "Ma ma~" in between coughs. Nami turns to Zoro with a knowing look in her eye. "I was also only pretending to be drunk," she confesses with a playful wink. "I could have drunk a lot more if I wanted to."

Zoro lets out an exasperated huff and mutters, "Yeah, yeah."

Ingram finally catches his breath, sweat glistening on his forehead as he tries to speak. But Nami's sparkling smile and words cut him off. "So... how about it?" she asks, batting her eyelashes coyly. "Can you guarantee us a reward of 1 million beli, Mr. Head of the Royal Guard? Need I remind you that without our help, your precious princess might die, you know?"

Ingram chokes again in distress, gasping for air before responding. "I'm afraid I can't guarantee such an astronomical sum," he manages between coughs, "since I'm merely a single soldier."

Nami lets out a sigh and kneels at Ingram's level, studying him with calculating eyes. "Oh?" she says slyly. "Are you saying that the princess of your kingdom is worth less than a billion beri?" Ingram is taken aback by the bold accusation, and Nami continues to taunt him about not caring for his princess's life. With a triumphant grin, she demands payment from him.

Zoro, who has been watching the exchange, can't hold back his disapproval any longer. "Talk about extortion," he mutters under his breath.

But even more shocking is Ingram's response in a rough voice. "Cough. In that case, I'm sure that as long as you return the princess safely back to our lands, you can directly negotiate with her yourself and receive that much money!"

Nami's expression turns slightly nervous as she processes this information. "So basically, you're telling us to save her first," she concludes with a raised eyebrow.

Ingram shouts in frustration, "There is no time for negotiation! Even now, as we speak, the princess' life is in danger." Standing up straight again, Nami rubs her temple in exasperation before speaking firmly. "Fine," she says with determination. "We'll save your little princess first."

Nami thrusts her finger in the direction that Vivi had run off, her voice sharp with urgency as she shouts, "Alright then! Go, Zoro!"

Zoro's jaw drops in outrage at being ordered around. His indignation rises within him, and he barks back, "Why should I go? Why do I have to help you with your dirty money-making schemes!?"

Nami whirls around, her eyes blazing with anger as she retorts, "Don't be foolish," her words dripping with conviction. "My money may be mine alone, but a contract I make is a contract for the whole crew!"

Zoro seethes with frustration and explodes, "What kind of twisted logic is that!? How old are you, you brat?"

Undeterred by his rage, Nami snaps back, "What's the big fuss? All I'm asking is for you to go cut up some bad guys."

Zoro growls in response, "I am not the idiot cook! Make him do it; I hate being used by others!"

Nami quickly shifts tactics, trying to provoke Zoro into action. "Oh, I see. You're only saying that because you don't think you can win, right?"

Zoro's temper flares even hotter as he yells back, "What did you say? You brat, I dare you to say that again." Unbeknownst to them, Luffy stirs from his slumber and begins drowsily walking away, muttering about needing to pee.

Buggy finally makes it back to the house where their welcome party/trap was staged. As he enters, his eyes land on Sanji and Usopp, both sleeping peacefully while holding hands. Buggy raises a brow in surprise as he murmurs, "I didn't know they were that close." He then takes a quick mental count of the crew members: "Nami is out on another sweep, Zoro is creating chaos outside, Sanji and Usopp are here, both passed out, and I'm here too. That leaves only Luffy, who should be here since he ate too much and passed out earlier."

With a growing sense of worry, Buggy searches every nook and cranny of the house, but Luffy is nowhere to be found. Panic rising in his chest, Buggy shouts out loud, "Where the fuck is Luffy?" His voice echoes through the quiet house, but there is no response. Buggy takes a breath and thinks, ‘Did he walk off somewhere or something?’ Buggy lets out a sigh and says, “I will just take Sanji and Usopp to the ship; Nami said she will meet us back at the ship. Then I can find Luffy.”

The heated argument between Nami and Zoro continued. Nami's hands were placed firmly on her hips as she accused, "You know, back in Loguetown, I lent you 100,000 beri so you could buy your swords."

Zoro scoffed in response, "So what? I paid you back immediately. I got my swords for free and didn't need your damn money." 

Nami nodded in agreement but then countered, "But that doesn't change the fact that you still owe me. Did you forget?" Her eyes flashed with determination as she added, "Yes, I lent you the money, but at a 300% interest rate. That means you now owe me 200,000 beri!"

Zoro shouted back in frustration, "Bullshit! I gave you back your money the same day." 

But Nami's expression turned to one of fake disappointment as she shook her head. "What, you can't even keep a simple promise?"

Her words hit Zoro in a sore spot, and he began stomping off in anger. "Damn you! You won't have a peaceful death!"

Nami waved him off dismissively, adding with a hint of sarcasm and a smirk, "Sure, I'll probably go to hell when I die."

As Zoro storms off in the direction Vivi and the assailants had gone, Ingram lay collapsed on the ground. Through gritted teeth, he curses his weakness. "If only I were stronger, I could protect the princess," he mutters bitterly.

Nami tries to reassure him with a bright smile as she kneels next to him. "Don't worry, that guy just now is monstrously strong."

But Ingram's outburst continues as he exclaims, "You don't understand! If anything were to happen to the princess, it would mean the end of our kingdom. She must survive, no matter what." Nami can't hide her shock at his passionate declaration.

Vivi, who is riding Karoo, runs at top speed and is gunning it toward their ship, which is docked behind the Cactus Mountains. Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine keep blocking her path, either making it explode or destroying most of the ways Vivi could go. 

As she is about to get attacked by Mr. 5, Miss Monday appears to block Mr.5 on her shoulder she is carrying a giant tree trunk. Miss Monday tell Vivi to run and get away, but Vivi tries to get her to run instead. Then Miss Monday explains, "Because of that superhuman swordsman, we’d all be punished for failing in our mission anyways, so if that is the case, I'd rather go down while protecting a friend. Now go!" With a heavy heart, Viv thanks her and keeps going.

It doesn't take long for Mr. 5 to take the woman down, as he runs at her and uses his bare arm to clothes line her, making her explode. Mr. 5 then explains, "I’m a human bomb that can make any part of his body explode because I have eaten the Bomb-Bomb fruit," and then picks his nose. Once he finds a booger, he aims and flicks it at Vivi and Karoo’s backs, saying, "You can't run away from us. Nose fancy cannon!" 

But before the explosive booger can hit, Zoro jumps into the way and cuts the booger in half, making it explode on the opposite side of the road and missing Vivi and Karoo. 

Vivi is shocked at his interference, and Zoro is incredibly grossed out, shouting, "I can't believe I have to cut a fucking Booger!"

Vivi is confused, but then her eyes harden in determination as she tries to attack Zoro with her peacock slasher, asking, "Why do you have to come and block my way now of all times!?"

Zoro easily stops her attack and holds his sword pointed at her as he keeps his eyes on Mr. 5 and tells her, "Calm down; I've come to save you." This shocks Vivi and Karoo even more, leaving them speechless.

As Nami perches upon a makeshift barrel seat, her brow furrowed in confusion as she asks Ingram to clarify exactly what the infamous Baroque Works is. With a knowing sigh, Ingram launches into his explanation of the underground criminal organization, detailing their specialties in espionage, assassinations, theft, and bounty hunting. What is the ultimate goal of the group? To establish an "ideal nation" where members who prove themselves will be rewarded with immense wealth and power. Explosion echo in the detraction Zoro and Vivi have ran to.

Buggy effortlessly uses his floating hands to transfer the still-sleeping bodies of Usopp and Sanji onto the ship. Restless and anxious for the others to return, he paces back and forth, muttering to himself. "They're fine, right? I mean, I could just leave now. But what if they run into trouble? They should have been back by now! No, no, it's not my problem if they get in over their heads."

Buggy freezes as a loud explosion echoes in the distance. He curses as he turns and sees the smoke in the distance, his fist clinch together as he starts to shake, remembering the last time he saw an island covered with smoke and an explosion.

~Flash back~

(Baterilla, 1502, January 1)

Buggy's eyes fluttered open as the sharp, acrid smell of burning wood permeated the air, filling Buggy's nostrils and making his eyes water. The sound of crackling flames grew louder, cannon fire echoing all around and sending shivers down his spine as he looked around in panic. ‘Ace,’ he thought frantically, ‘where is Ace? I have to protect him!’ As he tried to move, a searing pain shot through his lower back, and he realized that a tree branch had pinned him to the ground. Buggy cries out in agony as he detached himself from underneath the branch, his back still burning with intense heat and slowly growing numb.

He searched desperately for his arms and was relieved to find them unharmed a distance away. They held tightly to him and cradled Ace in his sleep. But as he looked down, he saw that his gloves were dangerously close to the spreading flames and were starting to catch fire. Without hesitation, Buggy called his arms back to him and ripped off the burning gloves with his teeth, careful not to wake Ace in his protective hold. As his gloves came off, Buggy could hear the voices of countless souls crying out in pain, confusion, and fear—a cacophony of suffering that overwhelmed his senses.

Buggy rose to his feet, his legs shaking beneath him as he pushed himself forward towards his ship. In his mind, he repeated the mantra, "We are so close, we can make it." The sound of explosions and screams filled the air around him as he stumbled towards the hidden grotto where his ship was tucked away behind a cascading waterfall. With Ace cradled in his arms, Buggy finally reached the beach and collapsed onto the sand, gasping for breath.

He quickly detached his arms and sent them scurrying off to pull the ship out of its hiding spot. Once it was in front of them on the beach, Buggy's body throbbed with exhaustion as his limbs reattached themselves. Despite the chaos and explosions surrounding him, he focused on getting his ship ready to sail.

Amidst the chaos, Buggy could feel a strong, familiar Haki approaching and unconscionably turned to it. He struggled to think through the overwhelming soul voices coursing through his head as he moves Ace to his arms and stood on shaky legs, panting, trying to block out the deafening screams of the soul voices. ‘So many are gone and fading,’ he thinks, blinking back tears as he surveyed the beach around him.

He sees a group of running figures appeared down the beach from him. It was a group of marines, their guns raised and pointed at him. As one shouts for him to halt, Buggy's observation Haki screams at him, he sways to the right as a bullet whizzed past his head. His legs gave out beneath him, making he fall to his knees, his heart racing with fear and desperation.

Through blurry, tear-filled eyes, Buggy barely made out the marine captain, barking orders at the soldier who had fired at him. But their voices were drowned out—lost beneath the screams echoing in his mind.

'I promised Rouge I wouldn’t push them away again...'
Buggy bit his lip, his breath ragged, heart pounding like a war drum.
'I need it to stop. They’re all dying. She’s gone. The voices—the screams—make it stop, make it stop.'

A soft coo broke through the chaos.

Ace stirred in his arms, his tiny body warm against Buggy’s chest—blissfully unaware of the carnage around them.
'How the hell can you still be asleep...?'

Buggy pulled his Haki back in, drawing it close—suppressing it, dulling its reach so he wouldn’t hear the soul voices. The suffocating cries faded to a whisper, but the weight of their fading lives still pressed against his skin like phantom hands.

Explosions rocked the island, fire consuming the night sky. He clutched Ace tighter, shielding him from the hellscape. As the newborn cuddles into him in his sleep, letting out a soft coo sound.

Breathing heavily and using a hand to steady himself, Buggy struggled to stand back up. The leader of the group of marines in front of him barked orders for him to stand still. Through his blurred vision, Buggy glares at the group, steeling himself for a fight. But suddenly, a figure burst through the thick tree line and charged towards them, taking out the marines with powerful blows.

Buggy's heart skips a beat as he recognized the figure as Garp, a legendary marine and enemy of all pirates. A renewed surge of rage and grief course through Buggy's body as Garp turned to face him.

Garp sees the tears streaming down Buggy's burnt face; his hair is now burned short at his shoulders from a recent brush with fire. However, relief washes through him when he spots newborn Ace cradled safely in his big brother's arms.

Garp walks forward and says, "When Roger asked me to look after his kid, I thought he meant the new one, not one of  his older ones.” But as he got close, Buggy lunged forward and stabbed Garp in the arm, snarling fiercely. "I won't let you take Ace from me like you took my father," he spits out, his hatred for the marine burning fiercely in his eyes. "You're nothing but a dog for the World Government, hunting down kids you backstabbing bastard."

Garp looks down at the dagger in his arm, impressed by Buggy's quick reflexes and desire to protect Ace. He sees the rage and pain in Buggy's eyes and let out a boisterous laugh, stunning Buggy. Garp quickly picks up both Buggy and Ace, ignoring the wound on his arm, and waded into the water. "I warned Roger again and again, but he wouldn't listen. And I wasn't about to let someone else execute him," he explains, placing them both children on the small sailing ship.

"You're going to head to Foosha Village," Garp commanded firmly as he set up the sails. "Someone activated a new order on this island without my authorization, and I need to stop it." Buggy could only stare at him and blink as Garp picked up the ship, planning to launch it through the air, sending it far away from the destruction that raged on the island.

Garp paused as he looked up at Buggy with a stern expression and yelled. "I will take care of you and Ace once I get back to Foosha. But if you're not there when I arrive... I will truly hunt you down," he warned, then he launched the ship into the air, ignoring the scream Buggy let out as the ship went flying before hurrying off to put an end to the chaos on the island.

~Flash back over~

Buggy gritted his teeth, metallic bitterness coating his tongue. His jaw ached from how hard he was clenching it, but he barely noticed.

His body shook.

Not from fear.

Not from pain.

But from the memories trying to drag him under.

The fire. The screams. The dead.

For a split second, he wasn’t here. He was back there—trapped in the hell of burning wood and fading souls.

Another explosion ripped through the night, rattling his bones.

Buggy shoved the memories back.

His Haki flared— not wildly, but in controlled pulses, rolling just above his skin before drawing back, over and over, in a soothing rhythm.

Ground yourself.

Focus.

Move.

With gritted determination, Buggy ignored the burning in his chest and ran toward the blast.

On the other side of the island, Luffy has finished relieving himself and is happily contemplating returning to sleep when he stumbles upon a chaotic scene. Injured and wounded people litter the ground around him, causing him to shout out in confusion and concern.

As he approaches one man to inquire about what has happened, he hears a shocking accusation. "It's your crewmate—that swordsman with green hair—he's a monster!" The man then promptly passes out, leaving Luffy's face shrouded in dark shadows as he tries to make sense of the situation.

As Miss Valentine and Mr. 5 approach Zoro, the swordsman who has defeated all the low-ranking agents in the town, they exchange sneers before speaking. "Oh, so you're the one everyone is talking about," Miss Valentine says with a smirk.

"But why would someone like you be trying to protect the Alabasta princess?" questions Mr. 5.

Zoro's lips curl into a confident smirk as he replies, "My reasons are my own."

Miss Valentine laughs loudly and swings her big umbrella around as she taunts, "Well then, I guess you'll just have to get out of our way." She twirls her hat off her head and closes her umbrella with a snap. "Allow me to bury your face under the ground with my ability," she threatens.

But before another fight can break out between the two parties, a voice echoes from behind them, causing both Zoro and his Baroque opponents to turn their heads in surprise. It is Luffy, still bloated from eating too much, but as determined as ever as he shouts for Zoro. 

The swordsman raises an eyebrow in confusion. "Luffy? What is it now? If it's about help, I don't need it," he states boldly.

But then Luffy stops panting, and his expression turns serious as he yells, "I'll never forgive you! Fight me!" Zoro's eyes widen in shock and confusion at this sudden change in attitude from his captain.

"What!? What kind of dumbass shit are you spouting now!?" Zoro shouts in disbelief.

But Luffy isn't backing down. "Shut up! An ungrateful bastard like you needs to get his ass kicked!" he screams back, fueled by anger and betrayal.

Zoro jerks back in surprise and narrows his eyes at Luffy's words. "Ungrateful?" he repeats.

Luffy nods fiercely, remembering how the bounty hunter had told him that their crew's swordsman had cut them down without hesitation. "That's right!" Luffy continues, his voice growing louder. "How dare you cut up every single one of these townspeople after they gave us such a friendly welcome and fed us so much yummy food? You disgust me!"

Zoro opens his mouth to explain, but he admits first. "Ah, well, I did cut them up, but..."

Vivi looks at Luffy with disbelief and asks aloud, "Just how dense can this guy be?"

As the baroque duo converses with each other, Zoro desperately tries to explain the situation to Luffy. "Luffy, please listen to me. Those townspeople were actually" His words are cut off as Luffy charges at him, fists ready to attack. Zoro agilely dodges each punch, while the force of Luffy's blows causes the mountain behind him to creak and shatter.

Panicked, Zoro screams, "Are you trying to kill me!?"

Luffy, in anger, replies, "Yes, now die!" and continues his pursuit. In the background, the baroque duo sees an opportunity to assassinate Vivi during the chaos of Luffy and Zoro's fight. However, Zoro kicks Luffy directly into the duo, sending Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine flying into a nearby building causing a cloud of debris and dust.

Angered by the interference, Mr. 5 declares his intent to take out both Zoro and Luffy. "Allow us to do you a favor by killing you," he taunts as he rolls up his sleeves. Miss Valentine emerges from the damaged building, her powers allowing her to fly above Zoro and survey the scene below.

In a burst of frenzied movement, Luffy battles fiercely against Mr. 5, causing an explosion that fills the air with thick smoke and debris. Amidst the chaos, Miss Valentine descends menacingly towards Zoro, her eyes brimming with malice.

Her voice echoes through the aftermath of the blast as she taunts, "Ugh, I've had enough! Let me finish you off once and for all with my kilo-kilo fruit ability. Kyahah!" She cackles gleefully as she prepares to strike.

But before she can make her move, Vivi's voice rings out urgently, warning Zoro, "Mr. Bushido, watch out! That woman is..."

Zoro cuts her off, his voice firm and commanding. "Shut up!" Vivi recoils at his sharp tone as he continues, "I do not have time to listen to you two blabbering on and on." His attention is drawn back to Luffy as the pirate emerges from the smoke, now back in his usual form and holding a bruised and battered Mr. 5 in his grip.

Luffy nonchalantly brushes the dust off himself as he remarks, "Ah, that was a good workout. I finally managed to digest all the food I ate."

Vivi's eyes widen in shock at the sight of Mr. 5's injuries, and she exclaims in disbelief, "Mr. 5... it can't be! An officer agent of Baroque Works was defeated so easily."

A determined look crosses Luffy's face as he glares at Zoro from under his hat and declares, "Time to get serious." Miss Valentine seethes with anger at being ignored by the other pirates as Zoro attempts to explain, "Luffy, just calm down and listen to me. The people of this village are bounty hunters—our enemies." He tries to clarify the situation while Miss Valentine hovers above them, attempting to explain the mechanics of her devil fruit power at the same time.

Luffy's voice rings out in fury as he shouts at Zoro, his fists clenched tightly. "You're lying! What kind of enemies would offer us food?"

The sound of Miss Valentine's weight suddenly shifting from 1 kg to 10,000 kg fills the air as she bellows, "Eat this! 10,000KG press!" Zoro swiftly unties the black bandana from his arm and gracefully sidesteps Ms. Valentine's heavy form as she crashes to the ground.

He turns to face Luffy with a look of frustration on his face. "It seems like you just won't listen to anything I have to say." As Zoro ties the black bandana around his head, he yells out passionately, "You simple-minded idiot! But if you're going to get serious, so will I! Just don't come crying to me when I kill you!"

In response, Luffy simply grins and shouts back, "Fine by me!"

Vivi watches with confusion as she asks, "Aren't you two supposed to be friends? What is going on?"

With a mighty roar, Luffy launches himself forward with a Gomu-Gomu bazooka, shooting his arms far backward before snapping them forward towards Zoro. Anticipating the move, Zoro quickly assumes his three-sword-style stance and counters with an onigiri.

The clash of their attacks echoes through the air, as neither can overpower the other. As they stand still, trying to overpower each other, Zoro speaks up challengingly, "This will be a good chance to see which is stronger—your unarmed combat or my sword fighting."

Luffy's anger is evident on his face as he shouts back defiantly, "Good! Let's make it clear once and for all!" With all their might, they clash again, sending each other flying in opposite directions and causing destruction as they crash into nearby houses.

Vivi stands in the middle of chaos, her thoughts jumbled as she spoke with Karoo. "What do I do...? I want to run away. But I wonder if I'll be safe just passing them by." Buggy, who has arrived on the street just moments after Luffy screams that he won't forgive Zoro, watches with a dark expression as the events unfold before him. He thinks to himself, 'I was worried about these fucking problems causing fuckers for nothing! If Red and I did such a thing, Rayleigh would have beat us!'

Vivi notices Buggy walking past her, she tries to stop him, her voice filled with urgency. "Wait, it's dangerous!" But her words are ignored as Buggy continues on his way.

She turns to Karoo and asks, "He's just their doctor right; what is he going to do?"

Buggy passes by Nami, who is standing in an alleyway with a look of anger directed at her captain and vice-captain. Buggy gives her a sharp, tight smile that stretches across his face. He nods at her and offers a false cheer in a distorted voice, "Would you like to do it?"

Nami can see the dark look in his eyes and puts her hands up in surrender. "Go for it; no need to hurt my delicate hand by hitting their rock-hard heads," she says sarcastically.

Buggy continues down the street; Nami is only a step behind. He detaches his hands and sends them flying high in the air, his anger continuing to build as he watches Zoro and Luffy break free from their confines and resume their fight. Their voices are raised once again as they exchange blows, and their fighting levels are evenly matched.

In a fit of anger, the Baroque Works duo regained consciousness. Mr. 5's voice is filled with rage as he declares, "Our pride as Baroque agents has been tainted." Miss Valentine nods in agreement, her words laced with determination as she proposes they go all out to show their opponents what they are truly made of.

With fierce determination, they charge towards Zoro and Luffy, their eyes filled with deadly intent. But as they close in on their targets, both Zoro and Luffy stop in their tracks, their expressions dark and menacing. They speak in unison, their voices dripping with disdain: "God, you two are annoying."

The ferocity of their opponents causes the Baroque Works duo to freeze in fear. Before they can even react, Zoro and Luffy easily bat them away with a swift strike, declaring, "You’re getting in the way of our fight!" The force of their attack sends the two flying through the air until they finally crash to the ground, unconscious and defeated.

As they turn back to face each other, Buggy's distorted voice echoes behind them. "Then, how about I get in the way?" Luffy and Zoro turn with angry looks, but their expressions quickly morph into ones of shock as they see Buggy standing behind them. His face contorts with rage as his fists come crashing down on their heads, driving them to the ground and rendering them stunned. Vivi stands in shock, her breath catching in her throat as Karoo lets out a terrified squawk.

"It... can't be..." Vivi murmurs, her eyes wide with disbelief. "How could there be anyone this strong so close to the entrance of the Grand Line!?"

Buggy glares at the two pirates, his anger boiling over at them for making him stressed out and worried. He tries to speak, but all that escapes his lips are words no one can understand as his body shakes. Meanwhile, Nami strolls up to Luffy and Zoro without a care in the world.

"Just what the hell do you think you're doing?" she scolds, hands on her hips. "Well, I guess I should at least be glad that the girl is safe." She grabs Luffy and Zoro by the scruffs of their shirts and begins shaking them vigorously. "But you were about to cost me my 1 billion beri! Do you understand!?"

Vivi and Karoo approach Buggy and Nami curiously, watching as Nami continues to scold the pirates, who are now starting to wake up from their daze. Luffy and Zoro growl at each other and pull on each other's faces like bickering siblings, while Nami shakes them like rag dolls.

Vivi wearily asks, "Why did you all save me?”

"Ah, that's right," Nami suddenly remembers. "You don't know anything yet. How would you like to make a contract with me?"

Vivi looks at her in confusion. "A contract?"

But before Nami can explain, she has had enough of the fighting and smacks Luffy and Zoro on the backs of their heads with a scream. "Settle down already!" she scolds, scaring Karoo. The poor duck looks like he is going to faint, and even Vivi is a bit scared.

This time, Buggy picks Luffy and Zoro up by their cuffs with his detached arms and holds them apart from each other. As the group heads to a better spot by the river to talk, giving Vivi time to fix her hair back up in a ponytail, Nami fills her in.

Zoro and Luffy groggily wake up, their eyes meeting the piercing gaze of a pissed-off Buggy. The sound of his voice sends chills down their spines, still distorted from the effects of his Devil Fruit power. "Are you two seriously going to keep trying to fucking kill each other, or are you finally going to have a civilized conversation?" Buggy's anger radiates off of him like waves, causing Zoro and Luffy to shrink back in shock at the sheer upset showing in Buggy's eyes.

They quickly nodded in agreement, not wanting to further anger the already volatile pirate.

Buggy sets Luffy down on a nearby barrel and Zoro on some crates, creating a safe distance between them.

Zoro can't help but ask, "What's wrong with your voice?"

Buggy lets out a shrill, shaky laugh, his voice changing octaves and breaking as he replies, "When I get to stressed or upset, My ability becomes chaotic, and it messes with my vocal cords. If I wasn't bandaged up right now, my body would probably be flying all over the place."

His scowl deepens as he glares at Luffy and Zoro, daring them to make fun of him. But instead, Zoro's eyes widen in understanding, while Luffy's are filled with admiration. "That's so cool, Buggy!" Luffy exclaims, causing a faint blush to creep across Buggy's cheeks.

"It's not cool." Buggy crosses his arms and grumbles under his breath. "It's embarrassing. And it's all your fault for stressing me out, you assholes.”

He glares sharply at Luffy and Zoro as he continues, "If Red and I had pulled such a stunt in our situation, our vice-captain would have beaten us senseless.”

Then, he points at Luffy, making him flinch, and adds, ”What you did is worse: you believed some stranger over your first mate and were fighting to kill him, you dumbass!” Luffy looks chaste and ashamed as Buggy turns to Zoro, who holds up his hands as if to ward Buggy off.

Buggy shouts, "And what first mate fights his...” Buggy stops himself mid-sentence as if he remembers something, then mutters, “Never mind, yours is a dumb ass who was trying to kill you for stupid shit that checks out.” He lets out an aggravated groan before storming off towards Nami, muttering about having idiotic crew members.

Luffy has a sad look on his face as he stares at Zoro, who is rubbing the back of his head, and starts to explain what happened.

Buggy starts walks over to were Nami is talking to Miss Wednesday, he lets out a deep, aggravated sigh and shakes his head. "I can't believe I was worried about these idiots for nothing." His hands are still shaking, and he clenches them. "God, damn it." Then, with a frustrated huff, Buggy turns and walks away. "I need a drink," he calls over his shoulder to Nami, his voice still distorted. "I'll be back."

Chapter Text

Zoro finished explaining of what had really happened to Luffy, who burst into laughter. "Shi shi shi, Jeez! You should have said that first, Zoro. I thought you cut all those people up because they did not make your favorite food or something."

Zoro snaps and yells in frustration, "Who do you think I am? You!"

Luffy looked down and sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "No, I should have asked for your side of what happened first and really listened to you,” he admitted before bowing his head quickly to Zoro and apologizing, "Sorry, my bad. I should trust my Nakama first before strangers."

Zoro nods accepting the apology and replies, "It's fine; I should have said they attacked first instead of admitting to me cutting them up first." He let out a tired sigh and added, "And now we have an angry blue doctor on board to boot."

Luffy couldn't help but let out a loud, nervous laugh. ”Blue will calm down; he worries too much." Nami turns to them and shouts, "Will you two shut up!!?" making Luffy and Zoro freeze in slight fear, scared to have both a ticked-off navigator and doctor.

Nami turns back to Vivi and finishes her sales pitch confidently: "So there it is; in exchange for taking you home, I would like one billion berries." She stands tall and crosses her arms, looking determined. "You saw how strong these guys are; it's a pretty good deal, right?" Nami finishes with a self-assured grin. But Vivi shakes her head and says firmly, "I refuse! But you have my gratitude for saving me just now."

Confusion crosses Nami's face as she asks, "What!? Why? You're a princess, right?" She tilts her head to the side in confusion. "A billion beri should be nothing for a princess."

Vivi takes a deep breath and begins to explain, her voice calm but tinged with sadness. "Have you heard of a kingdom called Alabasta?" Nami, Luffy, and Zoro look at each other before shaking their heads. "No, I can't say that; I have," Nami replies.

Sitting down on a bale of hay, Vivi looks down at the ground. She continues, "It's a peaceful kingdom known as a great civilization and nation within the Grand Line. Or, well, it used to be one. Long ago..." A frown forms on Nami's face as Zoro and Luffy listen intently. "Used to be?" Nami prompts. "Long ago? But what about now?"

Vivi clenches her hands into tight fists on her lap before looking up with a scowl on her face and with a heated tone explains. "We are in the middle of a civil war. The past few years have been mired by revolutionary activities due to radical Alabasta revolutionaries. My country is currently in a state of chaos!" Her words drip with frustration and anger.

With determination in her voice, she continues to explain the dire situation her kingdom is in. "One day, I happened to hear of a certain organization called Baroque Works. I learned that the populace was being manipulated by this group, but other than that fact, I didn't know anything else, nor could I do anything about Baroque Works." She pauses taking a calming breath before continuing. "I did not know what else to do, so I went to Igaram for help. You see, he has been watching over me ever since I was a child."

Luffy mimics curls with his hand next to his head and asks, "You mean the old guy with the tube-shaped hair?"

Vivi looks confused. ” Tubed-shaped?” before nodding, "Oh, yes." Vivi's hands loosen from their tight grip as she continues her tale. "Even though what I had heard may or may not be just a rumor, I asked Igaram if there was any way I could infiltrate Baroque Works to find out who is pulling the strings and what their true objective is once and for all."

Zoro smirks impressed at Vivi bravery, "You've got a lot of guts considering you are a princess. So, did you figure out this goal of theirs?"

Vivi looks over at Zoro, as Nami interjects,"'To create an ideal nation' or that is what Igaram said, anyway." Vivi's hands clench again as Nami asks, “So what exactly is the deal with this "creation of an ideal nation" that Baroque Works is apparently scheming towards?"

Vivi confirms, "Yes, it's just as you suspected. The boss claims it's for the sake of creating a perfect nation, but it's all an enormous lie!" Her voice rises with anger, "The true goal is to take over the Alabasta kingdom!" Her eyes grow cold and serious. "I need to return home quickly and stop the revolutionaries from causing chaos. I have to reveal the truth to the people and put an end to this endless fighting." Vivi's voice quivers with sadness as she adds, “I have to get back. I have to.. stop the fighting."

Nami lets out an exasperated sigh and crosses her arms, commenting, "I see. That would explain why you turned down our offer. A country in the midst of civil war wouldn't have any extra resources to spare."

Luffy leans forward on his barrel, his eyes sparkling with excitement as he asks, "So did you find out who the boss dude is?"

Vivi's expression quickly morphs into one of panic as she starts frantically waving her hands at Luffy. "The boss's identity!? Please don't ask me! In fact, it's best if you don't know at all!"

But Luffy grins mischievously and persists, "But you know who it is, right?"

Vivi's voice rises in concern and fear. "Don't ask me! If you knew, your life would be in danger too. Baroque Works would hunt you down!"

Nami uncrosses her arms and lets out a nervous laugh. "Hahaha, yeah, count us out of this one. I mean, a man planning to take over an entire country must be incredibly dangerous. I wouldn't want him chasing after me."

Vivi nods vigorously in agreement with Nami's statement, speaking quickly. "Yes! Exactly! No matter how strong you pirates may be," Luffy pouts at this statement as Vivi takes a deep breath, her words pouring out in a frantic rush. "You would stand no chance against one of the Warlords of the Sea! like Crocodile!"

The alley falls deathly silent as Luffy asks, "Who now?" Vivi slaps her hands over her mouth, as Nami stares at Vivi with disbelief her eye wide and  her jaw drop at what Vivi just let slip.

Zoro calmly questions, "Didn't you just say his name...?"

The group hears a clacking sound and looks up at the building next to them, where they see the unluckies sitting on the roof. The otter and vulture stare at the group and then look at each other. The otter jumps on the vulture's back, and the duo flies into the sky.

Nami screams in fear as she starts shaking Vivi by her shoulders violently. "WHAT WAS THAT BIRD AND OTTER JUST NOW!?" Tears streaming down her face.

Vivi looks like she's about to give up her will to live as she begs. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

Nami continues shaking her screams. "DID THEY GO TO REPORT THAT YOU'VE TOLD US THE BOSS' SECRET!? WELL!? WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN TO US NOW!?"

Luffy looks at Zoro with a glint of excitement in his eyes. "A warlord," he says with a grin spreading on his face. "That's so cool!"

Zoro grins back. "Yeah, not too bad."

Nami keeps shaking Vivi back and forth as Vivi says, "I'm really sorry! It just accidentally slipped out." her eyes spinning in circles from Nami shaking her as Nami screeches back. "You think saying it accidentally makes this any better!? Why do we have to become hunted down because of a single slip-up from you!?" Nami lets go of Vivi and rubs the tears from her eyes as she sobs, "We just barely entered the Grand Line, and already we have a warlord chasing after us...!"

Luffy laughs joyfully as Zoro confidently says, "Yeah, we're really lucky to be able to meet him so early!"

Luffy questions with glee, "I wonder what he looks like!"

Nami snaps and points at them. "SHUT UP, YOU TWO!" She then turns and starts walking down the road. As she goes, she shouts, "It's been a really short time traveling with you. Bye!"

As Nami walks away, Luffy notices her leaving and calls out, "Where are you going, Nami?"

Nami shouts back, "They don't know what I look like yet! So I'm grabbing Blue and running away!"

But after a few steps, she spots the otter in the road drawing on a notepad. It flips the pad around to reveal decent sketches of Nami, Luffy, and Zoro. Impressed, Nami claps and exclaims, "Wow, you're good!" Then she turns back towards her friends and angrily stomps back to them, yelling, "NOW I CAN'T EVEN RUN AWAY!"

Vivi interjects with an apologetic tone, "I'm really sorry..." While Nami curses under her breath, Luffy chimes in cheerfully, "You're so funny, Nami! It's okay; we'll get through this. And these animals are so interesting!"

As Nami grumbles and curses her luck, Zoro asks her, "Where were you even planning to run away to anyway?" He leans back with a grin and adds, "Either way, it looks like all three of us are now at the top of Baroque Works' hit list."

Luffy lets out an excited giggle and exclaims, "This is so cool!"

Meanwhile, Nami sits curled up, facing a wall, as a dark cloud of depression covers her. Vivi attempts to cheer her up: "I have 500,000 in my savings account that you can have, though."

Then a deep voice from the front of the ally way suddenly shouts out “FEAR NOT!!" startling the group as they turn to the sources they see.

 [with Buggy a few moments ago]

Buggy's trembling hands grip the cold, rough wall of the closet building, his palms slick with sweat. He can feel every crevice and crack of the brick pressing into his glove as he desperately clings to it for support and grounding. His body is wracked with violent sobs, each one tearing through his chest like a sharp blade. The sound of his ragged breathing echoes in the empty streets as he tries to muffle his cries, not wanting anyone to hear his vulnerable state.

But his efforts are in vain, as the overwhelming panic and anxiety continue to consume him. Gasping for air, he bends over, feeling his stomach churn violently. Before he knows it, he is vomiting onto the ground below, the acidic taste of bile burning his throat.

He tries to catches his breath, but his heart pounds violently against his chest, threatening to burst out at any moment. Memories flood his mind—memories of Baterilla that he thought he had buried long ago. 'Damn Luffy and Zoro for their stupid fight,' he thinks bitterly as he struggles to control his shaking limbs. 'I've already had enough panic attacks in front of them.'

The rush of adrenaline only intensifies his shaky state as his mind races back to the last time he witnessed an island being mercilessly bombarded. The deafening explosion and screams of innocent people still haunt him, leaving him trembling uncontrollably.

With heavy steps, Buggy pushes the thoughts away as he stumbles away from the pool of his own vomit and continues down the road. Light smoke and dust fill the air, bodies litter the ground—bounty hunters who have either been knocked out or killed by Zoro's fight with them. But Buggy refuses to use his haki to confirm their status, not wanting to spread it more than just above his skin.

He looks at his gloved hands chiding himself. ‘If I let it go, I could have known they were just idiots and were fine; I could have just relaxed on the ship. instead of falling into another panic attack like a pathetic child.’ A wave of regret and anxiety washes over him as he hugs himself tightly, trying to find some sense of comfort and control, he tries to focus on anything else.

Buggy's steps slow down as he passes by a beauty shop with half of its signs missing. As he passes the shop, he spots the other half of the sign, causing him to freeze. He stares at the red hibiscus flower drawn on the torn sign lying ahead of him on the road. His eyes lose focus on the bright red hibiscus flower, and he starts breathing erratically as he gets lost in the memories he tried to bury. Time seems to come to a halt as the overwhelming memories consume him, leaving him feeling helpless and disoriented.

~Flash back~

(Baterilla, 1501, December 31)

The sun hung high, a golden orb casting rays through the dense foliage. The sea grotto shimmered beneath its glow.. The hibiscus flowers were in full bloom, their vibrant red standing out against the lush greenery. The waterfall cascades down from the cliffs, creating a shimmering veil that partially obscures the entrance to a secret cave. Inside, Buggy's small sail ship, with its bright white sails and sturdy frame, sat majestically in the water. Buggy wipes the sweat from his brow as he finishes checking and placing the last of the supplies he and Rouge will need once his little sibling is born.

Months of meticulous planning had led up to this pivotal moment. Buggy had poured over maps and supply lists, meticulously organizing and restocking their provisions while also training with Rouge in preparation for their impending departure from Baterilla. The imminent birth of Rouge's new child added an extra layer of urgency to their situation, as they knew they would have to flee as soon as the baby was born to avoid being caught by the Marines.

The constant fear of discovery hung heavy in the air, with frequent funerals being held in the island graveyard as a reminder of the danger they faced every day.

Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, there were glimmers of hope. Some brave doctors risked everything to aid pregnant women and children, secretly helping them to give birth and protect them from the ruthless marines. Thanks to Rouge's exceptional willpower and mastery of her Haki, she had successfully hidden her pregnancy for 20 months, delaying the delivery and evading suspicion from authorities.

As he made his way back to town, Buggy fidgeted with his new white glove. He could still feel Rouge's Haki signature in her hospital room, grateful for her guidance in honing his abilities. With her help, he had learned to extend his Haki outward, blending seamlessly into his surroundings and avoiding detection. With his gloves on his natural observation, Haki is no longer overwhelming him with the constant barrage of soul voices; he is now able to let it go passive, only hearing the soul voices of those he wants to hear. Instead of every strong voice at once.

His long blue hair was neatly braided down his back, and he wore a faintly clownish smile on his face, accentuated by a bold swipe of red lipstick. Having regained the weight he had lost during his time on the run, Buggy now confidently sported a light blue tropical shirt adorned with hibiscus flowers, leaving it unbuttoned to reveal his toned torso. A vibrant red scarf cinched around his waist held up his tan shorts as he strolled through the bustling town.

Buggy weaved through the busy streets of Baterilla, stopping at various vendors to grab some food and snacks for himself and Rouge. With his adoptive mother figure and mentor about to give birth, he wanted to make sure she had something to eat when the cravings hit.

After a few minutes of walking, he finally arrives back at the hospital. Taking a deep breath, he makes his way up to Rouge's room with a happy smile on his face.

As Buggy opens the door, he sees Rouge sitting in bed, her pale blond hair cascading down her shoulders. Still tucked behind her ear was a bright red hibiscus flower. She was wearing a long pastel blue dress that concealed her round belly, her hand resting gently atop it as she softly sang a lullaby to the baby inside. As she looks up at Buggy with a warm smile, he can't help but feel a surge of happiness.

"Flashy me is back," Buggy announces with a flourish as he approaches her bedside, proudly presenting the snacks he had acquired before placing them on a nearby table. "The flashy Blue Wonder has brought you some delicious treats."

Rouge's eyes lit up at the sight of the food. "Thank you, Blue," she says gratefully. "I was just starting to get hungry."

Buggy settled onto the bed next to her, handing her a plate of fruit and cookies. They chatted and laughed as they munched on their snacks until, Rouge let's out a surprised gasp.

"Buggy, get Akna; my water broke!" she exclaimed urgently.

Without hesitation, Buggy rushes out of the room and quickly finds Akna, Rouge's trusted midwife. Together, they hurry back to Rouge's room, ready to assist in bringing another precious life into this world.

(Baterilla, 1502, January 1)

As the sun rises over the horizon, a baby's cry breaks the early morning silence in the hospital room. It has been a long and difficult delivery for Rouge, lasting through the night and leaving her exhausted.

But as she holds her newborn son close to her chest, with a loving smile on her face and tears in her eyes, she knows it was all worth it. She looks up at Buggy, who is wide-eyed and pale after helping with the delivery and gives him a tired smile. Rouge speaks softly to the baby in her arms: "If you were a girl, your name would have been Anne, but as a boy, your name is Ace. Those are the names we chose together. Our child's name is Gol D. Ace."

Buggy's heart swells as he gazes at his new little brother, feeling an overwhelming sense of love and responsibility wash over him. He wants to reach out to touch Ace's tiny hand, but he is scares he might hurt such a fragile little thing.

But Rouge smiles at him and holds out the newborn, saying, "Here, take him, Blue. His name is Ace; he is your new little brother." Rouge's voice fills with happiness and pride.

Buggy's voice shakes as he worries, "Are you sure? What if I hurt him? He-he is so tiny!” Rouge chuckles weakly and urges Buggy to take the newborn, he gently takes his little brother in his arms with Akna's help to make sure Buggy is holding him right, he stares in awe at the little newborn.

Rouge lets out a content sigh at the sight of her old youngest child holding her new youngest, then as she feels the strain on her body hit her once again, she looks up at Akna, who has been there throughout the entire delivery, and says weakly, "I think I need to rest now, Akna."

Akna smiles kindly at Rouge before turning to Buggy and gesturing for him to step outside with Ace in his arms while she attends to Rouge's needs.

Once outside of the room, Buggy turns to Akna with concern etched on his face. And with a nervous voice, he asks, "Is Rouge going to be okay?" He can feel his mother's Haki, and it feels strong but tired at the same time.

Akna nods reassuringly. "She just needs some rest now that the delivery is over. I'll make sure she gets some sleep while you bond with your little brother." She heads back into the room as Buggy looks down at his sleeping little brother rocking him and starring at the little one in amazement.

After some time, Akna comes back out of the room, saying, "You can go back in; she is resting.”

Buggy thanks Akna before making his way back into the room where Rouge is sleeping. He takes a seat next to her bed, and with Ace sleeping peacefully in his arms, he solemnly swears, ”I will always do my best to protect and care for you, Ace; I swear this on the seas.”

(later that evening)

Rouge urgently requested that Buggy make the long, arduous trek back to their secluded cabin to retrieve her forgotten bag. Her Haki, once vibrant and tired when he left, now feels weak and fading like a flickering flame. With the bag in hand, Buggy's heart races as he runs even faster toward the hospital room where his mother figure is lying, fading away.

The sun is setting in the distance, casting a deep orange glow over the countryside. A sense of foreboding washes over Buggy as he picks up on another Haki signature nearby, one that is all too familiar. But he pushes it aside and bursts into Rouge's room.

His heart drops at the sight of so much blood staining the pristine white sheets and dripping from her pale lips. But despite her weakened state, Rouge manages to greet him with a small smile. She coughs up more crimson blood, causing Buggy's stomach to churn with dread. "Good, you got the bag, Blue," she says through strained breaths. "You have to take Ace and leave without me." Her freckled face holds a peaceful expression despite the gravity of the situation. Tears well up in Buggy's eyes as he looks at his dear mentor and mother.

Akna stands nearby, placing a sleeping Ace gently into Buggy's arms. As Buggy sobs uncontrollably, Akna tries but fails to console him. "What happened? You were fine," Buggy cries out, shaking from disbelief and fear. "Akna, you said she would be fine!?" His voice distorts as he holds onto Ace tightly but is careful not to hurt him as he moves closer to Rouge's bed.

As he leans down on Rouge's frail form, Buggy cannot bear to think about losing her too. "Please, Mom, don't leave me," he begs, his sobs growing louder. Holding onto Ace protectively, Buggy knows he cannot do this alone. Shaking his head in denial, tears run down his cheeks. "I can't take care of him by myself. I'm not good enough," he admits, his heart breaking as he thinks, ’I can’t lose Rouge too. My Father Captain is gone, and now I am losing my mother Rouge as well. Red and Rayleigh want nothing to do with me.’

Rouge smiles softly at hearing Buggy call her mom; he's never called her it out loud before. She places her hand to rest on Buggy’s cheek so she can make him look into her eyes and explains, "I force all my Haki to surround and protect Ace, now that Ace is out my body can no longer retain it. I am sorry, Blue, but you can do this! I know you can do this! You are Rogers and mine, child! Our Blue Wonder! A treasure gifted from the sea!" Buggy jerks back as tears run down his face like small rivers.

Rouge coughs up more blood, and, with love and pride shining in her eyes, she says to Buggy and Ace, "You must go now, Blue! Go!" Buggy turns, tears blurring his eyes as he runs, holding Ace close and hiding him in his chest as they run out of the hospital, passing a tall marine who holds the door open.

Buggy sprints through the dense forest, tears streaming down his face as he clutches onto his new younger brother. They flee towards Buggy's hidden sailing ship, without Rouge, who lies dying from childbirth back at the hospital.

Suddenly, an explosion rocks the ground beneath their feet. Buggy's observation Haki kicks in, allowing him to sense danger approaching. In a split-second decision, he detaches his arms. He sends Ace safely flying upwards with them, hoping to protect him from whatever is coming. Something searing hot crashes into Buggy's back, and he screams out in pain as he falls to the ground. His consciousness fading, he hears Rouge's soul voice whisper through his mind, "‘I...love...my...boys.'" Everything goes black as Buggy passes out from the intense burning pain.

Buggy shook his head, blinking rapidly as he fought to anchor himself in the present. The past clawed at him, threatening to drag him under. He sucked in a shaky breath, forcing himself to focus—inhale, hold, exhale—but the acrid stench of smoke coiled around him, tightening its grip.

His pulse pounded in his ears. He shut his eyes, searching for something steady—the cool river, the gentle lap of water against stone—but instead, the sound of rushing currents sent a shock through his system. The past surged forward, swallowing him whole.

(Baterilla, 1502, January 1)

The ship lands in the water with a resounding splash, its wooden frame shaking violently from the impact. Buggy's heart races with adrenaline as he tries to make sense of Garp's sudden appearance and how Garp saved him and Ace. Thoughts flashed through his mind at lightning speed, each one bringing more confusion and fear. As he looks around frantically, he feels a deep sense of helplessness wash over him as his mind reminds him, ‘Rouge is dead now too.’ He can only watch in horror as marine ships bombard the island, turning it into a death zone. The chaos and destruction are suffocating.

With trembling hands, Buggy sets Ace down gently in his cradle on the ship, as he tries to regain control of his racing mind and body. But the effects of the adrenaline, fear, and pain now hitting him make it almost impossible for him to focus. He attempts to pull in his Haki deep inside him, but it feels like sharp needles are piercing through his skin as he tries to pull it in close. The wailing cries of countless soul voices fill his mind, their agony echoing through him as they die while witnessing someone else's death, screaming in fear, crying for help, and then they are gone. Each soul's voice repeats the cycle. It's unbearable.

Falling to his knees, Buggy lets out a gut-wrenching scream of agony. ‘I don't want observation Haki anymore; I don't want any Haki at all! I want it gone, to be buried deep within me so I can forget this power ever existed’ With tears streaming down his face, Buggy begins to push away his Haki, burying it deep within himself. Anything to make the pain stop.

Gradually, everything slowly grows quiet around him, as darkness consumes his senses. Something shatters inside him, but instead of feeling pain, Buggy begins to feel a cold numbness spread throughout his body as he looks into the silent darkness, his body and mind growing more numb to everything. As he sits in the silent darkness, a cry pierces through the silence.

Buggy stands up, numbly follows the sound, and finds a bundle of sparks flickering in distress. He picks it up gently with his hands and feels its warmth soak into them, chasing away a coldness he had not felt was there. As he pulls the sparks against his chest, the warmth spreads even more. The sparks seem to coo happily now as he hears a soft voice say, "Happy, safe, loved." As he cradles the bundle, the sparks coo more, sending wave after wave of warmth and love through Buggy. With disbelief in his voice, he says, "It’s so warm and bright.” The warmth and brightness of the sparks grow stronger, covering Buggy and shattering the darkness.

Gasping for breath, he falls on his ass back on the deck with Ace in his arms, feeling as if he were just pulled from a deep ocean barely saved from drowning. ”Spark your spark, Ace, a spark of flaming light.” Buggy deliriously rambles.

He can feel Ace's soul voice like a small spark of flame, so warm and bright. As he looks around, he sees Baterilla in the distance. Fire and smoke cover the island, and the marine ships have ceased firing. Buggy tries to think his thoughts are like slow-moving sludge. ‘ Foosha Village... Garp said we got to go to Foosha! But... how are we going to get there? It's in the east, right? ....move!’ Buggy put the now-asleep Ace in his cradle as he tried to set course for Foosha Village.

But his body is slow to move; every area burns or feels so cold now. Buggy forces it to move, stumbling as he mumbles, "Foosha, got to get to Foosha, need to get... help. Help... get to Foosha village!” His body is given out by the rail of the ship. He is panting softly. As he loses consciousness, he hears a voice say, "I will take you, little Sky, little Spark; count on me.” Buggy feels the ship rise in the air as everything goes dark.

~ Flashback over~

Buggy was yanked from his spiraling memories by a sharp, melodic chime. His heart lurched against his ribs, a jolt of fear slicing through his already unsteady mind. He spun around, scanning the empty street for the source of the sound. His gaze landed on a beauty salon he had just passed—and from its doors, a tall figure emerged.

Dressed in women’s clothing, with makeup and hair painstakingly styled to resemble Miss Monday, the man strode toward him with urgency. Buggy blinked, his brain struggling to catch up. Wait—was that the mayor? Sure enough, it was Mayor Igarappoi, and he was carrying three human-shaped decoys.

Before Buggy could process the absurdity of the sight, the man spoke in a hushed but frantic tone.
"You are also part of the Mugi Ma-ma-ma~ Mugiwara crew? I need you to lead me back to where you have gathered with Princess Vivi. We don’t have much time."

For a long moment, Buggy just stared. Then, laughter exploded out of him, loud and unrestrained.
"Gahaha! Why the hell are you dressed like that!?"

He doubled over, wheezing between cackles. Every time he tried to stop, the ridiculousness of the situation set him off again. Igarappoi, cross-dressing, urgent mission—what the hell was today?

The mayor looked unimpressed, waiting patiently as Buggy waved his hands, shaking with laughter.
"Wait, wait—ga ha ha! Nami mentioned something—gah—something about a contract with Miss Monday!" he managed between snickers.

Finally, he wiped at the tears forming in his eyes and grinned at Igarappoi. "Ah, thanks! I needed that. Gotta admit—you pull it off pretty well."

Igarappoi, unfazed, straightened his posture and introduced himself in a firm, serious tone.
"I am Igaram. Yes, Nami has agreed to negotiate a contract with Princess Vivi. I will explain more once we return to your crew."

Buggy, still grinning, glanced back at the beauty salon before nodding.
"Sure, sure. Just let me grab a few things first."

[ Present]

Igaram stood before them, his face a canvas of white powder that contrasted sharply with the small, red lips painted meticulously over his mouth. His hair was drawn high into a playful ponytail, swaying slightly as he moved with enthusiasm. With deft brushstrokes, he had recreated swirling circles on his shirt, elaborately mirroring Vivi's current top. Somehow, amidst the chaos, he had secured a long green coat adorned with delicate white fur trim that cascaded down like snowflakes upon verdant grass. Completing his ensemble were crisp white pants and a glistening gold chain belt that cinched around his waist, transforming him into a doppelgänger of Vivi.

Beside him stood Buggy, whose usual exuberance seemed dampened; he appeared worn out, burdened by a bag slung over one shoulder. He took frequent swigs from a bottle, each gulp sounding more desperate than the last as Igaram burst forth with excitement, "I have a plan! It'll be arri-Ma ma ma~ It'll be alright!"

Luffy's eyes sparkled with admiration as he exclaimed at Igaram, "Whoa! You can definitely pull off that look!" 

Luffy looks toward Buggy, eyes glinting with curiosity. "Blue, what’s in the bag? And what are you drinking?"

Buggy hummed, nodding as he took another gulp. Zoro twitched irritably.

Vivi glanced up from comforting Nami, concern etching her features as she questioned Igaram earnestly, "Igaram!? What's with that outfit!?"

Nami sighed heavily in exasperation, muttering under her breath, “I’m surrounded by idiots.” Meanwhile, Buggy set down his empty bottle on a nearby barrel with a clatter—its label boldly reading 82% proof Carmel Coffee Whiskey—and gave Nami an encouraging pat on the back in an attempt to soothe her frayed nerves.

"Enough about that! Just listen to me," Igaram urged urgently. The intensity returned to his gaze as he continued, "Once the Baroque Works network learns of what happened, they'll be sure to send pursuers right away. Especially since you defeated Mr. 5 and his partner...!" A flicker of concern crossed his face as he added gravely, "Just so you know, although the boss has no bounty on him now because he's a member of the Shichibukai..." At this mention of ‘Shichibukai,’

Buggy’s head tilted inquisitively; he made a mental note to inquire more later. He handed Nami the bag filled with assorted goodies while allowing Igaram to finish his explanation.

"Back in his heyday as a pirate," Igaram concluded thoughtfully, "Crocodile had an 80 million Beli bounty."

Igaram turns to Luffy, who absentmindedly picked up Buggy's empty bottle and hands it to Zoro, who glares at it as if it had personally offended him. Nearby, Blue was coaxing Nami out of her breakdown, successfully getting her to stand by offering her the mysterious contents of his bag.

With a serious note in his voice, Igaram asks, "By the way, have you decided whether or not to safely escort the princess back to Alabasta yet?"

Luffy scratches his head in confusion, his brow furrowed, and replies, "Huh? What're you talking about?"

Zoro, ever the pragmatist, points at Vivi and clarifies, "He means he wants us to take her back home."

Luffy nods vigorously, saying, "Oh. Sure, fine by me."

Suddenly, Nami's voice pierces through their conversation like a shout from a cannon. Her eyes widen in disbelief as Crocodiles Bounty register's in her mind. "80 MILLION!? THAT'S FOUR TIMES ARLONG'S BOUNTY! Just refuse his request!"

Buggy finally interjects with an oddly mellow tone that contrasts sharply with the tense atmosphere. "80 million is not that big of a bounty," he said dismissively. "And I’ve never heard of this Crco baby; is he new? Even if he has this 'Schichibukai' title thingy, it's probably nothing."

Nami's frustration boils over as she whips around to face Buggy, shouting incredulously, "You don’t know who the warlords are!?” The group now turns to Buggy in shock at his ignorance, causing him to pout petulantly.

"It must have been created in the last 17 years then. But more importantly," Buggy continues after a moment’s pause and narrows his eyes, "You do know what the 7 Diamond rules of the code are, right? I noticed you don't really seem familiar with The Code."

Nami and Zoro exchange confused glances while Igaram nods, Vivi shrugs as Luffy raises his hand eagerly, like a student ready to answer a question. “I know! Shanks taught me! They’re the unbreakable pirate codes!”

Zoro and Nami look at Luffy in surprise as Buggy’s pout twists into a scowl upon hearing Shanks’s name. “He damn well better have! If he decided to give you his hat—the ass,” he growls.

Buggy blinks before shifting his attention back to Nami and Zoro. “I think Sanji might know too,” he mused aloud. “But I need to run those rules past you brats.” He rubbed his eyes tiredly and muttered under his breath, "Seas, help me.”

Luffy groans dramatically. “Aww, but Blue! I already know it. When Ben and Shanks taught me, it was sooo boring!”

Zoro places the bottle down carefully and then turns towards Nami with curiosity. “There is a pirate code?”

Nami wiggles her hands side-to-side uncertainly in the air while Buggy tugs on Luffy’s cheeks, stretching them comically as he snarls. "Well, apparently you missed the talk on vows and promises because you just agreed to an outrageous request outside of Parley again!—this time involving royalty—who people want to kill you rubber-brained idiot!”

With a mischievous glint in his eye, Luffy retaliated, reaching out and grabbing Buggy's nose, causing it to honk loudly. "Well, she wants a ride, and it's on the way, so why not?" Then, grinning, he added, "Also—your nose is red and funny-looking."

The moment the words left his mouth, Luffy’s face fell. Uh-oh.

Buggy tackled him to the ground, their bodies rolling and tumbling in combat.

As they pulled on each other's faces, Buggy yelled, "What did you say about my flashy red nose, you unflashy brat!?"

Vivi and Igaram watched the spectacle with slight awe, while Nami moved to step in. Zoro stopped her, placing a hand on her shoulder. They could soon hear Luffy and Buggy snickering and laughing as they continued their insulting banter.

Eventually, the two boys run out of steam and release each other, getting up from the ground with smiles on their faces. Shaking her head in exasperation once again, Nami mutters under her breath, "Argh, boys."

Buggy dusts himself off and says, "Fine, you too positive brat, let's go to Alabasta." Buggy blinks a few times, then looks at the others, then focuses on Vivi and says, "You know it's going to be a few islands before you get there if you don't have an eternal pose, right?"

Vivi nods and says, "I do have one," and pulls a loge pose out of her pocket, but Igaram cuts in, "Princess, please hand me the eternal pose to Alabasta."

Nami whipped her head toward Buggy. "Wait—you never mentioned Eternal Poses! Blue!"

Buggy blinked. "It had not come up yet?"

Igaram takes the eternal pose from Vivi, turns to Nami, and starts to explain, "Simply put, it's a log pose that can eternally record a magnetic field. A normal log pose records the magnetic field of an island to guide a ship from island to island." Igaram holds out the log pose that is in an hourglass wooden frame with Alabasta written on it for her to see and continues, "However, the magnetic field recorded by an eternal pose is never forgotten. No matter where you go, it will only point to that very island. That is what an eternal pose is. This one particular has recorded the magnetic field of Alabasta."

Nami nods in understanding as Igaram puts the eternal pose in his pocket before picking up the dummies and turning back to Vivi, saying, "Now then, Princess Vivi. I shall take this log pose and set forth for Alabasta while dressing up as you and taking these 3 dummies to represent these 3 wanted pirates, except for Mr. Blue as he is still unknown." Buggy chokes at being called "Mr. Blue," and Zoro and Nami can't help but snicker at the nickname. Buggy splutters in embarrassment, his cheeks turning red.

Igaram continues to explain his plan to Vivi: "And while agents of Baroque Works chase after me, you are to travel on the normal route to Alabasta on their ship." He looks at the group with a serious expression and says, "I haven't sailed to Alabasta using the normal route myself, but there should be around 2 or 3 logs to record along the way. Take care, and may we meet again in our homeland."

The group follows Igaram to Vivi's hidden ship. Once the dummies are securely placed on the ship, Igaram turns back to the group clearing his voice and speaking in a falsetto voice to sound like Vivi declares, "I hereby leave the princess in your care."

Luffy beams with excitement. "I bet you'll totally fool them!"

Zoro furrows his brow in confusion. "How?"

Ingram shakes hands with Vivi, saying, "The journey ahead of you may be dangerous, so please be careful. May you have calm seas, princess."

Vivi squeezes Igaram's hand and replies, "And may the wind guide your sails, Igaram."

As Igaram boards the ship and sets sail, he thinks to himself, 'Farewell, Princess Vivi! I have complete confidence that you'll be able to save our kingdom!' Back on the shore of Whisky Peak, Luffy pouts and watches as the ship slowly disappears into the distance. "Aww, he left... He was such a funny guy too."

Vivi nods with a small smile. "He's always been so dependable."

Then a huge explosion happens on the Igaram ship, lighting up the night sky as the explosion goes off turning the sea into a fiery inferno.

Everyone stares in shock, at the devastating attack Nami whispers, "It can't be." Her voice grows into a shout, "Pursuers!? Already!?"

Buggy eyes start glazing over as he breathes rapidly increases,  his Haki starts to reach outward past his skin, but he jerks back to the present as Luffy turns his back on the sight of the burning ship and shouts out, "HE WAS A FINE MAN!"

Zoro turns to Nami and shouts, "Nami! How's the log!?"

Nami quickly checks the log pose while still reeling from the attack. "It finished recording."

Luffy hears her response and immediately takes charge. "THEN LET'S HURRY UP AND GET GOING!" The boys rush inland with determined steps.

Nami grabs hold of Vivi and urges her to move. "VIVI! WE HAVE TO HURRY UP! IF THEY FIND US NOW, IGARAM'S SACRIFICE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN VAIN!"

Vivi cannot tear her eyes away from the raging inferno that consumes the sea; her lip is caught between her teeth so tightly that it draws blood. Nami sees the crimson trickle down Vivi's chin and thinks to herself, 'This girl is strong!'

In a swift motion, she embraces Vivi in a tight hug, making a decision as she presses the princess's face into her shoulder. "It's going to be okay, I promise. We'll get you back to Alabasta safely," she whispers reassuringly. "Those four were able to save the entire East Blue on their own. And Blue is just as strong; even a shichibukai would stand no chance against them." Vivi's tears gather in her eyes as she try to push away Igaram, death and take in Nami's confident words.

Meanwhile, Buggy sprinted alongside Zoro and Luffy, knowing full well that Nami could handle Vivi. "We just need to reach the ship," he said between breaths. "Sanji and Usopp are already on board; they just need a little nudge to wake up and get moving."

Luffy grinned mischievously. "Leave it to me!" he declared.

Buggy turned to Zoro with a smirk. "And don’t think I didn’t notice that massive cut on your forehead," he pointed out. "I’ll patch it up once we set sail. Honestly, you’re like a kid who can’t go one night without scraping his knees."

Zoro grumbled under his breath. "Damn it, let it go, Blue. It’s from brass knuckles, and it’s already closed."

Buggy hummed thoughtfully before shooting him a teasing grin. "Huh. I thought you were the great swordsman. Aren’t you supposed to be the one cutting people, not getting cut?"

A muscle in Zoro’s jaw twitched as his patience started to fray. His pace picked up. "I swear, I will cut you, brat!"

Luffy laughs as he spots the Going Merry in the distance.

And then, without a second of warning, he flung his arms forward.

Buggy barely had time to process it before Luffy’s rubber limbs stretched unnaturally far, his fingers latching onto the ship’s railing.

“Oh, hell no—” Buggy started, but it was already too late.

"Not again—" Zoro groans at the sight.

Luffy snapped back with all the force of a cannon blast, yanking both Buggy and Zoro along with him.

A blur of color and wind rushed past Buggy’s vision as he felt his feet leave the ground.

“Luffyyyyyy—!”

With a resounding crash, the three of them slammed onto the deck of the Merry, tumbling in a tangled mess of limbs and cursing.

The impact sent a large duck squawking into the air before it landed—completely unbothered—right back onto its sleeping cushion, which just so happened to be Sanji and Usopp.

Buggy groaned, sprawled out on his back, staring up at the dark sky, questioning all of his life choices. Zoro sat up, rubbing his temples as if physically restraining himself from murdering someone.

And Luffy? Luffy lay flat on his back, grinning like a kid who had just won a prize at a festival.

Zoro exhaled sharply through his nose before snapping his head toward the rubber-brained menace.

Buggy did the same.

Then, in perfect, rage-fueled unison, they both yelled—

"I'll cut you!"  "Damn it, Luffy!"

With a grunt of effort, Zoro pulls the anchor up, feeling his already-injured head wound split open. Buggy, is unfurling the sails, along with Luffy. Nami and Vivi rush through the deserted street, heading to the Going Merry Nami shouts out, "Hurry, Vivi!"

Vivi looks around as they run, thinking, 'Karoo's not here!'

At the ship, Buggy points at Usopp and Sanji, who are currently being used as makeshift beds by a large, content duck. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, Buggy turns to Luffy and asks, "Should we wake them up?". Luffy's gaze follows Buggy's finger to the two sleeping crewmates and the duck cuddled on top of them.

With a grin, Luffy promptly jumps on top of the duck, causing it to squawk and flap its wings frantically. "What a cool duck!" Luffy shouts, "Do you think we can eat it Blue?". The duck manages to escape from under Luffy and quickly hides behind Zoro, seeking protection from the enthusiastic pirate captain.

Buggy, watching the entire scene unfold with mild amusement, rolled his eyes—but then something caught his attention.

A crimson trail ran down Zoro’s forehead, dripping slowly onto the deck below.

Buggy’s grin disappeared in an instant.

His eye twitched.

“Oi, you said that cut was closed! Stay still while I get a bandage.” Buggy snapped, rushes off to grab some medical supplies while Luffy and the duck continue to run around Zoro in circles.

As they move closer to the port, Nami and Vivi get sight of the ship. Nami shouts out, "We don't have time to look for him!"

But Vivi protests, "But I can't just leave him here!"

Zoro pipes up with a gruff voice, "What's wrong now?"

Nami exasperatingly responds, "She says her duck is missing and won't come even after whistling!"

At that moment, Zoro barely shifted his gaze to his left, and his eyebrow twitched.

With a deadpan expression, he pointed lazily at the very much present Karoo, who stood right next to him, looking completely unbothered by the chaos.

Karoo is standing calmly and safely away from Luffy with his wing raised in greeting.

Both Nami and Vivi gawked, their frustration bubbling over into a simultaneous shout—

“THAT’S WHERE YOU WERE!?”

Zoro casually explains, "He got on the boat even before we did."

Once everyone is aboard, Nami shouts out confidently, "We're off!" as the sails catch the wind and the ship begins to move.

Vivi adds, "We have to move as quickly as possible! Turn the boat around to head down this river, and we should be able to reach the ocean!"

As they sail down the river, Zoro interrupts with a curious question: "Hey, how many guys do you think will come after us?"

Vivi responds with a worried tone, "Mr.Bushido, I can't say for sure. There are reportedly 2000 people working for Baroque Works, and towns like Whisky Peak aren't uncommon either."

Nami gasps, "You mean we could have 1,000 people after us?!"

Vivi confirms solemnly, "It's possible, considering how serious it is, for them to learn the boss's true identity."

Buggy stumbles, making his way down the steps with the medical supplies in hand. He catches himself on the railing and moves over to Zoro to start tending to his wound. snickering at Zoro being called Mr.Bushido, as he finishes cleaning it, Buggy scolds him, "You're lucky it's a small cut and doesn't require stitches. Now follow my finger. You said it was from brass knuckles, right? Were they clean or rusty? Any dizziness or nausea?" he commands, testing for any potential issues caused by the injury.

Zoro groans and rolls his eyes at being treated like a child and says, "Yes, no, no."

Buggy's eye twitches then a grin grows on his face, as he sees an opportunity to play a prank on the swordsman.

In a patronizing tone, he says, "It's okay; I know big words can be tough for someone so young. But you have to be careful with metal wounds; if it's rusty, you might need a shot."

Zoro's face turns red with embarrassment as Buggy places the bandage on his forehead, and he shouts back angrily, "I'll cut you Blue! I'm older than you!" from his yelling, Sanji and Usopp stir awake from their slumber.

A woman with a purple cowboy hat perched on her head surveys the wreckage of the ship she had just blown up. Her piercing eyes scan over the scattered debris and the floating dummies, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. She leans her head on her hand, letting out a low chuckle. "How foolish... thinking a decoy would work," she mutters to herself, thinking about the enemy's failed attempt to deceive her with decoys.

Sanji and Usopp wake up at the sound of Zoro shouting at Buggy. They quickly realized they were back on the ship, leaving Whisky Peak behind. Rushing over to Luffy, they spoke in unison, pleading with him to stay for just one more night. "Can't we enjoy the party a little longer? It was incredible, and there were so many beautiful women!" Sanji begs.

Usopp agrees, saying, "That's right, you have no idea if we'll ever come across a town as nice as this one!"

Sanji then spots the bandage on Zoro's forehead, and the smoke back on the island asking, "Wait!? What's going on!? Why did we have to set sail so soon!?"

Usopp, not noticing the chaos behind them on the island, keeps begging Luffy to stay,"So let's take things nice and easy! I mean, the sun hasn't even risen yet! Come one, let's go back!"

Zoro sighs and glances at Nami. "I think you should go explain to them what happened."

Buggy laughs and agrees with Zoro, "Yeah! Better you, Nami. Then Zoro, he can't use big words to explain things." He finishes with a, giggling tone.

Nami gives a small smile and nods before making her way over to Sanji and Usopp and saying, "Consider it done." 

Zoro let out a low growl as he turns to face Buggy. "Yes! The brass knuckles were clean, no rust on them; no, I was not dizzy afterward, and I have no nausea; happy now!" Buggy was going to make a teasing commit back, but hearing two thuds from behind made him blink and stop as he turns along with Zoro to the source of the sound to see Sanji and Usopp lying on the deck, smoke rising from their heads from being hit by Nami.

Instead, Buggy nods, staring a few moments at the new crime scene, dazedly says, "Ah.. yeah, I'll move them to the Logue and check them for concussions too now."

Zoro frowns as Buggy lets his arm separate from his body to make it easier to pick up the two laying knockouts in front of a concerned Vivi and a laughing Luff, but Zoro stops Buggy as he says, "I will help you move them." Buggy blinks, wobbles a little, hums, and reattaches his arms. Buggy picks up Usopp as Zoro picks up Sanji and soon they lays them down on the floor of the lounge as Zoro moves to leave.

Buggy lets out a yawn and rubs his eyes, saying, "Thanks for helping; move them."

Zoro looks over at him and rubs the back of his head. "That's what Nakama does," he said with a shrug before leaving Buggy to tend to their injured friends.

The sun slowly rose, casting a warm glow over the calm river. The Going Merry smoothly sails down its course, guided by the skilled hands of Nami, Luffy, Zoro, and Vivi.Luffy stretches his arm upward, relishing in the feeling of the sun's rays on his skin as he exclaims, "Yes, the sun is rising."

Nami replies with an excited "Finally!" before a voice interrupted their peaceful moment.

"The fog is lifting. Be careful not to crash your ship into the rocks near the shore," the voice warns. Nami, assuming it was Luffy speaking again, confidently responded with, "No problem, I won't let us hit them." But then she turned to look at Luffy and asked, "Wait, was that you?" Luffy simply shook his head and replied, "Nope."

The voice then says "And congratulations on your escape." Luffy turns calmly with his hands in his pockets towards the source of the voice as it continues, "What a nice ship this is." The rest of the group realizing they didn't recognize the voice whips around to its sources. Zoro's hand instinctively went to his sword as they all shout, "Wha-!? WHO'S THAT!?"

Their eyes lock onto a woman with a purple cowboy hat, a fitted purple tank top, and a short purple skirt adorned with fringes. Her tan skin was illuminated by the rising sun, and her shoulder-length black hair framed her striking blue eyes. She sat with her knees crossed on the second deck railing, her chin resting on her hand as she looked down at Vivi. "I must tell you, Ms. Wednesday, I met with Mr. 8 just a little while ago," she casually remarked.

Vivi's face pales, and her eyes grow dark as she sweats and grinds her teeth in anger. "Are you saying... It was you who did that to Igaram...!?" she seethed.

Annoyed by someone sneaking onto his ship, Luffy yells out, "Hey! Why're you on our ship!?" But before he could demand an explanation, Vivi cut in and shouts at the woman in fury. "What're you doing all the way out here, Miss All Sunday?"

Nami turns to Vivi and asks impatiently, "Who is it this time!? Whose partner is she!?"

Vivi explains, "She's Mr. 0's partner! She's the only one who knows the boss' true identity, which is why Igaram and I tailed after her to find out as well!"

Miss All Sunday's lips curls into a grin as she replies, "Well, technically, it was more like I let you tail after me."

Luffy crosses his arms and says thoughtfully, "Oh, so she's a good guy."

But Vivi shouts back, "I already knew that! And I bet you're the one who told the boss that his identity was leaked!"

Luffy huffed in annoyance and declares, "Oh, so she's a bad guy!"

Zoro groans at Luffy “ Will you stop that.”

As Miss All Sunday's grin turns sinister as she speaks with cold eyes. "And it was just too amusing to observe a single princess who foolishly thinks she can take on the entire Baroque Works organization and save her kingdom."

Vivi clenches her teeth in rage as Igaram's voice rings in her mind: 'Take care, and may we meet again in our homeland.' Her dear friend is dead and this women is mocking his sacrifice in a burst of fury, Vivi screams, "Don't you mock me!" But before she could do anything, Miss All Sunday is suddenly surrounded by the Mugiwara. Sanji has a gun aimed at her head, while Usopp has his slingshot ready. In front of her Nami holds her staff tightly, while Zoro has his sword half-drawn. Vivi is shocked that they would defend her when they didn't even know her that well.

Usopp asks Sanji confusedly, "Hey, do you understand what's going on?"

And Sanji replies confidently, "No, but what I do know for sure is that this woman is a threat to our lovely Miss Wednesday!"

With that, Miss All Sunday let out a sigh and calmly says, "Would you please mind," In an instant, Sanji and Usopp were flung over the railing of the second deck by an invisible force. The two shout in shock as they fall, while Miss All Sunday warns, "Not pointing such dangerous weapons at me?"

Luffy exclaims with surprise, "Ohhh!?"

while Vivi gasps, "It's a Devil Fruit!" Nami and Zoro share a look of shock as they realize the danger of their unexpected guest.

As Sanji and Usopp slam onto the main deck,Nami suddenly gasps and Zoro lets out a cry of pain as he clutches his left hand. Nami's staff and Zoro's sword land with a loud clatter, Nami shouts, "What happened?"

Zoro grits his teeth and exclaims, "It's her devil's fruit!"

Nami's eyes widen in shock, as she demands, "What ability does she possess!?"

Meanwhile, Sanji and Usopp sit up on the deck and turn to look back at Miss All Sunday. Sanji blushes and gasps in awe. "Wow, she's a real beauty." He remains seated on the deck, unable to tear his gaze away.

Miss All Sunday chuckles softly and replies, "Fufufufu. There's no need to get so riled up. I haven't come here on any orders, nor do I have any reason to fight you."

Luffy stares at her with confusion, his straw hat lifting off his head and flipping through the air until it lands perfectly on Miss All Sunday's outstretched hand. She smirks as she says, "So you're the captain of the Straw Hat Pirates, Monkey D. Luffy."

Realizing that she has taken his prized possession, Luffy grows angry and shouts, "Give me back my hat! So you ARE trying to pick a fight with us!"

Usopp hides behind the mast and yells defiantly, "I've decided to see you as my enemy now! Come at me!"

Miss All Sunday nonchalantly places Luffy's hat on top of her own cowboy hat and says with pity in her voice, "How unfortunate... small-time pirates having to protect a princess targeted by the entire Baroque Works organization. And a lone princess has to entrust herself to a few small-time pirates. But above all, how unfortunate that your log pose has led you to this perilous route." Nami stares at her loge pose then looks back at Miss All Sunday.

The crew listens intently as Miss All Sunday continues, "The name of the next place on your journey is 'Little Garden.' Even if I were to not lay a single finger on you, it's highly likely that you'll never reach Alabasta. Without even facing Crocodile, your mission and lives will come to an end."

Luffy stomps his foot in frustration and declares, "As if we'd just give up and die! Give me back my hat!"

 Usopp agrees with Luffy from behind the mast, shouting, "Yeah! How dare you! You big meanie!"

 Zoro rolls his eyes at Usopp and asks, "Just how old are you?"

Miss All Sunday grows tired of their bravado and tells them, "Enough howling; anyone can put up a brave front. But to know of the difficulties ahead and still rush in is an act fit only for fools." She reaches out to touch Luffy's hat but suddenly freezes as she feels a blade at her throat, held in place by a floating hand.

Buggy emerges from the lounge with a dark look in his eyes and growls, "Can you stop riling up this ship's captain? You didn't ask for permission to come aboard." His voice drops to a dangerous tone as he demands, "And that's not your hat. Give. It.Back.Now!"

Luffy happily exclaims, "Blue!" at the fact that Buggy is getting his hat for him.

Miss All Sunday's attention shifts to Buggy as he leans against the second deck railing with his head resting tiredly on his still-attached hand. With a flick of her wrist, she sends Luffy's hat flying through the air and landing back on his head. Vivi also catches something that is thrown towards her. She gasps in surprise, "An Eternal Pose!?" while Luffy gleefully exclaims, "Thank you, Blue!"

Miss All Sunday's smile remains in place as she calmly tells them, "That will help you bypass any future troubles. The needle of that log pose points to an obscure, uninhabited island located right before Alabasta. And the route you'll be taking is unknown to Baroque Works, so you won't be followed by anyone."

Vivi's eyes shoot up from the log pose, her voice sharp and filled with disbelief as she shouts at Miss All Sunday, "Why on earth would you give this to me? What is your motive?"

Nami comes over to inspect the log pose, her eyebrows furrowed in suspicion. She looks back at Miss All Sunday and questions, "Is she not a bad person after all?"

Zoro lets out a weary sigh and chimes in, "It's most likely a trap." Luffy fidgets with his beloved straw hat, making sure it is unharmed.

Miss All Sunday responds with a sly smile: "Oh, I wonder about that." Vivi's mind races as she ponders her options. 'What should I do? Accepting this log pose from someone like her goes against everything I stand for. But finding the safest route to Alabasta is crucial.'

Buggy gazes intently at Luffy before whispering under his breath, "He's going to break it," and shaking his head in frustration. Miss All Sunday raises an eyebrow at him inquisitively. 

As Luffy is finishes adjusting his hat and declares, "Enough wasting time on this!" He snatches the log pose from Vivi's hands as she gasps in shock. Without hesitating, Luffy crushes the device in his hand, causing Miss All Sunday to turn her attention towards Buggy with a puzzled expression.

Before anyone can react, Nami delivers a swift kick to Luffy's face and scolds him, "ARE YOU AN IDIOT!?"

Nami points accusingly at Miss All Sunday and exclaims, "She came all this way just to show us the safest route to Alabasta! What will we do if she turns out to be trustworthy!?"

Luffy locks eyes with Miss All Sunday for a tense moment before shouting defiantly, "Don't you dare think that you can choose the path of our journey!"

Miss All Sunday simply responds, "I see. How unfortunate." Nami calls out for Luffy to reconsider, but he stubbornly retorts, "No way! She blew up that chikuwa guy; I hate her!"

Miss All Sunday coolly remarks, "Well, I don't dislike bold men. Perhaps we will meet again and see if you have indeed survived."

Luffy pouts childishly and declares, "I don't want to!"

Miss All Sunday then makes a request, saying, "If your doctor could kindly remove his knife from my neck, I will take my leave. No harm has been done."

Buggy's voice turns cold as he responds, "He's not my captain; I’m just a temporary doctor," causing Miss All Sunday to become tense as sweat forms on the back of her neck. Buggy tilts his head slightly and gazes into her eyes as he thinks to himself, 'There's something off about this woman.' He moves his finger on the hand holding the blade at her throat to hear her soul voice better: 'O..o.. shes...'

Luffy gets Buggy's attention by waving at him and saying, "Hey Blue, let her go. I don't want her on our ship, and she hasn't caused any harm." Unnoticed by Miss All Sunday, Buggy's hand returns to his body as Luffy cheerfully adds, "I'll get you to join my crew eventually Blue, shi shi shi."

Buggy groans and covers his face with both hands, muttering, "Ugh, positive in the worst way, just like Red."

Miss All Sunday stands up gracefully and leaps of the Going Merry onto her waiting mode of transportation as the group rushes over to watch. She lands with ease on a giant turtle that emits wisps of smoke from its cigarette, casually stating, "Let's Go Bunch." The massive creature grunts and begins to swim away.

Zoro and Usopp hurry to the side of the ship to get a better look, with Zoro exclaiming, "What an enormous beast!"

Usopp wonders, "Is it a sea king?"

While Luffy and Buggy both shout in awe, "Wow, it's a turtle!"

Luffy marvels at the size of the turtle and exclaims, "Its so Big!"

Buggy chimes in with a joking tone, "I wonder if it would make good soup?"

Vivi's legs give out, and she collapses onto the deck, muttering, "That woman... I have no idea what her true intentions are."

Nami places a comforting hand on Vivi's shoulder and advises, "It's best not to dwell on it. It's a waste of time and energy."

Zoro nods and says, "We've got an incomparable person like her onboard too, you know. In fact, we have two." he adds as he looks over at Blue, who was ready to slit a throat just a moment ago, and Luffy, who was ready to throw a tantrum over his hat, both now discussing turtle soup. Luffy is seriously talking about how much meat the turtle could have, and Blue is acting childishly, saying they could use the shell as a big bowl or make turtle meat hotdogs.

Usopp steps out from behind the mast and shouts, "Hey! Explain the situation to us!"

Sanji stands up from where he has been sitting on the deck and joins Usopp. "Yes, will Miss Wednesday be joining our crew?"

Usopp shouts again. "It might explain what's going on," he turns and sees Karoo and says, "Whoa! We have an ostrich on our ship."

Karoo lets out a "quack" to say hello. Vivi lets out a tired sigh and asks, "Are you really alright with me riding on your ship? I may be putting all of you in danger."

Nami's hands land sharply on her hips as she scoffs, "Oh, please." She narrows her eyes and begins repeatedly poking Vivi's forehead. "It's already your fault that they know about us and what we look like! If you didn't want to trouble us, then you should've thought about it to begin with."

Vivi bites her lip and apologizes, "I'm sorry."

Nami lets out an exasperated huff and says, "Right, Luffy?"

Luffy's stomach growls from his conversation with Buggy; he pumps a fist in the air and says, "It's morning! Sanji! Time for breakfast!"

Sanji starts rolling up his sleeves with a smile and replies, "Sure thing!" As he passes by Vivi, he politely asks, "Miss Wednesday! Are you acquainted with this gorgeous lady just now? Also, what would you like for breakfast? Any allergies?"

Vivi shakes her head and answers nervously, "No, I mean... Yes, I know Miss All Sunday, but not personally. And no, no allergies." Sanji can't help but give her a charming smile before heading off to prepare breakfast.

Usopp waves his hand in the air and calls out, "Hello? Anybody listening? I could really use an explanation over here."

Buggy lets out a hearty laugh. "Gahahaha! I'll fill you in. You too, Sanji. I have some questions for you as well."

Usopp lets out a sigh of relief, and Sanji stops next to them, asking, "Finally. What questions?"

Buggy grins mischievously and replies, "Questions can wait until after breakfast. First, let's catch up on what you've missed. Zoro, you start—you were running around like a madman earlier."

As she rides away, Miss All Sunday says, "First up is "Little Garden." This should be interesting."

Chapter Text

Usopp’s eyes widened in shock as Buggy finished his tale of Whisky Peak. His jaw hung open, and he let out a nervous chuckle.
"Wow, I’m glad I slept through all that!"

Sanji, lazily taking a drag from his third cigarette, nodded as if contemplating a grand truth."I see. A shame, really, but that also means I still have a chance to shine." He flashed Vivi a charming smile. "Rest assured, Miss Vivi, now that the sleeping prince has awakened, your safety is in the most capable hands."

Then, with a teasing lilt, he turned to Nami. "Are you jealous, Nami?" He blew a heart-shaped smoke ring her way.

Nami barely glanced at him, smirking. "Nope, not really."

Sanji clutched his chest in mock heartbreak. "Ah, but you’re even more beautiful when you smirk, Nami!"

Sanji winks then turns away and says, "I will start breakfast now. It will be ready soon," before making his way to the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Usopp proudly holds up Luffy's wanted poster and points at the back of his head in the photo. With a giant grin directed at Vivi, he exclaims,

“You can count on me to back you up, Vivi! The whole world is wondering if that 30 million bounty is actually meant for my head instead.”

Vivi blinked at him, utterly baffled. “What…?”

Before she could voice her confusion, Buggy’s gloved hand shot out, snatching the poster from Usopp’s grasp with the precision of a seasoned thief. He barely spared Usopp a glance as he muttered, “That’s Luffy’s poster? Lemme see.”

Usopp, oblivious to the dismissal, puffed out his chest and continued spinning wild tales of his strength and skill, leaving Vivi even more bewildered as Buggy wandered off with the bounty in hand.

Buggy made his way over to Zoro, who was sprawled out on the deck, his arms folded behind his head in a lazy attempt at napping. Luffy perched nearby on the railing, legs swinging, the salty breeze ruffling his hair.

Without looking away from the paper, Buggy hummed, “Huh. 30 million is pretty big for the East Blue…”

Luffy, however, was lost in his own world, staring up at the sky. "I wonder if it's gonna snow."

Zoro cracked an eye open. “Why the hell would it snow?”

Luffy, unfazed, grinned. “You wouldn’t know. You were sleeping last time it happened.”

Buggy snorted, his lips curling into a mischievous grin as he looked down at Zoro. “Where do you think the slush in your shirt came from?”

Zoro scowled, sitting up slightly. “Tch.”

Buggy, still studying the poster, held it up for Luffy to see. "30 million is big for the East Blue. It makes sense for them to send it to the Grand Line. But if you're going for the highest bounty by a brat, you got beat by an 8-year-old from West Blue. She's got 79 million."

Luffy’s jaw dropped. “NO WAY! AN 8-YEAR-OLD GIRL HAS A 79 MILLION BOUNTY!?”

His loud exclamation sent Usopp nearly tripping over himself as he whipped around in disbelief. “WHY WOULD AN 8-YEAR-OLD HAVE A BOUNTY!?”

Buggy, unfazed, yawned and rubbed his eyes, his posture swaying slightly. “Dunno. Saw her poster a few years ago in Foosha hospital. I was arguing with the old hound at the time.”

Vivi, now fully intrigued, tilted her head. “You were in a hospital just a few years ago, Mr. Blue? What happened?”

Buggy waved a dismissive hand, already distracted. “Eh, long story.”

Luffy, however, seemed more focused on the sky, his eyes sparkling with excitement. "Hey! Do you think it'll snow again?"

Vivi blinked at the sudden shift in topic but quickly composed herself. “The weather on the first part of the Grand Line is highly unpredictable due to the seven magnetic fields that clash at Reverse Mountain,” she explained. “But beyond that, the Grand Line is an ever-changing sea, and we must never underestimate it—”

Before she could finish, Nami looped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her away. “Let’s take a bath before breakfast. After last night, we deserve a nice, warm soak.”

Then, turning to Usopp, she barked, “You pump the water for us.”

Usopp groaned. “Why do I always have to do it!?”

Nami didn’t even look back as she replied, “Because we were up all night running around while you were sleeping.”

Grumbling, Usopp trudged toward the water pump.

Buggy rubs his eyes and reminds Nami, "Don't forget the bag. It's got some good-quality products in there."

Buggy, blinking blearily, wrinkled his nose as a gust of wind carried the strong scent of smoke and dried blood. His gaze flickered toward Zoro and Luffy, and his expression darkened. “Tch. I need to get this smoke out of my hair.” He eyed them both, unimpressed. “You two should join me—you both reek.”

Luffy groaned dramatically. “But I took a bath last week, Blue! I don’t wanna!”

Zoro smirked, arms crossed. “I smell like a man.”

Buggy, glares, and menacingly warns. "I will drag you both in there if I have to. I do not want to smell fire and dried blood for the rest of the day and tonight."

Luffy huffed. "Fine, but only after Nami and Vivi. You coming, Zoro?"

Zoro sighed heavily before finally conceding. “Fine.”

But then, he turned to Buggy with a smirk. “Who knows, Blue might just pass out from all the liquor he drank.”

Buggy’s eyes snapped toward him, offense clear on his face. “What did you say about my wonderful red nose, you accident-prone child?”

Luffy, watching the exchange, burst into laughter.

Zoro, still smirking, leaned back. “I never said anything about your nose. I’m just pointing out that you’re drunk and falling asleep.”

Buggy furrows his brow, confused. He places a hand on his hip, pointing at Zoro with mock indignation. "I'm not drunk," he insisted. "I only drank a bottle of whisky-flavored coffee."

Zoro arched a brow. "And you still don’t think that’s suspicious?"

Buggy stuck out his tongue. “It was nasty, but it boasted a whopping 89% caffeine content.”

Zoro scoffed. "Yeah, because it was coffee-flavored whisky with 89% alcohol content!"

Luffy slips away unnoticed and makes his way to the lounge, lured by the tantalizing scent of food.

Buggy bristled. “BULLSHIT! If it were 89% alcohol, I’d be completely wasted!”

Zoro looked pointedly at Buggy, who was now slightly swaying on his feet. “Uh-huh. Sure.”

Buggy, stubborn as ever, waved him off and turned toward the lounge, catching the scent of freshly baked bread. "I just need a nice hot bath; that will surely wake me up!"

Zoro sighed. "Just take a nap on the deck, Blue; we can eat breakfast, and then you can bathe."

But the tempting aroma of Sanji's cooking wafts from the kitchen is too much for Buggy to resist. "I don't want to," he declares childishly.

Buggy laughed a silly grin on his face, "Only little kids take naps like you Zoro. I think I'll go help Sanji instead."

Then, with a dramatic flourish, he spun on his heel and bolted toward the lounge—

—only to nearly trip over his own feet.

Zoro groaned, rubbing his temples. “I will cut you, Blue! I AM OLDER THAN YOU!”

Buggy laughed hysterically as he fled away from Zoro and towards the lounge, nearly tripping over his own feet again as his balance wavers.

Sanji moves with ease and precision in the kitchen as he prepares the meal, humming a tune to himself. He carefully monitors each pot and pan, making sure that every ingredient is cooked perfectly.

Luffy sneaks into the kitchen, his stomach growling loudly. "Sanji, I'm starving! Can't I just have one taste?" he begs with puppy-dog eyes.

Sanji didn’t even glance at him. "Not a chance, Luffy." He smoothly smacked Luffy’s reaching hand away with a wooden spoon, causing the rubber man to yelp.

At that moment, Buggy runs in, still chuckling from whatever mischief he had just caused on deck. His hair was slightly tousled from the sea breeze.

Catching his breath, Buggy eyed the organized chaos of the kitchen. "Need an extra hand, Sanji?"

Sanji, without missing a beat, flipped an omelet and smirked."Yeah, keep Luffy entertained until breakfast is ready. That would be a real help,Blue."

Buggy’s grin widened with a glint of mischief. He grabbed Luffy by the collar."I've got a fun idea for you; come on!"

"Nooo, wait—" Luffy's protests were cut short as Buggy dragged him out of the kitchen, leaving Sanji shaking his head in amusement.

Buggy hauled Luffy toward the second water pump, where Usopp was already hard at work, diligently pumping water into the ship's storage tank. His determined expression wavered only slightly when he saw the duo approaching.

Buggy clapped a hand on Luffy’s shoulder. “Alright, Luffy, let’s see which on of us can out-pump Usopp here.”

Usopp perked up immediately, puffing out his chest. “Hah! No one can pump water like Captain Usopp!” He flexed dramatically before getting back to work.

Never one to back down from a challenge, Luffy eagerly jumped onto the pump bike, grinning wildly as he started pedaling at a ridiculous pace.

 Vivi and Nami are enjoying the warmth of the water.

Meanwhile, from inside the ship, laughter spilled out from the bathroom. Vivi and Nami are enjoying the warmth of the water.

"The smell of Sanji’s cooking is amazing," Vivi sighed, rinsing her hair.

"He truly is a talented cook," Nami agreed, lathering her arms with the luxurious soap Buggy had provided. She inhaled deeply. "I need to thank Blue for these toiletries."

Vivi hummed in agreement. "I must also express my gratitude;My hair has never felt this soft."

Vivi exclaims, "The smell of Sanji's cooking is amazing!"

They giggle and continue their girl talk, occasionally interrupted by the sounds of Luffy and the boys' enthusiastic water-pumping competition. The smell of freshly baked bread drifts into the bathroom, increasing their anticipation for breakfast.

Outside, the friendly rivalry on deck intensified. Usopp grinned smugly as he pumped at an impressive, steady rhythm, while Luffy flailed wildly, struggling to keep pace. Buggy doubled over with laughter, clutching his sides.

"That's it, Luffy! Give it your all! Gahaha!" he cackled, watching with amusement as the bike threatened to break under Luffy’s enthusiasm.

Zoro has chosen to isolate himself from the ruckus, seeking solace in the crow's nest. From his vantage point, he can see everything happening on deck. A smirk forms on his lips as he observes Usopp and Luffy ride the water pump bikes while Buggy boisterously eggs them on.

Sanji worked like a maestro in the kitchen, effortlessly arranging dishes onto the table. Fluffy pancakes sat in a neat stack, golden and warm. A large bowl of scrambled eggs, speckled with finely chopped onions and peppers, steamed invitingly beside a plate of perfectly grilled fish fillets, glazed in a sweet and spicy sauce. Crisp bacon curled enticingly beside a freshly baked loaf of bread, still warm from the oven.

By this time, Nami and Vivi have finished their bath and are dressing themselves in fresh clothes. Eager to dig into Sanji’s delicious cooking, they swiftly head towards the lounge, just as Sanji is arranging their hot cups of coffee around the table.

Sanji, this looks amazing!" Vivi said with awe as she took her seat.

Sanji, ever the flirt, winked. "Only the best for you, ladies."

Stepping onto the deck, Sanji cupped his hands around his mouth and called, “Food’s ready!”

The response was instantaneous.

The water-pumping competition came to an abrupt halt. Luffy, sensing food, immediately abandoned the pump, kicking up a cloud of dust as he sprinted toward the kitchen.

"Wait up, Luffy! I can’t miss out on Sanji’s cooking!" Usopp cried, scrambling after him.

Buggy, however, is in no rush and strolls towards the lounge with a satisfied smirk, seeing the boys hustling.

Zoro, from his lookout post above, shakes his head with an amused smile before descending from the crow's nest. He joins the mad dash for breakfast only when he remembers Luffy and Buggy's appetite and that all the food might be gone by the time he gets there at his own pace.

As the crew gathered around the table, the air buzzed with contentment. The aroma of Sanji’s masterful cooking enveloped them, making their mouths water.

Nami savored the first bite of her pancake, sighing in delight. Vivi, tasting the fish, couldn’t help but praise Sanji’s skills. “This is incredible, Sanji.”

Buggy grins at Sanji and gives him a thumbs-up. "Good job, chef," he praises before helping himself to a serving of scrambled eggs.

Usopp spoke between mouthfuls, grinning. "I could eat Sanji’s food every day for the rest of my life."

Luffy, with syrup smeared across his cheeks, raised his pancake stack high like a trophy. "DELICIOUS, SANJI!" he announced, his voice muffled by the food in his mouth.

Sanji's skilled hands move with precision as he pours each of his crewmates a steaming cup of coffee, the aroma filling the small kitchen and awakening their senses. With a satisfied smile, he takes a seat at the table and starts on his own plate. "Eat up, guys," he says in a cheery tone. "We've got a big day ahead of us."

By the time everyone was finished, even Luffy’s seemingly endless appetite was momentarily tamed.

Usopp groaned, leaning back in his chair. "I don’t think I can eat another bite."

Sanji, leaning against the counter with a cigarette between his lips, smirked. “Then I did my job right.”

Just as the crew was settling into their post-meal contentment, Buggy suddenly grabbed Luffy’s shoulder and pointed at both him and Zoro. "Let's get that smell off of you two! It's bath time!"he declared with a mischievous grin.

Luffy's face goes from excited to horrified in an instant. "Bath? I was hoping you would forget!" he protests loudly, trying to squirm away from Buggy's grip.

Zoro, who had remained quiet throughout breakfast, scowled at the mention of a bath. He was not thrilled.

Buggy, undeterred, tightened his grip on Luffy’s shoulder. "Try telling that to your smoke-streaked face and bloody clothes," he retorted. "Besides, you both already said you would." He emphasizes his point by dragging Luffy towards the bathroom.

The rest of the crew looks on in amusement as Buggy manages to drag Luffy towards the bathroom, Luffy's protests growing louder with each step.

Zoro sighed, getting up to follow—but turns the wrong way and is quickly blocked by Sanji.

Sanji blocked his path, with a teasing grin “Where do you think you’re going?”

Zoro grumbles under his breath but didn't resist as Sanji steered him toward the bathroom with a firm hand on his shoulder.

Meanwhile, Nami and Vivi begin clearing the table and washing dishes, while Buggy makes sure that Luffy and Zoro actually strip down and rinse off before getting into the bathtub filled with hot water and plenty of bubbles.

Sanji soon joins the girls back in the kitchen, taking over cleaning up after breakfast and making sure that all the pans are properly scrubbed. He ushers Nami and Vivi out to sit on beach chairs on deck, their hair drying in the warm sunlight while they sip their coffee.

Usopp swung into a hammock on deck, his full belly making him drowsy. The ship gently rocked, lulling him into a peaceful slumber beneath the sun.

With the bathroom door closed and the water running, Luffy and Zoro sit in the hot, bubbly bath, enjoying the warmth of the water. Buggy suddenly remembers they don't have clean clothes in the bathroom, so he sends his hands to grab some. But then he realizes he can't get out of his own clothes without help. He lets out an exasperated sigh. "I should've thought this through," he mutters to himself.

Hearing Buggy's grumbling, Luffy turns around in confusion. "Need help, Blue?" he asks innocently. Before Buggy can protest, Luffy has already stretched his hands out and grabbed onto the bottom of Buggy's shirt, lifting it off and revealing his bandaged-covered body underneath.

Buggy freezes momentarily, looking down at his revealed torso, before letting out a hearty laugh. "That works," he says with a grin. Buggy then turns to show the knot holding his bandages and asks, "Can you undo this one too?" Luffy grins and eagerly starts working on the knot, slowly freeing Buggy from his bandages.

Zoro, meanwhile, leans back against the edge of the tub, his eyes closed, as he savors the warmth of the water. "I think I could get used to this," he mumbles contentedly.

Just then, the bathroom door swings open, and Buggy's hands return bearing clean clothes for all three and a note. Luffy whoops in delight, while Zoro merely nods appreciatively at the thought of having fresh clothes.

Buggy reattaches his hand, places the clean clothes on the counter, and finishes removing his bandages before reading the note.

Buggy, plucked the note from the pile and read aloud:"Your hands scared Vivi. I figured you sent them for clothing, so I grabbed three outfits and put them in your hands. –Nami."“

Zoro snorted."You’re giving people heart attacks now, Blue?"

Buggy scoffed, tossing the note aside."Not my fault she scares easy."

Luffy caught a glimpse of old scars and burns covering Buggy’s back, but he made no comment. Instead, he flicked his hands together, forming a small pool of water, and launched it at Zoro’s face with a loud splash.

Zoro didn’t even flinch."Missed," he said flatly.

Buggy eagerly dips his head under the warm stream of water, letting the warmth wash over him like a long-awaited relief. His blue hair darkened as it soaked, sticking to his shoulders as rivulets of water streamed down his skin. The warmth seeped deep into his muscles, easing the exhaustion that clung to his bones.

A wave of heat rises to his cheeks, and his vision begins to blur.‘What's going on?’ Buggy thinks, shaking his head and blinking rapidly to clear the blurriness from his eyes. "Am I really that exhausted?"

The steam rising from the bath is thick and heavy, enveloping the room in a hazy mist. ‘Maybe it's the heat,’ he reasons with himself, deciding to finish quickly before taking a break to relax.

As he moves towards the tub, Buggy calls out to Luffy, who is still soaking in the warm water. "Hey, come out of there for a minute," he urges. "You need to wash your hair with some shampoo and conditioner to get rid of that smell."

Luffy, who had been caught up in a splash battle with Zoro, pauses and makes a face. Luffy groaned dramatically, making a face. "Do I have to?" he whined, reluctantly dragging his hands through his already-soaked hair.

But his playful annoyance melted into concern when he got a good look at Buggy’s flushed face and slightly swaying stance.

"Blue… you okay?" Luffy asked, tilting his head.

Buggy waves away his concern with a dismissive hand. "I'm fine. I just got a bit dizzy from the heat," he assures him, and then points sternly towards the shampoo bottle on the ledge. "Now, unless you want your hair to feel like your hat, use this."

Buggy then turns his attention to Zoro, who has taken advantage of Luffy's distracted state to get out of the way of the water war, and relax in the water. "You too, Zoro."

Zoro reluctantly opens one eye to glare at Buggy before muttering "Bossy Blue mummy." under his breath. He drags himself from the tub and proceeds to grumpily wash his hair under Buggy's watchful gaze.

As Luffy and Zoro lather their hair with shampoo, Buggy gets into the warm bath and lets the clean water soothe his muscles. His head starts to feel foggy, but he soon notices that both Luffy and Zoro have sufficiently cleaned their hair. Buggy points at a bar of soap and says, "And don't forget to use the bar soap on your body too."

Zoro flushes and says, "I don't need step-by-step instructions, Blue; I know how to bathe!"

Luffy, on the other hand, perked up with realization. “Ohhh! So that’s what that stuff is! I thought it was a rock!”

Buggy shakes his head at Luffy's comment, a chuckle escaping his lips. "You two are really something," he says with a grin. As Zoro scrubs himself down with the bar soap, Buggy stands up and grabs another bar of soap out of the bag Nami left next to the tub. He hands it to Luffy, saying, "Here, get it wet and rub it all over yourself. It will make you smell better."

Luffy takes the bar and works it into a lather, then begins diligently cleaning himself. "It does make you smell good!"

Buggy's vision blurs again, and he feels a wave of dizziness hit him. He tries to shake it off like before, but this time it's different. His grip on the tub loosens, and he falls backward into the water.

Luffy and Zoro freeze at the sudden splash of water, turning to see Buggy floating in the water. Luffy shouts, "Blue!?" in panic, while Zoro swears, "Shit!?"

Zoro starts to reach forward to lift Buggy but hesitates for a second as he remembers the event at the lighthouse."Blue, it's Zoro. I'm going to pick you up," Then slowly lifts Buggy out of the water, pulling him out of the tub, and sitting him on the floor.

Once out of the tub and on the floor, Buggy's gloved hands grab Zoro's arm as he dazedly says, "Dizzy..." Buggy shakes his head and looks up with a flushed face and glazed red eyes. "Bottle lied....my hair smells like smoke..."

Luffy looks on in concern, his playful demeanor completely gone. "Blue, are you sure you're okay?" he asks again, in a more serious tone than before.

Buggy tries to respond, but his words slur, "Whysh... coffee... hair... sm.. sink... clean.. b.. n," and his grip on Zoro's arm tightens slightly.

"Drunk," Zoro replies gruffly. "I told you it was liquor, not coffee, and to take a nap." Then, after a moment, Zoro rolls his eyes and frowns, saying, "Bullshit. We're Nakama. Let's get you cleaned up."

Luffy has a big knowing grin covering his face as he grabs the bottle he just used and says, "I can help too Blue."

Buggy only mumbles something incoherent as Zoro and Luffy begin to work on his hair, lathering it with shampoo. The smell of smoke soon washes away, replaced by the crisp scent of the shampoo. Zoro, although grumbling throughout the process, is surprisingly gentle.

Luffy, on the other hand, has a bit too much fun and ends up squirting a big dollop of conditioner onto Buggy's head. He then proceeds to rub it in with exaggerated motions and a wide grin.

In his groggy state, Buggy mumbles something, his body leaning against Zoro for support. The swordsman lets out a sigh. "Yeah, yeah, we'll use the bar of soap too. Doctors need help too, Blue. Just sleep it off, you are safe here." Zoro supports Buggy's weight as he falls asleep while Luffy finishes rinsing the last bits of soap from the other teen's hair. Luffy then grabs the two bars of soap and says, "We've got to be careful with Blue's back. I'll hold his hair."

Zoro raises a brow and asks, "Why his back?" as he takes a soap bar.

Luffy sets his down and pulls up Buggy's hair over his shoulder, showing old faded bullet wounds, fading burn scars, and whip scars covering his back. But the most prominent—a large burn on his lower back, with whip scars layered over it.

Zoro sucks in a breath. "Luffy, how the hell!?"

Luffy's face turns serious. "I don't know about the burns or bullet scars, but the whip scars are from this baboon guy who hurt him really badly and kept him from being with his brother."

Zoro stiffens at Luffy's words and looks back down at Buggy, now muttering softly in his sleep. "Ray...cap..Ra..eg…Dino.." His knuckles whiten as he clenches the bar of soap tighter in his hand, anger simmering in his eyes. However, he manages to compose himself quickly. "That will not happen again," he vows under his breath before starting to gently clean Buggy's scar-riddled back with the soap.

Luffy nods at Zoro's words, a fierce determination shining in his eyes. "Yeah, Blue is with us, and no one messes with my Nakama!" He says with a nod, helping Zoro clean Buggy's back with the utmost care. The mood in the bathroom becomes somber as they silently work on cleaning their friend.

Wrapped in the comforting warmth of his dreams, Buggy stirs yet again, his lips curling at some unseen amusement. His fingers twitch as if trying to tangibly hold on to the fleeting visions that dance in his subconscious. "Little Spark," he mutters, a soft sigh slipping through his parted lips.

Zoro and Luffy exchange a glance but continue their task in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Each scar is a story of survival etched on the canvas of Buggy's skin, a testament to his resilience and will to survive despite the odds.

With each stroke, Zoro grows more contemplative. There is anger, yes, but it is quickly being replaced with concern and a newfound respect for Buggy. He can't help but wonder what kind of life Buggy has led up until this point—what hardships have been endured that earned him such scars?

Luffy's wide eyes study the scars with an intensity that belies his usual carefree attitude. He gently traces one particularly nasty burn mark with his fingers, as if trying to absorb the pain it had once caused.

Zoro and Luffy start to rinse away the soap from Buggy. The warm water runs down his skin, washing away the final traces of the soapy film and leaving his skin feeling fresh and clean. Luffy then turns off the taps and reaches for a couple of fluffy towels that have been left on the side.

Zoro carefully wraps one around Buggy's waist, while Luffy uses the other to begin drying his hair. The towel absorbs the moisture quickly, making Buggy's blue hair look darker than usual. As Luffy does this, Zoro kneels by Buggy's side, supporting the teen as he begins to stir from his slumber.

Buggy's eyes flutter open. His head is pounding, and his body feels heavy with exhaustion. Panic briefly fills him until he remembers where he is as he recognizes the faces of Zoro and Luffy with him. 

"Taking that nap on deck sounds like a great idea," Buggy mumbles, rubbing his eyes tiredly. With a soft sigh, Zoro helps lift Buggy up so he can stand, wrapping an arm around him for support. "Hey, are you awake enough to get dressed?"

Buggy merely hums in response, mustering a tired smile as he clumsily throws a towel over his shoulders. Unsteady on his feet and still feeling the effects of the alcohol, he manages to slowly get dressed as Luffy and Zoro dry off and get dressed themselves. As they finish getting ready, Zoro gently guides Buggy back onto the main deck, where they find Nami and Vivi sitting on bench chairs, enjoying the warm sun.

Nami's eyes widen in concern when she sees Zoro and Luffy carefully laying Buggy down on the deck with a towel as a makeshift pillow behind his head. "What happened?" she asks.

Zoro makes eye contact with Nami before turning to look at Vivi, who has sat up in her chair upon seeing them. He shrugs and replies, "The liquor he drank last night caught up to him. He's taking an impromptu nap."

Nami understands and sighs, saying softly, "Well, that makes sense. Let him sleep then." 

Usopp, who has just woken up from his own nap, comes over to join the group. "But doesn't he want to ask us some questions about stuff?" he asks curiously.

Nami waves her hand dismissively and explains, "I know the questions he wants to ask. They can wait; Blue needs some rest." Zoro nods in agreement, glancing at the slumbering Buggy with a softer look than usual. ”He does. We’ll deal with his questions once he’s conscious.”

They all settle back down, taking the opportunity to enjoy the warm afternoon sun. Usopp starts telling one of his tall tales, weaving in grand adventures and legendary monsters with such enthusiasm that it is infectious.

Luffy can't help but be drawn into Usopp's story, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he sets his straw hat on Buggy. He peppers Usopp with questions, making the sniper embellish even more. He is so caught up in the tale that he doesn't notice Buggy's hand clutching at the straw hat that lies on him.

Unlike his captain, Zoro isn't as engrossed in Usopp's story. His mind keeps drifting back to Buggy; the faraway look in his eyes, the scars on his back—they are reminders of the clown's harsh past.

His gaze shifts from Usopp’s animated face to Buggy’s peaceful one. The unconscious boy is still clutching onto Luffy's straw hat tightly, even in sleep. It seems to serve as some kind of comfort for him.

Knowing better than to try and remove it from his grip, Zoro simply readjusts Buggy, ensuring that he is comfortable. He places a gentle hand on Buggy’s shoulder before leaning back against the ship's deck, choosing to keep watch rather than participate in Usopp’s somewhat exaggerated storytelling.

~Flash back~

(Grand Line, 1496, late March)

Buggy and Shanks sit eagerly at Rayleigh's feet, their faces flushed from the heat of the day's work. The first mate, now their teacher in all things pirate, imparts upon them the importance and intricacies of different types of swears, oaths, and promises.

The boys listen intently as he explains how these bonds can be made between any gender or age, with just a few changes to the words allowing for liquor to be exchanged. They are not to be taken lightly, as the honor of the person making them is bound by their word. And if the vow is broken, only the bond between the individuals involved will suffer consequences. However, if the oath ends with ‘as the sea as my witnesses’, then breaking it purposely results in retaliation from the very sea itself. Rough sailing and bad winds will plague the breaker until resolution and harmony are restored.

As the group gathers around, Gaban interjects with a wise addition. "And let us not forget the significance of making a promise or oath in view of the sea. If the sea witnesses it and approves, strange occurrences may begin to happen, even if you don't claim it as a witness."

Shanks and Buggy both cry out in disbelief. "How is that possible!?"

Rayleigh steps back into the conversation, his expression grave. "The sea has a way of guiding those who make promises in its presence, but it will not intervene to fulfill them."

Shanks speaks up, his brow furrowed in confusion."But how do we truly know?"

Shanks presses further as Buggy nods along, concern etched across his face. "And what if we make a promise without using the sea as a witness, but it is still within view? What happens if it approves by itself and we break that promise without knowing the sea was watching?"

Rayleigh's response is stern yet unsettling. "There may not be immediate consequences, but you will feel the disappointment of the sea weighing heavily upon you." Shank pouts while Buggy scowls at this revelation.

Rayleigh lets out a heavy sigh before moving on to the most important lesson of all: swearing by the sea. "This is not a matter to be taken lightly; when one swears upon the seas, the ocean itself will see to it that the promises are kept by any means necessary. It is a serious commitment, and breaking such an oath will result in a curse upon the oath breaker's soul—no part of the sea will offer a safe haven for them."

Shanks exclaims with wide eyes, "So it's like selling your soul to Davy Jones?"

Buggy adds with a shiver, "Or breaking one of the Diamond Rules of the Pirate Code?"

Rayleigh simply nods in agreement with their comparisons, his expression grave and somber as he continues to impart his wisdom to them. The wind blows and the sails creak in the background, casting shadows on the faces of Shanks, Buggy, and the group as they gather around, listening intently to Rayleigh's words.

"Yes, but it is between two people or two groups." Rayleigh begins, his voice low and serious. "They must both agree to the terms or vows, or the sea will not hold the swearing. And even then, it can be amended like any contract, as long as both parties agree. This code was created by the first pirates with the help of Davy Jones to better operate among themselves." His eyes gleam with a hint of mischief as he continues, "But the diamond ones are different—they are the seven most important rules that cannot be broken."

Shanks can't resist asking, "Then why aren't all the codes enforced?"

Buggy chuckles and replies, "Because we are pirates, we're free! We can do whatever we want."

Shanks gives him a pointed look and clarifies, "I mean, why are they called code breakers and hunted down for breaking them? When we have the freedom to do as we please?"

Buggy's face shows realization as he nods in agreement with Shanks. Shanks' face takes on a more serious tone as he turns to Rayleigh for an answer.

"Some see them just like guidelines," Rayleigh explains patiently, "except for the 7 Diamond rules. The rest are mostly held by your word, honor, or morality." He can see understanding dawning on the boys' faces and asks, "Now do you remember what the 7 Diamond rules are? If you break them, Davy Jones will demand you join him, and no one will work with a code breaker."

"Yeah," Shank and Buggy eagerly respond. "The Keepers will get them, and if you are helping them, woe to you."

Crocus, who has been listening nearby, can't resist asking, "Keeper?"

Rayleigh looks over at him with a hint of surprise and realization in his eyes. "That's right, you have been a lighthouse keeper and not a sailor or pirate. So you might not know all this." He pauses, rubbing his chin thoughtfully before continuing, "I will go over the codes and culture with you tonight and fill in any gaps you might have. As a pirate doctor, the seas will see you as its child and will lay claim to you soon."

Excitedly, Shanks and Buggy begin telling Crocus about the Keepers—how no one really knows who they are or if they are people or the spirits from the first pirates' crew, making sure their captain's few rules are followed. "They haunt down code breakers, so they never sail the seas or walk the land any longer," they whisper in unison.

"At least I know you are listening to these lessons," Rayleigh remarks with a small smile, interrupting their chatter. "Now tell me, what are the seven diamonds?"

Both boys recite the rules in perfect monotone, their voices blending together like a chorus of well-rehearsed actors. Crocus observes with keen interest as Rayleigh checks off each rule on his fingers, his movements precise and deliberate. It is clear that these rules are deeply ingrained in every pirate's mind—a constant reminder of the consequences of breaking them.

“The 7 Diamonds are a set of unwritten laws that govern the actions of all pirates, created by the first Pirate with help from Davy Jones and sworn on the sea, they are enforced by the Keepers and Davy Jones:

1. No means no; never force physical relations upon another individual without their consent.

2. Outside of war or battle, no harm shall come to cabin children or apprentices under the age of 17 by adversary crews, regardless of any grudges or feuds.( Young Captains and crews are excluded)

3. In times of war or battle, if a captain surrenders, none of the crew shall be physically harmed in any way.

4. After a Davy Back game, neither the losing nor winning crew may kill members of the other crew once the games are over. The oath of loyalty is considered null and void, and captains must negotiate terms with their newly acquired crew mates. If they do not agree with the terms, they have the right to leave unharmed but cannot join their previous crew for at least 10 years. They also cannot be marked as deserters.

5. Respect must be shown for ships displaying flags of loss or new life at all times. No attacks or harm shall come to these vessels or their crews.

6. 'Medical privilege' Doctors may invoke 'Medic privilege' and board a vessel without permission if they claim a patient is on board or if they believe it is vital to the health and well-being of all on board. They can also void the captain's orders if they deem it necessary for the sake of their patients's health or that of others on the ship. And none shall harm them in any way, shape, or form when this privilege is invoked.

7. If an adversary demands a parley, you cannot do them any harm until the parley is complete."

Buggy turns to Rayleigh, his brows furrowed as he asks about the topic they have been discussing earlier: oaths, promises, and swears. "But we're pirates," he says with disbelief. "Aren't we supposed to be free? What's with all these rules about promises?"

Shanks chimes in, shaking his head. "Not all pirates keep their promises," he says nonchalantly.

Buggy scowls at Shanks places a hand on his hip and points accusingly, retorting, "Well, how are you supposed to deceive and trick people if you have to keep your word all the time? It's ridiculous!"

Shanks simply shrugs, unfazed by Buggy's accusation. "Why are you so worried?" he asks, smirking. "You suck at lying anyway."

Buggy's voice cracks as he shouts back, "I do not! You do!" Buggy quickly retorts back, "Don't forget, you couldn't keep our last prank a secret for more than 5 seconds."

Shanks gets in Buggy's face, and shoots back, "No, you folded before me!"

Before the argument could escalate further, Rayleigh spoke up calmly, diffusing the tension in the air. "Indeed, one can easily break a simple promise without causing much harm," he explains. "That is why the concept of witnesses and swearing came about among the children of the sea—to ensure that their words hold weight and they stay true to their promises because we are like the unpredictable and ever-changing nature of the sea itself."

Shanks nods in understanding and crosses his arms, remarking proudly, "Captain Roger always keeps his promises to us, without witnesses or swears." 

Buggy's expression turns serious as he adds, "And he is the greatest pirate!"

Rayleigh's voice carries over the gentle lull of the waves as he continues on with his explanation. "That is why it's crucial to judge a person before making a promise to them or expecting one from them. In this world, their word is their bond."

Buggy's eyes widen in sudden understanding as he exclaims, "Ah, like a parley!"

Rayleigh smiles at Buggy's realization and replies, "Yes, just like a parley. You have to trust that person's word completely."

Shanks and Buggy turn back to each other, deep in discussion about promises versus sea witnesses and swearing on the sea.

But their conversation is cut short by the urgent cry of "Land ho!" The boys scramble to the front of the ship, eager to catch a glimpse of the looming island ahead. As they strain their necks for a better look, excitement bubbles up in their chests when they are told it is called Little Garden.

As soon as the ship finally docks, the boys are itching to explore the new island. Under Rayleigh's guidance, they are assigned to a three-man group, with Gaban as their leader. Their mission is to gather fruit and discover the secrets of this mysterious island. A salty sea breeze fills their lungs as they step off the ship onto solid ground, ready for adventure.

Despite their expectations, the island is not what they expected. Towering above them is dense vegetation that resembles a jungle, forming a leafy canopy that blocks out much of the sunlight. The plants are unfamiliar, and foreign fruits hang low from strange-looking trees.

As Buggy and Shanks follow Gaban deeper into the unknown terrain, they hear rustling noises in the distance. Unbeknownst to them, this land is not just a deserted island; it is filled with creatures from a time long forgotten.A deep roar echoes through the forest, causing the trio to halt in their tracks. Their eyes widen in horror as they watch towering figures emerge from the thicket, shaking the very earth with each step. 

Buggy screams falling backwards on his butt as he point at the giant beast, "What the hell is that?!" while Shanks drops his basket his eyes widen in awe at the creatures size adds, "It's huge!"

To their surprise, the prehistoric beasts are not interested in them. Instead, they seem fixated on a fruit tree standing tall amidst smaller vegetation. Buggy and Shanks look at each other, then at Gaban, who is scratching his head in amazement. He explains, "That explains all the wired-looking fruit; it's a dinosaur boy—a long-necked one." With that, Gaban lifts his basket and says, "Well, let's load these baskets with some of those fruits. Then you boys can explore more, but stay close."

The three cautiously approach the gigantic creature and begin gathering fruit from the same tree it is eating from. Buggy and Shanks' play with the dinosaur, the two climb on the docile dinosaur's back climbing it all they to is head and sliding down it back.

As the trio finishes filling their baskets, a loud and familiar laughter fills the air. They turn to see Captain Roger emerging from the jungle with giant eggs in his arms, followed by a stampede of various prehistoric creatures chasing after him.

Gaban and the boys' jaws drop before Gaban urgently yells, "Run!" In a matter of seconds, they find themselves sprinting for their lives as roaring reptiles hot on their heels. The ground shakes beneath them as leaves fly in every direction.

Amidst the chaos, Shanks and Buggy get separated from Gaban. It is Buggy who notices first and screams, "Red!? Gaban's gone?!" Shanks yells back over his shoulder as they continue running, "He'll be fine! Just keep running, Blue!"

Ducking under towering ferns and leaping over fallen logs in their desperate bid to escape. In their frenzied rush, they come upon a great banyan tree. Shanks shouts, "Blue to the left!" while Buggy shouts back, "Red to the right!" Neither hears the other as they split up and soon lose sight of each other in the thick jungle.

Buggy, his body trembling and breaths coming in short gasps, frantically skids to a halt. His heart pounds in his ears as he scans his surroundings. The deafening roars of the dinosaurs are slowly fading, indicating that they are moving away from him. For the moment, he is safe. But then Buggy realizes something else: Shanks is gone. Panic seizes him as he calls out, "RED! WHERE ARE YOU?!" He searches under rocks and lifts leaves, shouting desperately for his lost friend.

Taking a deep breath and trying to push down the rising panic within him, Buggy reminds himself that he has faced much worse situations before; after all, he is a pirate. Gathering his courage, Buggy determinedly retraces his steps back to the banyan tree where he last saw Shanks.

But as he makes his way back into the dense jungle, a looming shadow catches Buggy's attention. His heart freezes in fear as he gazes upward and sees an enormous figure emerging from the treetops. This is no ordinary creature; it is a giant man standing at least three times the height of any normal human. Buggy's eyes widen in shock and amazement as he takes in the giant's massive form, towering over even the tallest trees surrounding them.

Stammering in disbelief, Buggy mutters to himself, "A giant?!" His voice trembles with awe and fear at the sight before him.

The giant notices Buggy and leans down close to him, causing the small pirate's heart to race even faster. With a booming voice that shakes the very atmosphere around them, the giant bellows, "A Child?!" The ground beneath Buggy's feet seems to shake with each word, his body trembling with terror.

The giant continues to stare intently at Buggy, assessing him with curious eyes. He is well-built and dressed in Viking attire, complete with a helmet that covers his eyes and a long blue cape draping down his broad shoulders. "Who would leave a small child here?!" he roars again, his voice echoing through the jungle.

Unsure of what to do next, Buggy scrambles to his feet and remembers lessons on manners from Rayleigh. Despite his fear, he manages to stammer out, "Yes, yes! I'm B-Blue! I’m a pirate, but I got separated from my brother Red during the stampede." The bravado in his voice was betrayed by the tremble of his legs.

Surprisingly, the gigantic figure seems to be less hostile after Buggy's explanation. Concern starts to shine in his eyes as he looks down at the small human child before him. "Blue?, separated from a Red?" he rumbles, his voice softer now. Suddenly, a wide grin spreads across the giant's face, and he lets out a booming laugh. "Gegyagyagyagya! Blue and Red! Gegyagyagyagya!" Buggy can't help but shake as the giant lowers his hand to Buggy's level and introduces himself: "I am Dorry, The Blue Ogre." His voice is like rolling thunder, with laughter still lingering in its tones. "A proud warrior of Elbaf!" he adds with pride.

At this revelation, Buggy's eyes widen in wonderment. He has heard tales of giants from Elbaf—from Captain Roger and Rayleigh—but has never actually met one until now. The awe of the situation momentarily pushes aside Buggy's fear, and he finds himself running onto Dorry's hand and boldly asking, "You're really from Elbaf?! Captain Roger said that giants from there are great warriors of the sea! Do you have a giant ship?!"

Dorry's concerned gaze softens even more as he looks down at the small human child standing fearlessly on his hand, bombarding him with excited questions.

"Gegyagyagyagya, eager little pirate, aren't you?" Dorry replies, his voice as loud as a storm but filled with a warm gentleness. He then lifts his hand higher, bringing Buggy up to his eye level. "Yes, I am from Elbaf. Yes, we are great warriors of the sea! And indeed, we have ships large enough to carry mountains." A spark of pride flickers in Dorry's eyes as he speaks of his homeland.

Buggy's mouth hangs open in awe. "Wow...that’s incredible! Can you show me your ship? I want to see it!" His fear is entirely forgotten now, replaced by the endless curiosity of a child.

Dorry chuckles deeply at Buggy's enthusiasm and gently places him back on the ground. "Perhaps some other time, little Blue," he says, ruffling Buggy's hair affectionately with one giant finger. "First, let us find your brother Red, and get you back to your crew."

The mention of Shanks and his captain, Roger, brings a glimmer of excitement to Buggy's eyes. But before they can set off on their journey, two rumbles shatter the serenity of the moment—one low and one thunderous. Dorry can't contain his booming laughter as he exclaims, "Gegyagyagyagya, it looks like we should eat up first!" His deep voice echoes through the island as he grins down at Buggy, adding, "I'll take you back to my camp, and we can feast before setting out in search of your brother and captain."

Buggy's stomach is growling in agreement as he blinks in amazement. The thought of eating with a giant is both thrilling and intimidating. "A feast fit for a giant...can I really eat that much?" he asks, but his eager expression gives away his true feelings.

Dorry lets out another rumbling laugh that seems to shake the very ground beneath them. "Without a doubt!" he booms, gently placing Buggy on his shoulder and taking long strides across the island." Hold on tight!"

As they make their way back to Dorry's camp, Buggy marvels at the sights around him. The trees that tower over him on the ground now seem small from the vantage point of Dorry's shoulder. Creatures that seemed massive before now appear miniature. It's like entering a different world within their own.

But what captures Buggy's heart most is the breathtaking view of the island. A circular shape with two identical bone-white mountains marking each end and other cone-shaped peaks dotted throughout.

When they finally arrive at Dorry's camp, Buggy is gently placed on a giant log to sit on while Dorry tends to his cooking meat over a roaring fire. "Welcome to my humble home, little Blue," Dorry says with a smile as he checks on the juicy meat. "Why don't you tell me about some of your adventures while we wait for the food to finish cooking?"

Excitedly, Buggy enthusiastically recounts thrilling tales of the pirates that Roger's crew has bested and the treasures they have looted. He also wistfully speaks of his love for swimming but laments having accidentally consumed a devil fruit which rendered him unable to swim, causing him to lose a valuable map he had recently come across. As he pauses to quench his thirst, Buggy takes a sip from a large jug of sweet-smelling honey seed juice that Dorry has brought out. The juice was obtained from some merchants who had docked on Little Garden some time ago. "This is so delicious!" he exclaims, savoring the delightful taste.

Dorry chuckles at Buggy's enthusiasm and asks, "Do you know what type of devil fruit you ate, little Blue?" Buggy wipes his mouth and licks his lips before responding, "Not yet. Nothing too strange has happened since I ate it, except for not being able to swim now." He pouts briefly before breaking into a wide grin with flushed cheeks as he adds, "But Captain Roger promised me on the sea that he would teach me how to make maps like him. Then I can remake the one I lost and even make my own treasure maps!"

As Dorry tends to the roasting meat, he speaks with admiration in his voice. "Your captain sounds like a formidable warrior, little Blue. Making a promise on the sea is no small feat, and creating a treasure map is certainly an ambitious dream."

Buggy's eyes widen with excitement as he eagerly nods in agreement. "Yeah, Rayleigh taught us about promises today. Do giants have similar pledges as well?"

A serious expression crosses Dorry's face as he turns to Buggy, his gaze intense and fiery. "Indeed, we do, little Blue. We, the mighty warrior's of Elbaf, give what is known as a warrior's promise. As warriors first and foremost, we hold our promises in high regard. When we make such a vow, it binds us just as strongly as any chain or shackle.We take great pride in our word when given."

His words carry weight and significance as he lifts the enormous hunk of meat from its spit and places it on a massive stone plate. The aroma of the succulent meat fills the air, causing Buggy's mouth to water uncontrollably.

"The sea holds great importance for us, like the sun and our god of Elbaf," Dorry continues as he slices off a portion for himself and places it in front of  Buggy. "It symbolizes our lives—turbulent yet free at the same time. Swearing upon it is akin to staking one's life and honor on fulfilling a promise. It is held in equal gravity to our warrior's pledge."

Buggy listens with rapt attention, completely captivated by Dorry's words. The warmth of the fire dances in his round eyes, reflecting his amazement and admiration for the giant's customs.

As they sit together, dwarfed by the vast expanse of sky above them, the orange and red hues of the setting sun paint their surroundings with a warm glow. Long shadows are cast over the landscape, and the sound of chirping insects fills the air. A cool evening breeze rustles through the towering trees.

Meanwhile, Buggy struggles to finish his giant-sized meal but refuses to give up. Every bite brings a new burst of flavor, and he savors each morsel with a gusto that makes Dorry chuckle. His cheeks flush with delight from the delicious food and sweet honey seed juice, and Buggy eagerly continues their conversation. "Dorry," he grins. "I've been thinking! You giants have giant swords, giant food, and giant drinks. Do you also have giant-sized treasure maps?"

Dorry chuckles at Buggy's curiosity, shaking his head and using his bear-like hands to stroke his long beard in amusement. "No, little Blue," he rumbles with a small smile. "I have never seen a giant treasure map in all my years. Maps are usually drawn to a scale that humans can handle. Giants may have giant maps, but none have been made for finding treasure."

"But that doesn't mean it's impossible," Dorry muses, gazing up at the stars now twinkling above them as night falls. "It may not have happened, but there is a certain grandeur to it that is undeniably appealing."

Buggy's eyes light up at Dorry's words, and despite feeling drowsy from the large meal, he looks thoughtful for a moment before blurting out excitedly, "I'm going to make a giant treasure map someday!" His declaration echoes through the still forest, startling a few birds from their sleep. "And then we can go on a giant treasure hunt with your new map, Dorry!"

Dorry lets out a booming laugh at Buggy's proclamation, clapping his massive hands together in amusement.

"Gegyagyagyagya! That's the spirit, little Blue! Always dream big!" He raises his own untouched jug of honey seed juice as a toast to Buggy's new ambition. As he takes a sip, he realizes it has fermented into more honey mead than juice and looks at the flush on the child’s face before apologizing with a sheepish look. "Oops!"

Buggy's laughter, high and merry, bounces off the trees and eases Dorry's worry about his unwitting contribution to Buggy’s intoxication. "Giant treasure maps and giant treasure hunts," he mumbles, swaying slightly as he attempts to stand up. Dorry chuckles heartily again, reaching out to steady him. His laughter echoes through the quiet night, a melody of joy in the tranquil air.

It is at that moment that the tranquility is shattered. A sudden chill runs down Dorry’s spine, a keen sense of danger flashing through him. The laughter dies on his lips as he goes rigid, his senses alert. The atmosphere shifts a palpable change from tranquility to tension in an instant. One of his hands grabs his sword, while the other rises between the child and the threat.

A powerful figure strides out of the dense jungle, his silhouette barely visible in the dim light. But even in the darkness, there is no mistaking the conqueror's Haki emanating from him. The campsite is enveloped in a strong and deadly aura, silencing even the chirping of monstrous insects.
 
Moonlight casts a soft glow over the quiet night as Roger approaches, his footsteps echoing through the stillness. As he nears the campfire, his gaze lands on Dorry, who has one hand blocking Buggy from his view while the other is poised on his sword.
 
"What are you doing with my youngest child?" Roger greets with a gruff voice, masking an underlying curiosity. A sharp grin breaks across his mustached face as he takes in the scene—his youngest son drunk again, this time dancing next to a fire with a towering warrior. "And what's this I hear about a giant map?"
 
Unaffected by the tense situation or Haki, Buggy runs around Dorry's hand and lunges at Roger, who effortlessly catches his youngest in his arms. "Captain Roger!" Buggy exclaims joyfully.
 
Dorry can't help but notice that Buggy's shouts of 'Captain Roger' sound almost like 'My Father' as they echo through the air. As Buggy rambles on about losing Red while fleeing from giant lizards and how Dorry found him and fed him delicious food and seed juice, he also mentions something about warrior promises and sea swears. Roger keeps his eyes locked on Dorry.
 
As Buggy yawns and rubs his eyes, he wraps his small arms around Roger's broad shoulder and declares, "We're going to look for Red now; we have to find him." With narrowed eyes and a determined tilt of his head, Buggy points in the direction Roger came from—towards the other side of the island. "I think I hear him that way," he says confidently.
 
Roger pats Buggy's head fondly and remarks, "Looks like your range is quite large Blue. Red is with Borgy, one of Dorry's nakama, on the other side of the island; he found Red just like Dorry found you."
 
Dorry still hasn't let go of his sword, as Roger's conquering Haki is still covering the area. Roger laughs and asks, "Hahah, Dorry if the little Blue Wonder just drank honey seed juice, why is he drunk? I heard that giants are very protective of children."
 
Sheepishly rubbing the back of his head, Dorry replies, "I only noticed a bit too late that the seed juice had fermented and turned into mead." The pressure from Roger's Haki dissipates as he bursts into a true boisterous laugh. "Hahaha, you and Borgy are nakama! He did the same thing to my fierce Red on the other side of the island! Will you come join us for a party, Dorry?" Dorry finally releases his grip on his sword and agrees to join them as they make their way to the other side of the island.
 
As they walk, Roger turns to Buggy, who is still being carried in his arms. "So what's this about a giant-sized treasure map?"
 
Buggy waves his arms excitedly and exclaims, "I'm going to make a giant-sized treasure map for Dorry one day, and we can all go on a giant treasure hunt together!"
 
Roger affectionately ruffles Buggy's head and says, "Well, then it sounds like I better start your lessons soon, my blue treasure gifted from the sea." Buggy cheers in excitement but then wobbles from dizziness caused by the meal he had consumed, making him wrap his arms around Roger neck to stay in his arms.
 
Dorry nearly stumbles at Roger's words and cries out in shock, "Little Blue is a treasure gifted from the sea!?"

Roger beams with pride and replies, "Both of my boys are treasures gifted to me by the sea!"

Dorry can only respond with a bewildered exclamation of "What!?"

As the group arrives at Borgy Camp, they are greeted with a lively party. The air is filled with vibrant music and joyous laughter, intermingled with the enticing aroma of roasting meat that fills their noses. Roger and Dorry quickly join in on the festivities, their spirits lifted by the warm welcome of their fellow pirates.
 
When Shanks and Buggy see each other amidst the crowd, the two drunken brothers embrace each other tightly, babbling animatedly about being sorry for losing each other and about never losing each other again. They hold hands, refusing to let go in case the other disappears once more. Eventually, they succumb to exhaustion and fall into a peaceful slumber on Rayleigh's lap, after he kindly makes them drink some water in hope that it will help prevent the children from having hangovers.
 
As the night wears on and more drinks are consumed, Dorry and Brogy regale the group with tales of their adventures on Little Garden, including their on going duel triggered by on eruption of the island's middle  volcano. Borgy also shares his knowledge that it takes a full year for a Log Pose to set on Little Garden.
 
The next morning, Shanks and Buggy groggily wake up with splitting headaches but stubbornly refuse to be separated from Rayleigh's comforting embrace. However, Roger interrupts their cozy moment as he panics making the boy groan in pain and bury their faces in Rayleigh neck.

He rushes to Rayleigh for an answer because his log pose will not set, only to be calmed down when Rayleigh calmly points to his own already-set Log Pose. This revelation shocks Dorry and Brogy, who then laugh it off as just another unpredictable aspect of navigating through the mysterious Grand Line.

Chapter Text

As Vivi and Nami make their way to the front of the second-floor deck, Luffy is fully immersed in Usopp's story while Buggy dozes off with Zoro lounging beside him. A gentle breeze blows through, carrying the salty scent of the ocean and the distant cries of seagulls. Suddenly, Luffy notices that the beach chairs are empty. With a grin, he gently picks up the slumbering Buggy and carries him to one of the chairs before plopping down on the other one himself. He then playfully drags Zoro and Usopp to join them under the comforting shade of the umbrella.

In no time, Karoo waddles over to settle down next to Zoro, who is still relaxing by lying on the deck. At the same time, Usopp continues his epic tale with animated gestures and expressions.

Vivi furrows her brow and turns to Nami, concern across her face. "Is Mr. Blue alright?" she asked, hoping for reassurance. Nami waves her hand dismissively in the air. "He is fine; all that drinking last night caught up to him. He just needs to sleep it off."

But Vivi couldn't shake off the feeling of worry as she thinks, 'I need to get to Alabasta quickly. I need to get home!' The boys' laughter echoed in the air as the boys took over the beach chairs. Mr. Blue had been relocated onto one of the chairs under the umbrella's shade.

'They all seem to care about each other and are so carefree and happy, but is he really okay?' Vivi wonders, recalling how Luffy had quickly changed the subject when she asked about Mr. Blue's health. 'Do they know what happened, or do they just not trust me yet?' With a sigh, Vivi thought to herself, 'Well, I don't fully trust them either. I'll have to wait and see.'

As the group continued to laugh and joke around, Vivi's worries and frustrations only grew stronger. And then came the final straw—when Sanji swung up over the railing with a tray of drinks and asked, "Anybody up for some special drinks?"

Zoro raises a leg in the air as Luffy and Usopp fist-pump into the air as they cheer, "You bet we are!" Even Karoo has joined in on the fun and raises a wing, quacking in agreement.

Vivi points at the group while turning back to Nami, who is sipping on her own drink and holding one out to Vivi. "Aren't they all a bit too relaxed? Are you sure everything will be fine like this?"

Nami takes another sip from her drink before replying, "It'll be fine. They'll work hard when we come across rough waters. It’s not like they want to die or anything." She holds out Vivi's drink to her. "Here, have a drink and relax."

Vivi took the drink with a grateful smile, but her worries still lingered in the back of her mind as she glanced back at the carefree group of pirates. 'I hope Nami is right,' she thought, taking a sip of her drink. 'But at this rate, we could be caught off guard.'

As Sanji carefully passes out the drinks, he notices that Blue is completely asleep, his face flushed and peaceful in slumber. A tinge of concern fills his voice as he asks, "Hey, what's wrong with Blue?"

Zoro grabs his drink from the tray and explains, "He drank what he thought was coffee, but it was really 89% proof whisky, and combining the booze from last night laid him out."

Sanji lets out a low whistle of sympathy, "I'll whip up a hangover cure for him when he wakes up. He's going to have one killer headache." He grins as he sets a glass of refreshing fruit juice on the ground for Karoo, saying, "You can have this one." With a happy quack, Karoo eagerly starts drinking through the straw. " Oh. It looks like this duck knows how to drink! Tastes good, right?” As Karoo finishes his glass, Sanji places another one down for him, saying, ”Drink up, Buddy!" Sanji exclaims with amusement, encouraging Karoo to drink another.

Luffy, Zoro, and Usopp are all impressed that Karoo can drink from a straw and start cheering the duck on as he drinks another glass. After a moment, Luffy gets an idea and turns to Usopp, excitedly asking, "Hey Usopp, can you make us some fishing rods?"

Puffing out his chest with pride, Usopp replies confidently, "Sure thing! Just let me tap into my ol' artistic skills and create some masterfully crafted rods—" before being cut off by Zoro's sudden interest in fishing. "Fishing? Not a bad idea," he remarks thoughtfully.

On the other side of the second-floor deck, Nami and Vivi watch the exchange with amusement. Nami gently nudged Vivi, her eyes twinkling with unspoken mirth as she reassured her with a wide grin. "Being on this ship sure makes you lose the will to even worry, doesn't it?"

Vivi nods, her worries slowly fading as she observes their candid interactions with widely opened eyes. A silence enveloped her, soft and comforting like the warm ocean breeze blowing in her hair. As they watched the boys getting engrossed in their fishing preparations, Vivi found herself relaxing and enjoying the breeze and laughter floating in the air. "Yes. It's quite relaxing."

Sanji leans on the railing of the Going Merry, his eyes scanning the vast expanse of ocean before him as he enjoys his own drink. Suddenly, a flash of silver caught his attention, and he exclaimed to the others, "Hey, everyone, look! It's a dolphin!"

Luffy bounded over to join him with excitement in his voice. "Ho! It is!"

Zoro and Usopp followed suit, all three of them gazing at the playful creature leaping in the distance. From her spot on the second deck, Nami caught sight of the dolphin as it soared out of the water once again. "Oh, it's so cute," she gushed, mesmerized by its graceful movements. But as the dolphin flew closer toward them, its size became apparent, and Nami's expression changed to one of shock. The rest of the crew also grew pale and wide-eyed as they watched in awe as the massive creature shadow passed over their ship."IT'S freaking HUGE!?" they all screamed in unison.

As the dolphin dove back into the ocean, creating a giant splash that sent waves headed straight for them, Luffy let out an excited laugh and shouted, "Let's run away!"

The rest of the crew followed his lead, shouting back, "Aye, Aye captain!” And begin rushing to their positions on the ship. Zoro took up the helm, taking over for Buggy, who is still asleep in his beach chair. While Sanji and Nami worked together to secure everything on deck, Usopp climbed up to the sails.

As the dolphin jumps into the air again and dives back into the ocean, creating another giant wave, Luffy orders, "Completely unfurl the sail! Let's ride the wave!" The crew rushes around and drops the sail, letting the Going Merry rise to the top of the wave, surfing it off into the distance. Vivi observed in amazement how well-coordinated and efficient her new friends were during times like this. She remembered their first chaotic storm and marveled at how they now worked seamlessly together, covering each other's tasks.

Luffy stops on deck and calls up to Nami, "Nami! Which direction should the ship take now!?"

Nami shouts back, "Give me a second; let me check." Nami quickly consulted her log pose and shouted in return, "Turn port side! Full!" As Zoro turns to port, the crew shouts, "Turning Full!"

The ship turns sharply to its port side, sending a burst of exhilaration through Luffy's body. He lets out a loud cry of joy as the boat picks up speed, shaking the huge dolphin off their trail. "Wow! We're moving so fast! This is awesome!" The wind whips through his hair, and the salty sea air fills his lungs.

Nami checks her log pose and explains, "We've been caught in a rip current!"

Usopp yells from the mast, clinging on for dear life, "What do we do now!?"

Nami calmly responds, "We do nothing for now. The current is taking us in the right direction, and we'll naturally leave it in a few minutes. If we start heading off course, we can exit it sooner."

Nami holds tightly to the railing while watching her log pose as Usopp holds on to the mast. Luffy climbs to the top of the figurehead, soaking in the rush of adrenaline.

Zoro makes his way back to Buggy, who is still sound asleep, holding tight onto Luffy's hat. With a smirk on his face, Zoro teases, "Look who slept through all the fun this time." He then settles into the other beach chair and enjoys the cool breeze brought on by their incredible speed.

Vivi's eyes shine with excitement as they sail along. Sanji announces to Nami and Vivi, "I'm going to start on our afternoon snack, ladies. Let me know if you need any help." He winks before heading off to the kitchen.

After hours of being carried by the powerful current, it suddenly dissipates, and the ship returns to its normal pace. Luffy pouts at the decrease in speed, "Awe, is it over already?"

Nami marvels at the Grand Line currents and exclaims, "The Grand Line is truly amazing!" She quickly checked her log pose to ensure they were still going in the right direction and continued, "I've never seen a rip current last so long and only go in one direction." She turns to Vivi and asks, "Have you ever witnessed anything like this?"

Vivi shakes her head in amazement and replies, "It's so strange. While the currents on the Grand Line are known to be strong and unpredictable, this is a first for me as well."

Nami does another quick check of her loge pose, follows the line of the arrow to the horizon, and notices an island slowly coming into view. "That island!" She holds her log pose at her eye level, and an excited sweat breaks out on her forehead as she announces, "There is no doubt about it; that island is our next destination!"

Luffy cheers from his spot on the figurehead, "Woo hooo! Our second island on the Grand Line!" He rushes over to Buggy and grabs his straw hat that is still in Buggy's grip. Luffy says, "Blue I need my hat; we are at the next island!"

"Okay.. don't get cut or stuck." Buggy mumbles, then his grip loosens, letting go of the hat for Luffy to take it.

Zoro sweats and stares at Buggy in disbelief. "What does he think we are going to do!?" Luffy laughs and rushes back to the front of the ship to take in the view of the island. Zoro gets up from his beach chair and follows behind Luffy.

With Nami's skilled navigation and Zoro's keen eyes, they guide the ship towards a river cutting inward on the island.

As they enter the river's current, it churns and swirls beneath them, guiding them smoothly inland away from the coast. The crew can see a dense jungle ahead, its towering trees covered in thick layers of emerald-green moss and tangled vines. The branches stretch out in all directions, forming a lush canopy that blocks out most of the sunlight.

The jungle floor is alive with various shades of green, from vibrant emerald to deep forest green, creating a mosaic of colors. The air is filled with exotic scents and sounds of wildlife, making it clear that this is no ordinary island.

As the ship glides along the winding inland river, Luffy's gaze is drawn to the verdant jungle that surrounds them. He leans against the sturdy railing and remarks with wonder in his voice, "I can see why they call this place Little Garden Island."

To his right stands Zoro, arms crossed and a scowl on his face as he scoffs at the island's name. "What's 'little' about it?" he grumbles.

Nami, standing beside Zoro, surveys the dense vegetation with furred brows. "This island seems quite harsh to me," she comments. "Why such a cute name for such a rugged place?"

Usopp paces nervously back and forth on the deck, his eyes darting around the unfamiliar landscape. "But man, just look at this place!" he exclaims. "It's like land yet to be explored by people. The entire island is a thick jungle, untouched by human hands."

Vivi leans against the railing next to her faithful steed, Karoo, her thoughts consumed with Miss All Sunday's ominous warning about this island. "We should be careful... I'm also worried about what Miss All Sunday said," she voices her concern.

The group falls silent as Miss All Sunday's words echo in their minds: "But your luck gets even worse because of the direction your log pose indicates. The name of the next island is 'Little Garden.' We don't even need to lift a finger; you'll all be dead long before you even reach Alabasta."

Usopp grows increasingly anxious, his mind racing with images of giant monsters and other dangers lurking in the jungle. Turning to Vivi, he anxiously questions, "So what? Do you think we're going to be attacked by giant monsters here?"

Luffy chuckles excitedly in response, saying, "Who knows?"

But Usopp is not reassured and begins to plead with the group. "Listen, I'm sure we can make it to the next island without going ashore on this one."

Nami lets out a sigh of frustration, reminding them once again, "The only way to set the log pose is to go ashore."

Sanji takes a drag from his cigarette and blows out a cloud of smoke as he reasons, "Also, we gotta stock up on some food pretty soon. We didn't get anything in the last town we were in."

As the Going Merry continues to sail deeper into Little Garden on the river, Nami points out various plants that she has never seen before. "I don't know," she remarks hesitantly. "Usopp might be right about this one. Just look! I have never seen any plants like these even in my encyclopedias."

Suddenly, a piercing screech echoes through the air, causing Usopp and Nami to cover their ears in pain and startlement. "Kyaaa! What was that just now?" Nami cries out, her voice trembling with fear.

Sanji's cheeks flush with a blush as he gazes at Nami. "Terrified Nami is so cute!" he exclaims, unable to hide his infatuation. He then tries to reassure her, saying, "Don't worry, it's just a normal bird. So no need to worry, even this island. Is nothing but your average jungle." But as if on cue, Nami and Usopp spot a massive avian creature soaring towards them, sending them paddling backward in terror.

"What's the matter?" Sanji asks, confused by their sudden panic. But before anyone can respond, the giant bird swoops down towards the ship, narrowly missing Sanji as he ducks out of the way. "What was that for, you damn bird!?" he curses in frustration.

Meanwhile, Luffy watches the bird fly away and muses aloud, "A lizard...? I wonder if it tastes good."

But their brief moment of relief is short-lived as an explosive blast rocks the air and shakes the entire island. A cloud of smoke billows up from somewhere on the island, covering the river and surrounding their ship in a light haze. Nami's nerves are even more frazzled now as she anxiously questions, "Does that sound like a normal jungle to you?!"

Usopp covers his face with his hands in terror and shouts, "That sounded like a volcano exploding or something! We're all going to die!"

As the thin wisps of smoke dissipate into the air, a massive tiger emerges from the thick jungle on the right side of the riverbank. The crew watches with a mixture of awe and fear as it lets out a powerful roar and begins to stalk toward their ship, following them along the river's edge. Nami and Usopp tremble in fright; Usopp can only hold his hands over to his face, unable to bear the danger, while Nami gasps breathlessly, "A tiger?"

Usopp's voice trembles as he whimpers, "It's too huge!"

The two quickly paddle back to the safety of the left side of the ship, keeping as much distance between them and the fearsome tiger as possible. As the tiger continues to stalk the ship along the river, Luffy lets out a confused gasp as the huge tiger lets out a croaking roar, blood misting out of its mouth as the ferocious beast collapses into the river with a bloody gash on its side.

Nami rushes back to the right side of the ship and stares in disbelief at the dead tiger. She turns to Luffy and demands an explanation. "What happened?! This is definitely not normal! Why else would a tiger, king of the jungle, collapse covered in its own blood?" she cries out.

Usopp nods in agreement and wipes sweat from his brow, his eyes wide with shock and stress. "Forget about finding food or our damn log pose readings," he declares. "We can't set foot on this damn island. It's too dangerous!"

Nami's brow furrows with worry as she raises her fists to her shoulder and proclaims, "Let's just quietly wait on our ship and leave as soon as our log pose finishes recording. We have to hurry to Alabasta."

As the ship approaches a narrow section of the river, Zoro heaves the heavy anchor overboard with a splash, bringing the Going Merry to a slow stop.

Luffy's face is lit up with pure excitement as they come to a rest. He stands on the bow, bouncing eagerly as he gazes out at the dense jungle before them. "Sanji, make me lunch!" he calls out joyfully. "I want a pirate lunch box!"

Sanji raises an eyebrow at Luffy's odd request, taking out a cigarette and lighting it. "A lunch box?" he repeats, perplexed.

But Luffy only grows more animated, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Yeah, a pirate lunch box! Filled with lots of meat and no vegetables, so I have tons of energy for adventuring! Hurry!"

Sanji can't help but smile at Luffy's infectious enthusiasm and heads towards the kitchen, but Nami steps forward with an expression of exasperation mixed with frustration. She yells out to Luffy, "Hold on a second! Where do you think you're going!? You are not leaving this ship!" Sanji stops in his tracks and looks at Nami with a content smile.

However, Luffy pays no attention to her protests. His eyes continue to sparkle as he swings his arms back and forth, eagerly awaiting his lunch box. He bounces on his toes with extra energy and replies cheerfully, "We're going on an adventure! Shishishi wants to come too! Adventure! Adventure!"

Nami looks on resignedly as she sees the unbridled joy on Luffy's face. She covers her mouth with her hand, thinking to herself, 'It's too late to stop him now. He's far too excited!'

Usopp stares at Luffy in horror, his own face pale and his jaw dropped as he thinks to himself, 'Is he crazy? Out there somewhere is a monster big enough to crush a tiger into paste!'

But Luffy pays no attention to their concerns. When he sees that Nami has given up trying to stop him, he turns back to Sanji with a wide grin and orders once again, "Sanji, make my lunch!"

Sanji nods, his cigarette still dangling from his lips as he strolls down the stairs and heads towards the lounge, waving his hand nonchalantly as he blows out smoke. "Alright, just give me a moment."

Meanwhile, Vivi leans on the railing, absently petting her faithful companion Karoo as she gazes off into the dense jungle. Determination soon settled in her eyes as she made up her mind. Turning to Luffy, who was still bouncing on his toes and swinging his arms enthusiastically, she asked, "Can I come along?"

Her question shocked Nami and Usopp, leaving them momentarily speechless. But Luffy eagerly nodded his head in acceptance. "Sure, sure! It's going to be great!" His eyes shone brighter in joy at the thought of another adventure.

Nami quickly found her voice again and grabbed Vivi's shoulders, her disbelief evident in her tone. "Even you?"

Vivi simply hummed happily in response. "Yes, standing here and doing nothing will only make me worry more. Might as well try to clear my head until the log pose finishes recording." She could see that Nami understood her reasoning, but with everything that had happened so far on their journey to Little Garden, Nami couldn't agree. "No way! It may be okay for Luffy, but it's too dangerous for you!"

But Vivi remained undeterred and tried to calmly reassure her friend. "It'll be fine! And Karoo will be by my side."

Karoo, upon hearing this, bravely raised his wing in agreement before remembering that he was now heading into a scary jungle and choking on his own quack. His feathers turned pale, and his body trembled in pure terror.

Nami stepped over to the trembling Karoo and observed his frozen features before turning back to Vivi. "Your trusty bodyguard looks too scared to even quack."

Just then, Sanji appeared at the open lounge door after overhearing that Vivi would be accompanying Luffy on his adventure. He waved excitedly at her. "Then allow me to make a lunch box for you too, Vivi!" he exclaimed.

Vivi smiled gratefully at Sanji. "Thank you, Sanji. If it's not too much trouble, could you also make another drink for Karoo?"

Sanji grinned happily and proudly declared, "Of course! Please leave it to me!" He then disappeared back into the lounge to prepare their food and drinks, leaving Vivi feeling grateful for her new friends' support.

With practiced ease, Sanji's nimble fingers adjust the straps of Luffy's overstuffed blue backpack, making sure they are secure and won't loosen during their journey. He then deftly ties a sturdy rope around the top of the bag, sealing it shut and preventing anything from falling out. Turning to Karoo, who has resigned himself to his fate and regained his yellow feathers, Sanji carefully checks that the small barrel lid is firmly closed and the straw is in place before looping it back around the bird's neck. With a final touch, he adjusts the straw to ensure Karoo can sip from it easily. Satisfied with his work, Sanji stands up straight with a proud grin.

"Alright, that's one pirate lunch box for Luffy, one lunch box for Vivi, and a special drink for Karoo," he announces triumphantly.

Luffy thanks Sanji and eagerly jumps over the ship railing onto the island with a loud cheer. "Alright! Let's go!" he shouts, rushing off into the dense jungle to explore.

Gracefully following suit, Vivi leaps onto Karoo's back and then off the ship onto the island. As they quickly catch up to Luffy, she looks back at the ship and calls out reassuringly, "Don't worry, everything will be fine! We'll come back soon!"

Usopp watches in awe as the trio dashes off into the lush jungle, marveling at Vivi's bravery. "That Miss Wednesday sure has some guts," he mutters with a shake of his head.

Nami stands next to Usopp, her arms crossed, as she watches Luffy and Vivi disappear into the foliage. She shakes her head in exasperation and remarks, "Well, what else would you expect from someone who infiltrated Baroque Works?"

Zoro walks down the stairs onto the main deck, stretching his arms above his head and letting out a loud yawn. He pops his neck and announces to the crew as he walks towards the railing, his steps heavy and deliberate. "Well, I'm bored and have nothing to do, so I'm going for a walk."

Usopp's eyes nearly pop out of his head at Zoro's casual statement. "A walk!?" he exclaims in disbelief.

Zoro steps onto the railing, saying "Heave ho!" as he leaps from the ship onto the island and starts walking into the dense foliage of the jungle.

But Sanji quickly power walks over to the railing, calling out to Zoro, "Yo Zoro, wait!”

Zoro stops and turns his head back to look at Sanji with a raised brow. "Sup?" he responds.

Sanji inhales deeply from his own cigarette before speaking, the tendrils of smoke escaping from the corner of his mouth. "You know we're running low on food onboard, right?" he says, a hint of concern in his tone. "If you come across any edible animals during your walk, could you hunt them down and bring them back?"

A mischievous smirk tugs at the corners of Zoro's lips as he responds with confident cockiness, "Sure thing, that sounds easy. I'll go after some game that you could never catch yourself." With that, he moves to start his walk into the thick jungle surrounding them.

But Sanji's pride is stung by Zoro's words, and he slams his foot on the railing as he shouts, "WAIT RIGHT THERE!"

Zoro stops walking again and looks back at Sanji with a challenging glint in his eyes, grunting out, "Huh?"

Sanji clenches his teeth as he growls, "Did I hear that correctly? Are you implying that you can hunt bigger game than me?"

Zoro lets out a snort and answers smugly, "Isn't it obvious?"

The two lock eyes and sparks start to fly between them. Sanji jumps off the Going Merry and lands next to Zoro as he challenges him. "THAT'S IT! I CHALLENGE YOU TO A HUNT!"

Zoro puffs up his chest and responds confidently, "Fine by me."

Sanji sets the terms of their challenge: "WHOEVER BRINGS BACK THE MOST KILOGRAMS OF MEAT WILL BE DECLARED THE WINNER!"

Zoro shouts back in agreement, "Fine! Though for me, it will be tons of meat."

The two teens stomp off in opposite directions—Sanji to the right and Zoro to the left—both determined to win this competition. Nami watches with exasperation as they disappear into the dense foliage, their footsteps disappearing into the jungle.

"Why does everyone on this ship have to be like this? I just don't understand why you guys have to be so competitive." She laments, shaking her head at the constant need for competition among the crew.

Usopp joins in her despair, nodding in agreement. "I know exactly how you feel; I am just as stumped by their behavior as you.” He sighs, "But don't cry; at least I'm by your side." As they sit by the railing of the ship, listening to the cries of birds and the flowing water of the river, a loud roar suddenly shakes the trees and causes something to crash onto the deck somewhere on the ship, startling them both. They scramble to hide under the railing, hugging their knees close to their chests as they wait for the chaos to end. Finally, after what seems like an eternity, the air becomes silent once again. Tears of fear stream down their faces as they try to calm their racing hearts.

The sound of gentle waves lapping against the shore is broken by Usopp's whimper as he looks up at Nami with concern. His voice trembles as he speaks, "Why can't you be a bit more reliable?"

Nami snaps back in frustration, her voice matching the intensity of the crashing waves. "That's MY line!" But their bickering is abruptly interrupted by a loud snore coming from the nearby beach chair, where Buggy is still fast asleep. The umbrella that had been shading him had fallen and caused all the commotion.

Relief washes over Nami's face as she realizes they still have Blue on their side. She cheers, "Wait, we still have Blue! We will be fine." Usopp's eyes light up with hope, and he lets out a deep breath, placing a hand over his chest to calm his racing heart.

But then he turns to look at Buggy, who shows no signs of waking up. A slight worry creeps into his mind, and he mutters, "If he wakes up in time to save us..."

As the two finally relax, a thought flashes through Nami's mind, causing her to speak out loud. "Wait a second..." The gentle hum of Usopp's voice breaks through her thoughts as he looks at her curiously.

Nami continues, her brows furrowed in concentration. "I feel like I have read about this before... I'm sure I've heard of it."

Suddenly, she jumps up and rushes to the girls' cabin, heading straight to her bookshelf, flipping through books and tossing them behind her. Usopp follows closely behind, deftly dodging the flying books and asking, "Wait, what have you heard of? What are you looking for?"

"I remember reading about it in a book. Something about Little Garden," she explains as she frantically searches through her books on the shelf, dropping them one by one to the floor if they don't hold the information she's looking for.

Books continue to rain down onto the floor of the girl's cabin as Nami desperately rifles through her collection. Meanwhile, Usopp heads back out onto the main deck to check on Buggy and make sure nothing has gotten on board with them. Nami grumbles angrily to herself as she flips and drops more books. "Where'd I put it? I know I read it pretty recently. Shoot! I can't remember!" She finishes muttering under her breath and grabs another book, flipping through its pages until she freezes, her face paling with panic. She runs out of the girls' cabin and onto the main deck, calling out urgently for Usopp, "Usopp! Usopp!"

Usopp startles at Nami's urgent shout and turns to face her. "Did you find something in the book?" he asks.

Still panting from her frantic search, Nami stops by Usopp's side and gasps out, "We're in trouble on this island." She freezes as a loud stomping sound echoes across the island, followed by the flapping of wings as a flock of birds takes flight. Slowly, she and Usopp turn their heads to the right and see a huge shadow emerging from the jungle towards them, pushing aside trees and snapping them in its path. Nami and Usopp let out screams of terror as the figure drew closer. Tears stream down Nami's face as she yells, "AAHHHHH!" Usopp's own eyes fill with tears, and he screams in fear alongside her, "GYAAAAH!" as the massive figure breaks through the last wall of trees between them, revealing itself.

The book clutched tightly in Nami's hands falls to the ground, falling open to the page about Little Garden in the section of the book. It reads, "To its inhabitants, this island is like a little garden. 'Little Garden' is what I have decided to name this island. Explorer Louise Arnote."

Luffy's infectious laughter echoes through the dense jungle as he and his companions, Vivi and Karoo, run through the undergrowth. As they explore, their curious eyes scan over every nook and cranny of the vibrant landscape. The trio comes upon a small, shallow river, and Luffy's keen gaze spots something interesting in the crystal clear water. He eagerly rushes over to investigate, while Karoo screeches to a halt. "Hey, check this out, Vivi!" Luffy calls out excitedly.

Vivi has Karoo walk over to the small river, stopping at the water's edge. She asks curiously, "Hey, what's the matter?"

With a mischievous grin on his face, Luffy lifts up a strange creature that looks like a combination of a shellfish and a squid. "There’s a shellfish that looks like a squid. A squid shellfish!"

As Vivi examines the creature with fascination and curiosity, she notices the spiral pattern on its hard shell and its tentacle appendages. "Strange that looks like," she says thoughtfully. "An ammonite if you ask me."

Luffy repeats proudly, "So it's a squid shellfish, right?"

Suddenly, they hear rustling in the trees and feel the ground shake beneath their feet. In shock, Karoo lets out a quack and begins to tremble as a massive creature comes into view. "Wow," Luffy murmurs before turning to Vivi with excitement shining in his eyes. "Why is there a seaking on land?"

Vivi stares in awe at the sight before her—a long-necked gray lizard munching on tree leaves. With realization dawning on her, she shouts out, "It's a dinosaur!"

Luffy can barely contain his excitement as he enthusiastically yells out, "A dinosaur!" AWESOME!"

Vivi's eyes widen in disbelief as she takes in their surroundings, exclaiming with shock, "No way! This must be a prehistoric island!"

Luffy blinks a few times at Vivi, his confusion evident on his face as he asks, "Huh?"

Noticing Luffy's confusion, Vivi simplifies her explanation and says with urgency, "This island is still stuck in the age of dinosaurs!" Luffy still looks a bit lost, but he runs off in the direction of a large, long-necked dinosaur. Vivi quickly urges Karoo to follow after him, trying to keep up as she continues to explain, "On the Grand Line, navigation between islands is extremely difficult. As a result, foreign interaction is rare, and each island develops a unique culture. So while there may be highly advanced islands, there can also be islands where time has stood still for thousands and thousands of years! This island is one such product of the Grand Line chaos. It's trapped in the age of the dinosaur!" Lost in her own explanation, Vivi fails to notice that Luffy has lost interest and instead decided to climb the dinosaur using his devil fruit abilities. By the time she realizes what he's doing, he's already halfway up its neck. Frustrated, she yells out to him, "DON'T RIDE ON IT!!"

But Luffy is too caught up in his excitement to listen. He reaches the top of the long-necked dinosaur head and lets out an exhilarated shout of "Awesome!"

Sanji, clad in his signature black suit, casually makes his way through the dense jungle. The lush green trees provide plenty of shade, and a symphony of bird calls fills the air. As he takes a moment to blow out a stream of smoke, Sanji's mind starts to wander. 'I have a feeling like someone has been following me for a while now,' he thinks, scanning the area for any signs of life. But all he sees is the vibrant vegetation and hears the distant rustle of foliage. 'Must be my imagination,' he dismisses the thought with a shake of his head.

Unbeknownst to him, a massive T-Rex stalks closely behind. Its razor-sharp teeth glisten with drool as it hungrily eyes its prey. As it closes in on Sanji, a drop of saliva lands on his head from above. Startled, he wipes it off and turns around to find himself face-to-face with the monstrous dinosaur.

Without missing a beat, Sanji jumps away from the T-Rex's lunging jaws with graceful agility. "Can't you see I'm busy?" He quips, not showing an ounce of fear towards the towering predator.

Enraged by Sanji's defiance, the T-Rex roars loudly before charging at him once again. But Sanji is ready for it this time. With expert precision, he kicks under its jaw and shouts, "Collier Shoot!" The powerful blow hits its target with full force, sending the dinosaur crashing onto its back.

A cloud of dust and debris rises as the T-Rex struggles to get back up. Undeterred, Sanji stands his ground and taunts it further with a sarcastic comment. "You're one rude bastard."

As the dinosaur lunges at him again, Sanji pulls out his cigarette and charges at it without hesitation. He leaps over its snapping jaws and delivers a punishing blow to the top of its head, causing it to crash into the ground with such force that its head disappears underground. The earth shatters and shards fly in all directions, covering the T-Rex's head.

Sanji takes a moment to rest on the dead beast's back, taking out and lighting a new cigarette as he surveys the aftermath of his battle. He notices a flock of birds flying off in the distance; he hears a very faint sound. "Hmm..?" He ponders, "Feels like I just heard Nami cry out my name."

Wondering his way through the dense jungle, Zoro's sharp eyes scan for any potential prey. The humid air weighs heavy on his shoulders as he sweats through his white shirt. Suddenly, he stumbles upon a massive triceratops, its three horns towering above him. Zoro tilts his head and studies the creature curiously before muttering to himself, "The hell is this...can you even eat this thing? Well, I guess you might be edible."

Taking a closer look, Zoro notices that the triceratops has three horns, just like his own three swords. A small smirk tugs at the corner of his lips as he muses, "So we both use three-sword style." With practiced ease, he places Wado Ichimonji between his teeth and draws Yubashiri with his right hand and Sandai Kitetsu with his left hand.

Assuming his signature three-sword stance, Zoro locks eyes with the dinosaur in a tense stare-off. Without warning, he charges forward with lightning speed, the sound of metal slicing through flesh echoing through the air as he lands behind the triceratops. Sheathing two swords in one swift motion, Zoro removes Wado Ichimonji from his mouth as the dinosaur stays frozen in place. As the sword clicks into its sheath, the mighty creature topples over onto its side, lifeless.

Before Nami and Usopp stood a giant man, towering over them in his Viking attire. His red overall, adorned with golden buttons and fur linings, hung snugly on his massive frame. A leather strap slung over his shoulder and another as a belt completed his outfit, while his yellow pants with black stripes and fur-lined shoes added to his intimidating appearance. On top of it all sat a red helmet with two imposing horns that seemed to only add to his imposing figure.

As the giant bent down to speak to Nami and Usopp, they could see that even his beard was larger than most men. He asked with a deep voice, "Well, what is the answer?"

Nami and Usopp were frozen in fear, tears involuntarily streaming down their faces as they stared at the giant. After a moment, Nami forced a smile that looked more like a grimace and politely asked, "Could you repeat that? I'm sorry, we didn't catch it. Please, sir."

The giant leaned even closer, causing Usopp to tremble uncontrollably as he repeated in a deep, rolling voice, "I asked if you have any alcohol."

Usopp nodded frantically, too terrified to speak, while Nami mustered up her courage and replied, "We have a little bit..."

The giant's face broke into a wide smile. "Oh, so you do have some? That's perfect."

Nami nervously explained, "It's mostly for cooking and disinfecting, though. Is that okay with you? Y-you can have all of it!"

Usopp took a few shaky steps back as Nami spoke about their supply of liquor. Suddenly, the giant let out a pained yell that made both Nami and Usopp scream in terror.

But then they saw the cause—a massive red T-rex was biting onto the giant's backside. As the giant turned to look behind him, Usopp and Nami got a closer look at the dinosaur as well. Usopp muttered curses under his breath while Nami whimpered, "A... a dinosaur?"

The T-rex let out a loud growl and bit down harder on the giant's ass, causing him to grab his massive battle axe and swing it around with all his might. The blade sliced through the air and right into the dinosaur's neck, severing its head in one powerful swing.

Nami and Usopp were trembling uncontrollably, their bodies pressed tightly together as they clung to each other in fear. Tears streamed down their faces like raging rivers, their sobs echoing through the air.

Meanwhile, the giant remained unfazed by the chaos behind him as he picked up the severed head of a T-rex and hoisted it high into the air, his deep laughter echoing through the forest. "Kababababa! I am Brogy, Elbaf's strongest warrior!" He turned to face the ship and proudly displayed his prize. "Looks like we have some meat for dinner now! Allow me to welcome you as my guests!"

Nami and Usopp collapsed onto the deck in a state of pure terror, causing Brogy to lean in closer with concern evident on his face. With gentle nudges, he pokes Usopp’s stomach and asks, "Hey, are you okay?"

Usopp lay sprawled on the deck, his eyes squeezed shut as he pretended to be unconscious while whispering softly to Nami, “Just play dead, and maybe he'll leave us alone."

In a similar state of feigned unconsciousness, Nami whispered back, "Doesn't that only work on bears?"

As Brogy peered at the two teens with concern and confusion, he suddenly noticed a flash of blue out of the corner of his eye. Turning towards it, he saw a young man with long blue hair wearing a yellow and red striped top paired with blue shorts, secured by a vibrant purple scarf. "Is that who I think it is?" Brogy exclaimed.

Nami and Usopp wondered in bewilderment, 'Who is he talking about now!?'

Upon closer inspection, Brogy realized that it was indeed Buggy with his red round nose. His grin widened in excitement. "Kababababa! It is! He is going to be so surprised you are here! And I got to see you first!" He reached over and gently picked Buggy up in his hand, explaining, "I don't know why your friends fell asleep, but it's not safe for you all to be unconscious like this." Brogy then scooped up Nami and Usopp with the same care and placed them in his other hand. "So I'll take you with me, and we can have a feast when you wake up! Kababababa!"

Perched atop the dinosaur's head, Luffy lifts a hand to secure his straw hat in place and lets out a boisterous cheer, "Yahoo! This is a great view! It will be a great place to have our lunch!" His eyes scan the horizon and take in the breathtaking sight of towering volcanoes spewing plumes of smoke into the sky. "Ahhh.. They really do have some active volcanoes here!" He then notices two massive white mountains riddled with holes. Excitement brewing in his voice, Luffy calls out to Vivi below, "And there are mountains with huge holes too!"

From the ground, Vivi yells back, "Get down; it's too dangerous!" She watches anxiously as Luffy looks down at her, and she shouts, "It may seem docile, but it's still a dinosaur."

Luffy replies confidently, "It's fine; this guy has only been eating plants! I don't think it's taking any notice of me yet!" Pointing towards the nearest white mountains, he suggests, "Hey, let's go check out those strange holes up ahead." Just as he finishes speaking, the dinosaur finally takes notice of Luffy's constant yelling and jerks its head back in annoyance. Sending Luffy flipping into the air with a confused cry of "Huh?" and with one swift motion, Luffy lands inside the dinosaur's mouth.

Vivi screams in panic and anger, "LOOK, YOU JUST GOT EATEN!!" Karoo, completely overwhelmed by all the chaos, drops to the ground and passes out. This gives Vivi enough time to gather her wits and scramble off Karoo's back as she frantically shouts, "How do I get Luffy out?!"

Inside the long-neck dinosaur's mouth, Luffy sits up and looks around in bewilderment, "Where am I? Why did it get dark all of a sudden?" Before he can even begin to figure things out, he is swiftly swallowed and lets out a surprised yell as he slides down a dark, slimy tunnel. As he hurtles downwards, he feels his beloved straw hat fly off and instinctively stretches out his arm to grab it, pulling it back onto his head and preventing it from getting lost. Just as the tunnel seems to never end, Luffy spots a bright light in the distance and slides into it, emerging back out into the open air and looking up at the sky once again.

Vivi hears the sharp sound of metal slicing through the air as a sword cleanly cuts through the neck of the long-neck dinosaur that just swallowed Luffy, sending its head soaring into the sky. Vivi stands in shock, her eyes wide as she takes in the sight of a massive figure with a well-built form with a long, dark brown beard. The giant is dressed in full Viking attire, a helmet obscuring his eyes and tan pants held up by thick white fur with many belts. Black boots cover his feet and a long purple cape drapes over his broad shoulders. He reaches out his hand to catch Luffy as he falls out of the dinosaur's esophagus. Stopping his descent from the sky, much to Vivi's amazement. Luffy stands up in the giant's palm, staring in awe at this being who has just saved him. The giant throws his head back and lets out a deep rolling laughter, "Gegyagyagya! AREN'T YOU A LIVELY ONE! I HAVEN'T HAD VISITORS IN A LONG TIME!"

Luffy looks up at Dorry in disbelief and exclaims, "Whoa! Your HUUUUGGEE! Are you human?"

Dorry lets out another hearty laugh before introducing himself, "Gegyagyagya! Human? What a joke! I am Elbaf's mighty warrior, Dorry!"

Vivi's legs give out beneath her as she collapses to the jungle floor. Karoo lies unconscious next to her as she mutters, "It... it's a giant. This is my first time seeing one, though I have heard rumors."

Grinning widely, Luffy introduces himself, "Hi! I'm Luffy, and I'm a pirate."

Dorry chuckles at this proclamation, "A pirate? Good for you, my friend! Gygagaga!"

Vivi swiftly turns to Karoo and starts trying to shake him back awake. "Karoo! Wake up! We got to get out of here while we can!"

But before she can get Karoo awake, Luffy, remembering his manners, points down at her for Dorry to see and says, "Oh yeah!" By the way, I would like you to meet Vivi and Karoo! Hey guys, say hi to Dorry!"

Vivi, completely fed up with Luffy, says, "That's great, Luffy! You just can't shut up, can you?"

Dorry grins joyfully and happily laughs and says, "Tell you what! How about you? Let me invite you folks to my home!"

Borgy's home rested next to a towering, white mountain that seemed out of place in the lush jungle surrounding it. The mountain was dotted with large, bizarre holes, some bigger than others, seemingly carved into the rock by some unknown force. In one of these holes, tucked behind Borgy's sitting form, lay Buggy sleeping on a pile of hay. His chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm as he dozed, occasionally interrupted by a snot bubble escaping his nose.

Earlier, Nami and Usopp had also been lounging on the hay bed while Borgy cooked dinosaur meat over a roaring fire. The smell of roasted meat wafted through the air, drawing them in with its alluring aroma. They had hoped to escape while Borgy cooked, believing Buggy would be able to free himself later once he woke up. But their plans were thwarted when they stumbled upon a saber-tooth tiger in search of its next meal. As they ran for their lives through the jungle, they came across an even larger threat—a red T-Rex with its sights set on devouring all three of them.

In a moment of desperation, Nami and Usopp found themselves back at Borgy's side, their screams alerting him to their dire situation. The sight of Borgy's massive frame and hungry gaze caused the two beasts to flee in fear. "Oh, the two of you are awake! Come, the meat is done. Have some! It's to show my appreciation for the alcohol." Brogy happily exclaimed.

With the danger passed, Nami and Usopp now sat nervously on a tree log near the fire, sweat dripping down their foreheads as they anxiously awaited their fate.

Borgy chuckled cheerfully as he picked up a massive piece of cooked dinosaur meat, its size and aroma causing Usopp's eyes to bulge and Nami to be momentarily speechless. Placing it in front of them on a large leaf, Borgy grinned happily."Kabababababa! There you go; it's all cooked. So eat up, my friends, it tastes delicious!" he exclaimed, causing Nami and Usopp to feel a mix of despair and fear.

Nami tried to decline. "I think I have lost my appetite."

But Borgy just grinned happily. "Don't be shy now. Dig in!"

"No, I don't want to eat." Usopp and Nami whined.

Brogy was confused by their refusals and let out a puzzled "Ah?" before trying to reassure them, "Dinosaur meat is sweet. I promise you it is quite tasty."

Nami and Usopp bowed their heads, tears streaming down their cheeks as Usopp leaned closer to Nami and whispered in distress, "PSST. Did you notice all the skeletons around us?"

Nami shuddered and whispered back, "I know." As if on cue, a skull fell from the pile and landed at their feet, only adding to their fear.

Nami then muttered with a whine, "If we somehow manage to resist eating until the log is stored and we don't get fat, we may be able to survive."

Usopp sobbed back"But I don't know how much longer I can hold out, Nami. If I don't eat something soon, I might not have the strength or willpower to resist his offer."

The gigantic chunks of dinosaur meat sit on an ever larger leaf, steaming from the heat of the fire. The meat is dark and charred on the outside, but still juicy and pink inside. Its scent is enticing and mouthwatering. The sweet aroma of the meat fills the air, tantalizing the senses with its roasted richness. It is a mouthwatering smell that beckons to be indulged in.

Usopp's thoughts spiral into despair as his stomach rumbles making him thinks, 'We're going to be eaten...'

And Nami can't help but think, ‘It's only too obvious he is trying to fatten us up so he can eat human meat.' Nami cries inside her head, 'We're too young to die...'

They watch Borgy gleefully devour yet another gargantuan piece of dinosaur meat. Happily enjoying his meal.

Nami musters up the courage to ask nervously, "Umm, Mr. Borgy... Mind if I ask you a question?"

Borgy swallows his mouthful of meat and cheerfully responds, "Hm? What is on your mind, young lady?"

Gulping back her fear, Nami timidly asks, "How long does it take for the log pose to finish recording on this island?"

Borgy's grin widens as he replies, "One full year."

Usopp falls backward off the tree log in shock while Nami collapses onto her side in disbelief. Nami mutters, "A year. If we waited that long, we would not have stomachs to feed."

Usopp mutters in despair. "It's over. We have to admit defeat. I definitely can't help eating."

As they contemplate their grim fate, Buggy shifts in his sleep and mumbles something, reminding them that they are not alone in this dangerous situation. They frantically mentally scream as they look over at the cave where he is sleeping, 'Blue, wake up! We are going to be eaten or starve!'.

Borgy laughs heartily and says, "Don't tell me you fell asleep again! Kabababa! Just relax while you're here! Kabababa!"

In the distance, Dorry's home stood in front of a towering, white mountain with strange, wired-shaped holes scattered throughout its surface. As Luffy sat happily on a massive piece of dinosaur meat, Dorry let out a deep, rolling laugh that echoed through the air. "Gygagagaga!

Luffy happily laughed along as well. "Dahahah!" Luffy then took another big bite and chewed gleefully before exclaiming, "This is really good, Mr. Giant!"

The lunch box Sanji had made for Luffy was now in Dorry's hands, and he gobbled up its contents with gusto. "Gygagaga! And your little pirate lunchbox is pretty good too! Though it is a little small."

Luffy's tone turned stern as he threatened Dorry. "You bet it is! I would have kicked your ass if you said it was bad!"

But Dorry only found Luffy's bravado amusing and laughed heartily. "Gygagagaga! Aren't you a funny little one?"

Meanwhile, Karoo trembled nervously and sipped his drink while Vivi watched the interaction between Dorry and Luffy with sweat drops rolling down her forehead. "They are getting along so well," she muttered.

As Luffy continues to eat, he asks Dorry curiously, "So why are you living here all alone anyway?" As he swallows his mouth full of food, he says, "Don't you have a village to live in?"

Dorry's eyes took on a faraway look before refocusing on Luffy. "I do," he answered simply. With his cheeks stuffed like a squirrel, Luffy cocked his head to the side questioningly, making Dorry grin and continue his story. "It's called Elbaf—a village for warriors located somewhere on the Grand Line. But my village has a certain law."

In the distance, volcanic mountains smoked, and prehistoric birds flew overhead as Luffy tore into his giant piece of meat. "If there is a quarrel in our village that cannot be settled, we beseech God Elbaf for judgment. Elbaf represents justice and bestows divine protection on those in the right. He'll ensure the survival of the righteous."

Luffy had stopped eating and sat in the hole he had created in his meat, listening intently to Dorry's tale. "I've gotten into a quarrel myself, and this island has served as the battleground between me and a certain other giant. The one who is in the right shall triumph and survive."

Dorry then burst into boisterous laughter. "But it's been over 100 years now! We just can't seem to settle our duel! Gegyagyaga!"

Luffy jumped off his food in shock. "You've been fighting for over 100 years!?"

Dorry lets out a chuckle. "It's nothing surprising. Our lifespans are three times longer than yours, my puny friend. Gegyagya!"

Dorry's nonchalant attitude towards fighting only serves to anger Vivi. "How can you continue to fight after 100 years?!" she yells. "Is there even a reason for it anymore?" It suddenly dawns on Vivi that the two giants are actually trying to kill each other, and her anger boils over as she screams at Dorry, "You're both trying to kill each other, aren't you!?" In a seemingly perfect display of agreement, a nearby volcano erupts on the island.

Sanji has tied up his T-rex using some of the vines on the island and is dragging it back to the Going Merry to win the contestant against Zoro. As he drags his killed pry, he sweats a bit as he says to himself, "Well, there is little risk; I shouldn't be outdone by Zoro with this one.” With a cocky voice, he continues, "I almost feel sorry for him, but with this, I am the winner of the competition to obtain kilos of meat."

Zoro, on the other hand, is dragging his Triceratops by the horns through the jungles, sweating from the effort. As he drags it, he talks to himself, saying, "I beat him with this! Old Sanji has no chance of winning. I am the winner of the competition to obtain tons of meat!"

As the two drag their respective pry down their trails, they both come to a fork in the path and spot the other across the way. Sanji greets Zoro happily, "Hey Zoro!" Zoro returns the greeting, "Hey Sanji!" Both the teens look at the beast the other is dragging and smile smugly, and then in unison announce, "I am the winner!" Both smug smiles turn into scowls as they shout out to the other, "You lost! Dammit!"

They then line up the T-rex and triceratops from snot to tail to see whose is bigger. Sanji's T-rex tail is longer than the triceratops, and as they push them together, he points it out, saying, "Look! See, my prey is bigger!"

Zoro scowls and reminds him, "Moron! This competition is about how many tons of meat we can get, right? And mine is obviously why beefier than yours!"

Sanji scoffs back. " Ha! It's all a matter of it; we can use it for cooking. And yours looks like it is full of bones. It has no more than 5 grams of meat for cooking!"

Zoro snaps back. "That thing that you are lunging around is nothing but muscle and skin."

Sanji clicks his tongue. " Tsk! There's no use in competing with such small prey. Tell you what, I will go capture another best just to shut you."

Now Zoro scoffed back at Sanji, "Okay then. I'll also capture a super big one that you can't even touch this time."

As the two argue the island starts to shake and a volcano on the island erupts, the two watch the volcano explode and come to a deal. Sanji says, "Alright. The next eruption is the signal to end the competition. You have until then to secure you're pry and bring it back to the Going Merry."

Zoro agrees, "Yeah, I'll take you up on that!"

Luffy is taken aback by the sudden eruption, exclaiming, "Whoa! That's a massive explosion!"

Dorry smirks and stands up from his casual position, stating, "Looks like it's about time." Luffy looks up at Dorry from underneath his hat. "Hmm?" Dorry's eyes become so intense they seem like they are glowing, making Luffy also tense up at the strange feeling he has.

The succulent aroma of the dinosaur meat wafted through the air, tempting Usopp and Nami to give in and take a bite. As they savored the delicious flavors, a happy smile spread across Brogy's face. "See, I told you it was delicious, my friends!" Tears of hopelessness streamed down their faces as they realized they were stuck on the island for a year. Despite their emotions, they couldn't deny the sweetness and tastiness of the meat, though there was an unusually salty undertone. (because of their tears.)

Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently, and a volcano erupted from somewhere on the island behind them. All three of them turned to see its source. Meanwhile, inside the cave, Buggy's snot bubble popped as he grumpily rubbed his eyes awake. "Hmm? What was that?" Buggy then caught a whiff of the mouth-watering smell of meat and exclaimed, "That smell? Is there still a party going on? Red better have saved me some; I could devour a whole dinosaur right now." He groggily stumbled towards the smell with his nose leading the way.

Nami, curious about the eruption, asked, "What’s that?

Usopp quickly answered her, "It's an eruption."

Brogy tossed his unfinished meat into the bonfire, causing Usopp to snap his head towards him. Usopp noticed Brogy's once cheerful eyes suddenly turned serious and determined. "His face suddenly got tense... I don't like that look; he seems kind of angry," he observed.

Brogy still keeps his smile on his face as he looks at the two teens and says, "Please forgive me. But there is something I must attend to." He stood up and gazed intensely at a point on the other side of the island.

Nami looked at him with confusion. "You're leaving?"

Brogy explained, "Yeah, that was the signal for the duel that my opponent and I've been using."

Nami questioned further, "A duel?"

Usopp bombarded him with more questions, "With whom? Where? And most importantly, for what reason?"

Brogy's tone turned bewildered as he replied, "The reason? I can't remember!" Realizing that he had forgotten, Brogy threw his head back and laughed, "Kabababa!"

Dorry explains, "We may not remember when we decided it exactly, but the eruption of that middle volcano is our signal to start battling."

Vivi, still struggling to understand the situation, yells out in disbelief, "What!? This is senseless; you two can't possibly have so much hatred for each other. So much so that you would continue trying to kill each other for over 100 years!" She desperately wants to know the cause of their never-ending feud and shouts, "JUST WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THIS QUA-!?" Luffy quickly reaches back, stretching his arm to cover her mouth with his hand before she can finish her sentence.

"Stop! Vivi, that's enough," he says sternly. "It's not what this is about anymore, okay." Dorry draws his sword and positions his shield as he faces the other side of the island. Birds fly off in the distance as the sound of stomping footsteps shakes the ground, and the shadow of a figure emerges in the distance.

"Yes, you're right," says Dorry with determination. "This is about pride now." Brogy dashes with his axe at the ready as the two giants charge at each other, roaring fiercely. Their weapons clash against each other's shields, sending out multiple rippling shock waves of power that sound like rolling thunder that expands out over the whole of Little Garden and out to the sea. Dorry roars, "I have forgotten the reason for our fight a long time ago!"

Luffy takes a shaky breath as he watches in astonishment at their unwavering will and strength. He gasps and falls backward onto the ground, his hat falling off his head as he lands, completely in awe of the ongoing battle.

Vivi watches with amazement and concern as the two giants continue their intense fight. She turns to Luffy and asks worriedly, "W-what's wrong?"

Luffy puffs out a breath, exhausted just from watching them. "I'm beaten," he admits. "They're just so huge."

Chapter Text

Somewhere in the Grand Line on Holiday Island, palm trees sway, and laughter and fun can be heard. People are relaxing and playing in the pool. Next to the pool sits a young-looking girl with relatively large eyes and circles of blush on her cheeks. She is fairly short in stature and wears her dark red hair tied in twin braids. She is wearing a wide-brimmed pink hat with a green band, a dark blue T-shirt with the word "golden" written on it in orange, a sky blue cloud-patterned button-down shirt over her shirt left open to show the lettering, a maroon-colored overalls skirt with the top folded down, blue striped stockings, and big red shoes with white cuffs and white soles. She calls out to her nearby companion, "Mr. 3!"

Her companion is mostly covered by the shade of the umbrella he is relaxing under. It is a man of average height and build wearing a pair of glasses. His outfit is a red and blue striped vest with a white ruffle down the front. He wears a log pose on his right wrist, a red bow tie, long tan pants, and blue and white shoes. With a calm but distracted tone, he says, "What is it, hmm? Ah, hold on one moment." He picks up his freshly poured cup of tea and breathes in the aroma, letting out a content sigh, "Ahh... When it comes to black tea, nothing beats Earl Grey, you know."

As he takes a sip of his tea, the girl opens a worn-out-looking letter in her hand and says, "I'm bored."

The man lowers his cup, saying, "You say you're bored, but you're not exactly fond of working either, aren't you?" The girl looks down at the paper in her hand, re-reading the contents, and then looks back up at the man and nods in agreement. "Yup." Then he casually waves his arm out to the surrounding area. "Then why not enjoy this blissful time away from our duties?" As he brings his hand back to rest on his crossed knees, he blows on his tea. He says, "After all, leisurely enjoying a break is also one of the privileges afforded to us as officer agents, you know?" He takes another sip from his tea as he adds in a slightly annoyed tone. "And also... Miss. Goldenweek, would you mind not calling me by my code name in a public place like this?" As he sits the now empty tea cup back on the table, he moves out of the dark shade of the umbrella. He looks at the girl as he pours himself a new cup and explains, "Otherwise, don't you think people would find out I'm Mr. 3?"

Miss. Goldenweek looks at Mr. 3's hair, which is styled into a '3' on top of his head, and responds blandly, "Oh, really?"

Mr. 3 raises a brow in question as he asks, "By the way, you've been staring intently at that paper for the past few days. What is it exactly?"

Miss. Goldenweek turns the paper around, letting Mr. 3 see the writing as she casually answers, "An order from the boss." Mr. 3's heart leaps into his throat as he jerks forward, spilling his hot cup of tea as he bellows, "Can't you tell me that sooner!?"

Mr. 3 gets a hold of the latter and tries to calm his blood pressure by drinking his new cup of tea as he reads. "It seems Mr. 5 has been beaten... Oh, don't you wish if somebody had to be beaten it'd be Mr. 2?"

Miss. Goldenweek, who has gotten a packet of rice crackers out, bites into one as she boredly answers, "Then we could be promoted."

Mr. 3 blows on his tea to cool it a bit as he laments, "Well, if only Mr. 5 has been beaten, the matter is nothing to panic about, don't you think?" Mr. 3 places the lip of his cup on his bottom lip and says, "After all, that man is just an overconfident fool who overestimates his abilities." Mr. 3 tilts his head back, letting the warm tea rush down his throat, then says, "No matter how powerful one's devil fruit ability is, without the talent to use it effectively, one will forever be a useless bum." As he lowers his head, a slight murderous aura emits from him. "A brilliant criminal uses his brilliant intellect to carry out his objectives, you know. Why don't we go teach 'them' the terror of antagonizing a criminal organization?"

The dark, dense jungle envelops Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine as they make their way through the thick foliage. The air is heavy and humid, making sweat break out on the agent's heads. But as they emerged into a small clearing, their eyes fell on a surreal scene.

A massive t-rex, with sharp, jagged teeth and powerful muscles, was attacking a square white building with a door. It roared and thrashed its head, trying to break through the sturdy walls but only succeeding in breaking its own teeth. There seemed to be no effect on the building as it remained unscathed.

As Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine casually approach it, Mr. 5 calls out to the beast, "Hey, big lizard. You're in our way!"

The t-rex's attention snapped towards the two agents, seeing them as an easier target than the impenetrable building. With a deafening roar, it charged towards them with its mouth agape, revealing only gums and broken teeth. But Miss Valentine boldly stepped forward, twirling her umbrella in preparation as she confidently declared, "I'll handle this little guy."

With a mischievous giggle, she leaped into the air and floated above the dinosaur's head. Then she shouted, "10,000-kilogram press!" before plummeting down onto the t-rex with incredible force. The impact crushed the dinosaur, killing it instantly and sending a cloud of dust into the air.

As they walked through the door and into the white building, a male voice greeted them from inside. "Oh, hello, Mr. 5."

Inside, they see Miss Goldenweek curled up and napping in one corner, using her luggage as a pillow, while Mr. 3 lounges on a hard-looking white couch, sipping tea from a delicate cup and reading a book. In front of him is a table with a yellow and red pattern tablecloth covering it and a fine tea set, set up for three people.

Mr. 5 couldn't help but comment on the decor, "I'm impressed by the decor. You have a talent for turning even the most savage environment into a home. I admire you, which is why I felt compelled to remind both of you that this mission belongs to both me and Miss Valentine."

Miss Valentine's eyes narrow under her hat as she glares at Mr. 3 from the corner of her eye. She warns with slight venom in her voice, "Rest assured that we won't slip up like we did last time."

Mr. 3 seemed unfazed by their animosity as he casually replied, "Slip up?” He turned a page in his book, making Mr. 5 growl lightly in his throat before continuing, "That's not why I'm here, Mr. 5, Miss Valentine; the simple fact of the matter is that you're both weak."

The insult made both Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine tense up, their teeth clenching together as they glared at Mr. 3. But he only scoffed and said, "Don't waste your energy pouting; it is what it is. Here have some English tea" and pours tea into the other two cups set on the table and then casually places an old and torn poster on the table that depicts two young men. As he gleefully says, "Take a look at this,” with a smug grin growing on his face, he informs them. ”I'd like to thank you both for affording me an excuse to come to this island. I will enjoy the opportunity to hunt some truly Big game."

Mr. 5 picks up the old poster and reads it aloud, "Dorry the Red Ogre and Brogy the Blue Ogre, of the Giant Warrior Pirates."

Miss Valentine leans over Mr. 5's shoulder, her eyes scanning the ancient poster in disbelief. "Everyone's heard of them," she exclaimed, "it's an ancient legend." She bends closer to examine the date at the bottom of the poster, and her face contorts with surprise. "This poster is over 100 years old!"

Mr. 3 sets his empty cup down on the white table and folds his hands together as he begins to explain. "Believe it or not, these two giants are still alive and well on these very islands. They've been locked in a fierce battle for over a century now—back then, the bounty on their heads was 100 million berries each, so 200 million berries for both."

Mr. 5 raises a skeptical brow and grumbles, "Well, 200 million berries is an impressive sum. That still does not change the fact that they are still giants."

A menacing leer forms on Mr. 3's lips as he pours himself another cup of tea. He lifts it up confidently and declares, "Superior criminals execute their crimes using their superior intellect. All you have to do is follow my precise instructions—with a smidgen of forethought and perseverance, you can find the solution to even the most gargantuan of obstacles." Suddenly, a loud eruption from a nearby volcano shakes the island, sending a powerful shock wave through the air.

With a resounding clash, Dorry and Brogy collide with each other. The force of their impact sends shock waves through the air, causing nearby trees to shake and birds to take flight. Brogy's massive axe is lodged in Dorry's shield as they both grin savagely at each other. "Don't you long for home, Dorry?" Brogy grunts, taunting his opponent.

Dorry's grin only grows wider as he responds, "That's exactly why I'll crush you today and leave for Elbaf at once, Brogy!" With a roar, he thrusts his sword toward Brogy's stomach, yelling out his battle cry, "Nuell!" But Brogy jumps high into the air, narrowly avoiding the blow. Dorry's sword pierces into the stone behind him, barely missing Brogy's legs.

As Dorry pulls his sword back, ready to strike again, Brogy grabs his axe with both hands and aims for Dorry's head. "Seryaa!" He shouts as he brings down the heavy weapon towards his opponent. Anticipating the attack, Dorry tilts his head forward and slashes at Brogy with his sword. Nami covers her eyes with both hands as she screams in fear, but Brogy expertly parries Dorry's sword with the bottom of his foot, pushing it out of the way. His axe clashes with Dorry's helmet, making a loud banging and clanging sound. As the axe's handle creaks and breaks a bit before it rebounds back at Brogy, Dorry stumbles back with a pained yell, "Nghha!" Then he quickly regained his footing and slashed back at Brogy, who dodged, letting the sword destroy the surroundings.

As the battle raged on between the two titans, Usopp could only watch in awe and disbelief. He couldn’t help but cringe and hold his head in sympathetic pain as he saw Dorry take a direct hit to his helmet. "He took it right in the helmet! If he received that blow just a few centimeters off, it'd have meant instant death!" Usopp lets out an amazed breath as he plops down on a fallen tree trunk. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the intense fight. "W-What a fight... all of their attacks are aiming for each other's most vital points to kill with one blow!"

Nami uncovers her eyes and looks on at Dorry and Brody's duel in disbelief. "And they've been fighting like this for over 100 years?!" she yells. Nami gave herself a quick shake, realizing it was their chance to escape. Nami grabs Usopp’s arm and urges him, “But it's good for us. This is our chance to escape! Let's grab, Blue, and go, Usopp!"

But Usopp was completely absorbed in the spectacle before him, letting out a breathless "Wow!" as he watched the two giants clash. Nami tugged on his arm, but he remained rooted to the spot, lost in the adrenaline-fueled battle unfolding before him. "Usopp?" she called out again, trying to get through to him.

At that moment, Usopp remembered Brogy's response when he had asked about his reason for fighting. Brogy throws his head back as he laughs, "The reason? I forgot that long ago! Gabababa!" This realization shook Usopp to his core as he watched the two warriors continue their duel."Even without any reason, they fight like this," he mumbles.

Nami lets go of Usopp as the ground shakes again thanks to Dorry and Brogy's battle and whines annoyed, "God, this battle is getting annoying."

But Usopp stood tall and steadfast, his inspired gaze never once wavering from the epic showdown between Dorry and Brogy. And rebukes Nami, "You fool! This is what a man's fight is!" he declares passionately, caught up in the excitement of the moment.

Nami blinks and hums with confusion, her eyebrows furrowing as she asks in a questioning tone, "Say what?"

Usopp, never looking away from the intense battle unfolding between Dorry and Brogy, explains, "Maybe an analogy might help? Let's say that there is a metaphorical flag raised in their hearts that says, ’I am a warrior!’ and those flags are more important than their lives! They don't want their flags to be broken, no matter what! And so, to protect that flag, they continue this fight for 100 years!"

Brogy and Dorry continue to clash; their axe and sword clash and ring against each other. Neither one is willing to give an inch, grinning with excitement and determination as they push themselves forward, eyes shining. Even as the weapon grinds together with such force, sparks fly into the air. Usopp nods towards them with exhilaration in his voice, saying to Nami, "Don't you see it now!? This is a 'proud duel'! This is a legendary fight between two dedicated warriors!"

Off in the distance, a bird crows as Nami lets out a sigh and turns away, waving her hand in the air as if to brush the troublesome nonsense away as she says, "Well, whatever that whole warrior stuff is, does not interest me in the slightest, so I'm going to take off!"

But Usopp remains, his eyes fixed on Dorry and Brogy as they continue their epic battle. Sweat runs down his brow as he stubbornly declares, "I'm going to stay here a bit longer and watch!" With inspiration in his voice, he adds, "This is it! This is my ultimate goal! This right here to be a 'Brave warrior of the seas'! I want to become a proud warrior of the sea just like them!"

Nami stops and stares at Usopp for a moment before a soft grin spreads across her lips. She walks back over and sits on a nearby tree trunk with a huff, calling out to Usopp, "So~ what you're saying is you want to be a giant, huh?"

Usopp stomps his foot like a child as he turns to Nami and shouts, "No!! Did you even listen to anything I just said!?"

Nami blinks innocently with wide eyes, her voice laced with amusement as she points behind him and says in a teasing, high-pitched voice, "Hey Usopp, isn't there something you're supposed to be watching?"

Usopp's face quickly lights up as he turns back to watch the epic duel unfolding before him. The clash of the two giants' weapons fills the air, leaving him breathless with wonder. With a dreamy look in his eyes, he exclaims, "If there's an entire village full of warriors like them, I'd sure like to visit it one day!"

Miss Valentine's laughter echoes through the air as she does a little hop and floats into the sky with her umbrella. As she is floating above the chaos on the ground. She gazes down at the two massive targets locked in a vicious battle and then turns her attention to a clearing nearby, where a strange white mountain with gaping holes lies. She giggles with glee as she says, "I got a great view from up here.”

Mr. 5 watches Miss Valentine from below, his voice laced with concern as he calls out, "They'll see you, Miss Valentine. Now get down here!"

But Miss Valentine simply smiles down at him, her lips forming a reassuring line as she replies, "Oh~, don't be so jittery, Mr. 5. You see, they are completely absorbed in their fight to even notice me." Her joyful laughter rings through the air before she adds, "They will not notice me."

However, Mr. 5's response is filled with frustration as he shouts, "Just get down already!" Miss Valentine can hear the aggravation in his voice as she lets out a sigh, and reluctantly, Miss Valentine floats back down to the ground, "Okay, okay."

She lands gracefully in front of Mr. 5 and starts twirling her umbrella between her hands with ease, making it rotate on her shoulder. "Now behave yourself; this is a 200 million-berry job here," Mr. 5 reminds her sternly.

Miss Valentine nods, her small smile still present on her face. "Of course," she agrees before quietly admitting, "Though I'm not really crazy about this. What Mr. 3 wants us to do."

With a confident stride, Mr. 5 moves past her and smoothly responds, "I know..." He continues walking, his boots crunching on the ground with each step.

Miss Valentine lets out a soft sigh, her voice filled with both determination and nervousness, "Okay~." She turns and jogs lightly to catch up to her partner's side as they head towards their assigned task.

Buggy follows the tantalizing aroma of freshly cooked meat, his sharp sense of smell leading him from the depths of the cave. “Ugh! My head is pounding!” He rubs his temples in a futile attempt to ease the throbbing pain. “Why does it hurt so much?” Memories swirled in his foggy mind as he trailed the mouthwatering scent, his round red nose twitching in anticipation.

Emerging into a vast clearing, his headache quickly fades from his thoughts when he spots a colossal piece of steaming meat resting on a large leaf. His stomach grumbles loudly, urging him forward.

With eager delight, Buggy lunges at the meat, tearing off hand-sized chunks. The sweet juices burst in his mouth, prompting him to cheer, “Yummy!” Suddenly, the ground beneath him began to rumble, jolting him from his gluttonous feast. ‘Spark would love this!’ he thinks happily. But a new thought interrupted his bliss: “Why does this meat taste kind of familiar?” He ponders aloud for a few moments, then shrugs and resumes devouring the succulent morsels.

As he eats, the haze in his pain-clouded mind slowly begins to clear. Fragments of memory surfaced—how he had bullied Luffy and Zoro into taking a bath because they all desperately needed one. Inside the steamy bath, he had felt lightheaded, and the fogginess only thickened when he recalled Zoro’s warning about the bottle he’d mistaken for coffee on Whisky Peak. That bottle had contained 89% proof coffee-flavored whisky, and the alcohol had hit him hard.

Embarrassment floods Buggy's face, turning it a deep shade of crimson as he curls into a ball, groaning in frustration and regret. “Arrg!” he grumbles, recalling how much Zoro and Luffy had helped him. “Let’s just forget about it!” He aggressively tore off another piece of meat and ate till he reached the bone, his stomach growing round and satisfied. With a loud belch, he collapsed back onto the ground.

As he looks up at the sky, confusion sets in. “Wait a second..." Buggy mutters, sitting up to survey his surroundings. To one side looms a dense jungle, while behind him stood a familiar, peculiar white mountain riddled with holes. In front lay the vast clearing leading to the other side of the mountain, dominated by a massive campfire, where bones crackled and burned. “Where am I?” His head throbs as fragments of memory return—Luffy giving him his hat, the breeze on his face, Luffy mentioning something about getting to an island and needing his hat back.

Pushing himself to stand, Buggy scanned the area, trying to understand why he was no longer on the ship. Then he noticed the clearing looked like a giant’s camp. Spotting familiar barrels near the mountain cave entrance he came out of, he approached them, realizing they were the liquor barrels from the Going Merry. “We should be on Little Garden, right?” he mused aloud. “Maybe the crew ran into Dory and Brogy, and this is one of their flashy camps? That would explain the giant piece of meat.”

But just as he began to piece it all together, the ground rumbled again. Panic surged through him as he finally caught sight of the massive figures of Dory and Brogy battling in the distance. “Why are they fighting?” he shouts in alarm.

Buggy took a few hurried steps away from the barrels, urgency driving him to gain a better perspective on his surroundings. His heart raced as he looked around frantically, the throbbing pain in his head making it difficult to think straight. Memories surged unbidden to the forefront of his mind—vivid recollections of his last visit to Little Garden. He could almost see Captain running away with dinosaur eggs and the chaos that ensued. He and Red getting separated, and the warmth of Dorry's hospitality when the giant found him, offering up mouthwatering chunks of meat.

At that moment, Buggy remembered the promise he had made—to create a giant-sized treasure map someday, a grand adventure that seemed so achievable back then. But the recollections began to blur, becoming hazier with each passing second. He recalled the captain’s eventual arrival at Dorry's camp and how Buggy had anxiously pointed out that they had lost Red and needed to find him, convinced that he could feel Red’s presence somewhere on the other side of the island. The memory of reuniting with Red at Brogy's camp flooded him with warmth, and the joyful celebration that followed—a big party filled with laughter, music, and food.

“Dorry and Brogy weren’t fighting then, so what could have happened to cause this now?” He mutters to himself, anxiety creeping into his voice.

As Buggy scans the landscape, his eyes land on the distant forms of Dorry and Brogy, locked in combat, their colossal figures dwarfing everything around them. Yet, to his dismay, there was no sign of Luffy or the rest of the crew. Panic bubbled within him, and he felt his Haki pulse just above his skin, a frantic signal that something was amiss. ‘I can’t see anyone from the crew!? Where are they!?’ Nervous sweat trickled down his brow, memories of Whiskey Peak flooding his thoughts. How If he let his observation Haki out just a bit, he would sense their presence and know everything was fine.

His head pounds with agony, causing him to stumble and lose his balance. He desperately reached for anything that could offer support, eventually finding the nearby barrels to steady himself. But the pain from the hangover was overwhelming, and he couldn't even think straight as he tried to relieve it. He cursed under his breath, “Shit! Go away already!”

Taking a shaky breath, he focused on the giants battling before him. “It’ll be fine,” he reassured himself, though uncertainty tinged his words. “It’s just the kids and two giants on the island, not a whole island being bombed. I just need to do a quick check, then push it down again.” With determination, he rubbed his gloved hands together and closed his eyes, letting his observation Haki slip from his tight grip, extending outward like a wave that spread out across the terrain.

As his Haki spread from his body, he first felt Nami’s presence—her soul's voice tinged with annoyance and mischief, sparkling like a gold coin glinting in the sunlight. Close by, he sensed Usopp’s soul voice, brimming with awe and inspiration. Usually fluttering like a nervous little bird, it was now steady and observant, like a reptile surveying its prey. Then came the voices of Brogy and Dorry, their powerful voices roaring like erupting volcanoes, a testament to their fierce battle taking place.

As his Haki pushed past the giants, he soon felt Luffy’s unmistakable presence, his soul voice radiating joy and laughter, shining brightly like the sun on a clear day, warming everything it touched. Vivi’s energy was less familiar to Buggy—her voice screamed with constant stress and worry, fear and anger simmering beneath. It felt like grains of sand slipping through an hourglass, but the glass gets turned over again before the last grain drops. Nearby, Karoo’s presence was muted, likely asleep or passed out from the terror of the giants’ fight.

A drop of sweat rolled down Buggy's cheek as he allowed his observation Haki to spread freely now, seeking out Sanji’s smoky, glowing embers and Zoro’s sharp, ready-to-cut-anything soul voices. Suddenly, he sucked in a sharp breath, turning around quickly—only to have a cloth, soaked in an unknown substance, cover his mouth and nose. Reacting instinctively, he punched out, aiming for his assailant's head.

In that instant, Dorry and Brogy both fell to the ground, causing the island to shake violently. The tremor masked the sound of Buggy’s gloved hand exploding on contact with his attacker’s cheek, the glove tearing to pieces under the force. He struggled, attempting to detach himself, but a firm hand gripped his head, holding him in place. The solution on the cloth began to take effect, and as darkness closed in, his vision blurred, and his body went limp, collapsing to the ground.

As Buggy clung to the last threads of consciousness, the world around him began to fade. Just before darkness enveloped him completely, he heard a female voice pierce through the fog, sharp and annoyed. “Why don’t we get rid of him now?”

A gruff male voice responded, low and measured. “It would bring attention to our task that we do not need.He has one mean hook, he is not on the hit list so we have to take him with us for now."

The weight of their words sank into his fading awareness, a chilling realization that they were not the only ones on the island. As his consciousness slipped away, the last vestiges of his strength waned, leaving only the echo of their conversation ringing in his ears.

The clash of metal against metal echoed through the valley as Brogy and Dorry continued their intense battle. With each strike, sweat glistened on their furrowed brows, and blood dripped from scratches and cuts; their breaths came out in ragged pants. Suddenly, with a loud crack, Brogy's axe handle split into two pieces from a hard blow, causing him to quickly jerk his body to the left to avoid Dorry's sword thrusts narrowly escaping being impaled. In a split-second decision, Brogy swiftly launched his axe head at Dorry's head, this time narrowly missing Dorry's sword as it cut the end of his beard and embedded itself in the nearby rock.

Dorry, panting heavily, pulls out his sword from the rock, but it flies off, stabbing into the ground as he dodges the thrown axe head. The force of Brogy’s throw caused the axe head to spin wildly past Dorry’s head before disappearing up into the air. Both giants let out grunts as they tumbled to the ground simultaneously, bruises and cuts covering their bodies from their close calls.

Gasping for air, they pushed themselves back up and readjusted their shields in their hands as they faced each other once again. Brogy took a moment to catch his breath before saying, "I think it's safe to say that we're both starting to get homesick here, huh, Dorry?"

Dorry nodded in agreement, panting heavily from their intense battle. "That's why I intend to end this duel once and for all. I'm going to beat you and go home to Elbaf. Got that, Brogy!" he declared fiercely.

As if on cue, Brogy's flying axe head landed next to Dorry's sword with a resounding thud, the sound reverberating through the valley, signaling the start of their final showdown. With a deafening roar that echoed against the cliffs, the two giants charged towards each other once again, the ground trembling beneath their massive feet. They unleashed powerful strikes with their shields, the metal crashing together like thunderclaps.

In a flash of movement, they both managed to land punishing punches against each other’s faces, the impact sending shock waves through their bodies. Brogy felt the sting as Dorry’s shield crushed into his right cheek, his features momentarily squashed. He grunted out, “73,466 duels,” his voice muffled but filled with pride. Dorry, with his left cheek swollen from the force of Brogy’s shield, smirked as he finished the sentence, “And 73,466...”

In a sudden, synchronized motion, both giants fell backward, thudding onto the ground with such force that the entire island seemed to tremble beneath them. Dust and debris flew into the air as they landed, and in perfect unison, they declared, "Draws.”

Usopp and Nami waited with bated breath as they watched Brogy and Dorry fall. On the other side of the island, Luffy, Vivi, and Karoo also watched in anticipation, as the area grew quiet except for the sounds of birds and insects. Soon breaking the silence was the creaking of Dorry's sword and Brogy's axe, which fell against each other from their spots, impaled in the earth. Soon Brogy and Dorry's laughter follows its cheerful and booming, resonating through the valley, a sound that spoke of camaraderie forged in battle.

After a few moments of catching their breath, the laughter subsided, and Brogy lay sprawled on the ground, grinning despite the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. “Gababababa! Hey, Dorry! A couple of guests of mine gave me some rum!” he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

Dorry, still lying on his back, tilted his head to look at Brogy, blood splattering into the air as he laughed. “Excellent! I haven’t had rum in so long!” His booming voice filled the space around them, and he added with a hearty chuckle, “Gegyagyagya! Give me some, will you?”

Brogy pushed himself up, the playful glint in his eyes reflecting his excitement. “Let me go grab it!” he replied cheerfully, rising to his full height and brushing off the dirt and grime from his body. With a mischievous grin spreading across his face, he added, “Oh! Let me tell you about my guests!”

Zoro pauses on his hunt, the dense foliage around him rustling in the light breeze. He looks up into the sky, his brow furrowed in confusion. “What was that?” he mutters, straining his ears to catch the elusive sound. As he listens closer, disbelief washes over him. “Laughing? First, that long, strange earth quack, and now this creepy laughing sound. Are there weird creatures other than dinosaurs in this jungle?” A smirk crosses his face, a flash of mischief in his eyes. “Well, that damn cook is still hunting out there; he’s probably the only one who’d be happy to capture things like that." With renewed determination, Zoro resumes his search for a big beast, his mind racing with thoughts of the competition.

Meanwhile, Sanji strolls through the thick underbrush at a leisurely pace, his sharp senses tuned to the sounds around him. He halts suddenly, his head tilting as he listens intently. “Were those bird cries? Because those were vulgar, unappetizing cries if so,” he scoffs, a frown forming as he scans the treetops. He shakes his head and continues walking, his eyes darting for anything suitable for their contest. “Although we’re competing to capture big prey, a chef has to have standards. Not only does it have to be big, it also has to taste good.” A smug grin spreads across his face as he thinks about Zoro’s lack of culinary finesse. “Something I’m sure that lousy swordsman doesn’t get at all.” With that thought, he strides deeper into the jungle, his mind set on finding something worthy of a feast.

Dorry’s laughter rang out, loud and joyful, filling the air with a warmth that contrasted sharply with the bruises and blood marring his face from the earlier duel with Brogy. Sitting down on a sturdy tree trunk, he surrounded himself with a few liquor barrels he’d been gifted from Brogy, a broad grin lighting up his features. “GEGYAGYAGYA!” he chuckled, his voice booming as he caught sight of Luffy and Vivi.

Taking a hearty swig from a barrel, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, the strong alcohol barely fazing him. “So, Brogy’s guests are your friends! I saw a goofy-looking man with a long nose and a woman there; Brogy mentioned a sleeping man with long blue hair. I should meet later,” he said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

From his spot on the ground, Luffy sat cross-legged, leaning back on his hands to better look up at Dorry with a wide smile. “That’s Usopp and Nami! Those dummies! They said they weren’t even going to get off the ship. I guess they wanted some adventure after all! And they took Blue with them too!”

Dorry chuckled, shaking one of the small barrels in his giant hand, the sound of liquid sloshing around inside echoing like a drumbeat. “Then you could also say I got this rum from you!!!” he exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious. A Pterodactylus screeches out overhead and draws the group's attention; they all look up at it flying overhead.

Vivi, sitting in seiza in front of Dorry, squeezed her hand on her knees, gathered her courage, and asked, “By the way, Mr. Dorry... does it really take a year for the log pose to reset on this island?”

The Dorry still smiles as he casually watches the pterodactyls flying overhead and says, “Yes, it is true. Didn't you notice all the mounds of human bones lying around here? Well, I guess it's hard not to." His voice stays light like he is talking about an everyday occurrence as he continues. “The little people who come to this island usually die before their logs reset. Some become dinosaur food. Others die from heat, thirst, or starvation. Others are killed because they stupidly attack us. But whatever the case, they all die here somehow." Dorry finely looks down at Vivi and finishes, "It seems an entire year here on this island seems to be too long; no humans have been able to survive here for the full year.”

Vivi felt a wave of despair wash over her, dropping her head into her hands as she whimpered, “What're we going to do!? Even if we did manage to survive here for a year... if that much time passes, I don't know what will happen by then. My country could be lost." Vivi almost sobs in grief at just the thought of her home being lost.

Luffy let his head fall to the side, back groaning. “Oh yeah, she's right. Besides, we’d get bored here after a year. Isn’t there a faster way, old man?”

Dorry rubbed his chin in thought, a glint of mischief in his eyes as he set the barrel he was drinking down. "Perhaps we do have an eternal pose here. But its magnetic link is set to our home village, Elbaf.” His expression darkened a touch, and he continued with a sharp, foreboding smile, “Basically, that eternal pose is what Brogy and I have been fighting for with our duel this whole time. Of course, you could try and take it by force."

Luffy shook his head casually, a carefree grin on his face. “That’s no good. We don’t want to go to Elbaf. We just want to get to the island right after this one. Right?” He turned to Vivi for confirmation, seeking her reassurance.

Vivi’s hands fell from covering her face to her thighs, her fingers digging into the soft flesh as she replied, “That’s right. If we must stay on the route that will lead us to my home or there's no point... who knows where we’d end up?”

Luffy turned back to Dorry, determination in his eyes. “See?”

Dorry threw his head back with a hearty laugh. “GEGYAGYAGYA! You could just try sailing forward randomly!! With a little luck from the sea, you might just get there!!!”

Luffy stares at Dorry for a few moments then breaks out in laughter as well; it fills the air with joy. “Hahahaha! Maybe we should! Hahahahaha! We may actually get there!!!”

Dorry laughed hysterically, clapping his hands together, “GEGYAGYAGYA! Come to think about it, there was someone who left the island before his log was reset.”

Luffy laughs hysterically, asking, "Hahahah! And what happened to him?"

Dorry keeps laughing as he says, "How should I know that? Gegyagyaggya!"

Luffy, with glee in his voice, asks, "I'm sure he was able to get to the next island."

Dorry agrees, "That must be it!"

Karoo, sitting next to Vivi, covers his bill with his wing to stifle his giggles, starts to feel chill, and looks over at Vivi. His joyfulness turns into nerves as a sweat breaks out on his fathers as he sees Vivi's face.

Vivi's face is dark as she glares at the two grinding her teeth as she thinks, ‘What's so funny?’ The pair's laughter rings in her ears like an annoying insect as she rages in her mind. ‘I don't get what these two idiots are laughing about. I can't understand what they're thinking at a time like this!' She slightly feared Luffy might take the idea seriously, even as Dorry opens a new barrel and starts drinking from it, laughter still rolling off him like waves along with Luffy's laughter.

Brogy works on wrapping a new handle for his axe as he asks, A Brave Warrior of the Sea, you said?” Brogy looked down at Usopp with a mixture of curiosity and intrigue; his massive brow furrowed slightly. “What’s that?”

Usopp’s eyes sparkled with cheerful admiration as he gazed up at the giant. “I'm talking about you guys! I want to be just like you guys someday!” His enthusiasm radiated from him, infectious and earnest.

Brogy jerked back in shock, his voice booming as he exclaimed, “You want to be a giant?”

Nami flashes a full grin at Usopp, showing all her teeth with glee as she says, "You hear that! ~~"

“No!!! That's not what I mean!” Usopp waved his hands frantically in front of himself, sweat beading on his forehead from the effort of explaining. “I want to be like the warriors of Elbaf! I want to live brave and proud!” His fists clenched against his chest, determination gleaming in his eyes.

Brogy’s hearty laughter rang out, echoing off the trees. “Gababababa! I see!” He looks back down at Usopp, a joyful light in his eyes. “You know, even in Elbaf, though our life spans are longer than yours are, we still think about how we will die. We know that everything we have and everything we are will one day cease to exist like everything else."

Brogy smile widened, revealing a heartwarming sincerity. “But it is worth it to die a true warrior of Elbaf without sacrificing your pride... To die such a great death would be an everlasting treasure! It's what we seek in Elbaf!" His voice held a weight as if sharing a sacred truth passed down through generations.

A pterodactyl screech in the distance, its call piercing the air as Usopp absorbs Brogy’s words. He let out a gasp, realization dawning on him. “So pride is your treasure. That's great!” he exclaimed, the depth of the giant's philosophy striking him with profound clarity. "I've decided to learn from you... from now on I will call you master!"

Brogy titles his head confused once again, asking, "Huh?"

As Dorry finishes his rum barrel, a loud kaboom erupts from his mouth, the sound reverberating through the clearing. Thick, acrid smoke billows out, swirling around his massive frame as his body sways unsteadily from the force of the explosion. Vivi, Luffy, and Karoo froze, hearts pounding in their chests. They watched in shock as Dorry started to fall backward.

“THE RUM… BLEW UP!!” Luffy shouted, wide-eyed and stunned, while Karoo let out a startled “QUACK!!!” as he flapped his wings, clearly alarmed.

Dorry's eyes roll back into his head as he falls backward, landing with a loud thud that shakes the ground. Some of his teeth are missing; blood oozes from his mouth and is dripping down his chin. Vivi couldn't help but shudder at the gruesome sight.

“Old giant guy!!” Luffy yells, rushing over, while Vivi cries out, “Mr. Dorry!!” Both of them sprint to the fallen giant. Luffy climbs on top of Dorry's massive chest and examines his injuries up close.

He is horrified to see blood seeping from Dorry’s mouth and charred black spots lining his lips where the explosion had burned him.

From Dorry's chest, Luffy shouts down to Vivi, “WHAT'S GOING ON?! WHY DID THE RUM EXPLODE?! THAT WAS THE SAME ALCOHOL WE HAD ON OUR SHIP RIGHT?!”

Vivi leans in with concern etched on her face, worries clutching her heart as she observes Dorry, who let out a small burp of smoke and then coughed up another fresh gush of blood. “IT EXPLODED IN HIS STOMACH!! WHAT A CRUEL TRICK!!!” she shouts back, panic rising in her voice. She looks up at Luffy, dread filling her expression. “YOU DON’T THINK THE OTHER GIANT PUT EXPLOSIVES IN THE RUM, DO YOU?”

Enraged by the suggestion, Luffy jumps down from Dorry’s body and gets right in Vivi’s face, causing her to flinch. As he starts shouting at her, “HOLD IT! WEREN’T YOU PAYING ATTENTION!? NOBODY WHO FIGHTS LIKE THAT FOR A HUNDRED YEARS FOR HONOR! WOULD PULL A DIRTY TRICK LIKE THAT!!!”

Vivi shouts back at Luffy, asking, "Alright then, who the hell did it?!" Dorry begins to stir, tightening his grip on his sword. He stands up, looming over them, his eyes wild with rage, almost glowing red with his anger as blood still trickles from his mouth. “YOU BASTARDS… DECEIVERS!" he growls, panting heavily as he wobbles where he stands.

“COUGH!” He gasped, each word sending blood sputtering from his lips. “It wasn’t Brogy, no way! We are proud warriors of Elbaf.” Dorry shifted, readying himself for a confrontation as he roared, “Who could have done it on this island but you!?”

Luffy’s expression hardens, a serious frown crossing his lips as Dorry places the blame squarely on him and his crew. Meanwhile, Karoo bolts away, terrified. Vivi reaches out to Luffy, desperation, and fear in her voice. “Let’s run for it! It’s useless to argue with him right now!”

Luffy pushes his hat back slightly, focusing intently on Dorry. “I doubt running will do us any good, too.” He hands Vivi his hat and starts to stretch. “Hold this for a minute and stand back.”

Vivi’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you insane!? You are going to fight Mr. Dorry!? You’re no match for him!!”

Ignoring her, Luffy gets into a fighting stance, cracking his knuckles as he raises his fists. "Yeah, I don't want to do this to the old guy, but we got to settle this.”

Dorry sways unsteadily, still gasping for air as he glares down at Luffy and Vivi. A violent cough erupts from him, sending a spray of blood onto the ground. Vivi, panic evident in her eyes, raises her arms wide, desperate to stop the fight that was about to begin.“Both of you stop! Please!" She looks up at Dorry, begging him to listen. "Wait! Please just listen to me, Mister Dorry! We’re innocent!!! We didn’t know anything about the explosives in the barrels, I promise!!” Vivi shouts, her voice trembling. “Please don’t attack us!! You have to stay calm! Your insides are torn up; you are in no shape to fight right now!! You’ve got to keep still! So please stop!”

But Luffy remains steadfast, locking eyes with Dorry, unyielding and resolute. Dorry’s wheezing intensifies, and with another painful cough, he fixes Luffy with a glare that drips with fury. “You humans dare... cough." He lifts his massive sword, roaring, “To trick the mighty Dorry!”

With a tremendous swing, the blade crashed into the earth, sending a cloud of dirt and debris soaring into the air. Luffy barely dodged the blow, instincts kicking in as Dorry coughed again, more blood spilling from his mouth.

Seizing the moment, Luffy used the sword as a springboard, launching himself into the air. Once high enough in the air, “Alright then! Gum-Gum—” he began but was abruptly struck by Dorry’s shield, slamming into him mid-flight and sending him crashing to the ground with a grunt of pain. Rolling and bouncing to lessen the impact, Luffy quickly regained his bearings and spotted a thick tree nearby. With lightning-fast reflexes, Luffy stretched his arms impossibly far, wrapping his hands around the trunk and propelling himself forward as Dorry’s sword swept down on him again.

Luffy’s heart raced as he soared through the jungle. The sounds of Dorry’s violent coughs echoed behind him, blood spilling from Dorry's lips as he fought to remain upright. Holding tight to the tree, Luffy prepared for his attack. “Gum-Gum!” he shouted. Luffy reached the apex of his stretch and softened his voice, whispering, “I'm sorry." Then, with determination in his eyes, he yells, “Rocket!!” and sling-shot himself headfirst towards Dorry in a powerful attack.

The impact causes Dorry to roar in pain, and he staggers back, dropping his sword. Luffy, however, found his descent uncontrollable. Dorry’s foot came crashing down toward him. “Huh?” Luffy gasped, but it was too late. Dorry’s foot slammed into the ground, sending Luffy deep into the earth, while Dorry struggled to regain his balance.

"NO, LUFFY!" Vivi screamed, her face filled with horror as she watched the impact.

Dorry clutches his chest, wheezing and choking on his own blood. He bents over, each breath a struggle. “Gack, I see now he has the power from one of the Devil Fruits....” he gasps, more blood spilling from his lips as he fights to stay upright. “So that’s what you are!” With a final, pained effort, Dorry fell to his knees, a pool of blood spreading beneath him. “I underestimated him,” he admitted, his strength waning as he collapsed face-first onto the ground, unconscious.

As Dorry’s foot lifts, he reveals a Luffy-shaped indent in the earth. With a huff, Luffy stretches, springing into a sitting position, panting as he emerges from his hole just as Vivi runs over, his hat still clutched in her hand. “Luffy!!!” she calls, worry flooding her voice. “Are you hurt?!”

Luffy shook his head, glancing at the fallen Dorry. “How’s the old guy?”

Vivi looks at Dorry’s unconscious form. “I think he’s all right. I guess you were right about fighting. This was probably the only way we could get him to calm down!” She held out Luffy’s hat, and he grabbed it, shoving it onto his head with a determined thwap.

"Well, I'm not; now I'm mad!” He growls, grinding his teeth together.

“Yes…” Vivi nodded slowly, her brow furrowing as she struggled to contain the anger that simmered just beneath the surface. The thought of what had happened to Dorry filled her with a deep sense of injustice.

“That old guy was right! Somebody spiked that rum! The other giant would never do anything like this!” Luffy pants, still catching his breath after the intense fight. “And I know our friends would never pull a dirty trick like that either!” He settles his hands on his knees, staring intently at the thick prehistoric jungle ahead. As Vivi wonders" Yes but who..."

Luffy's voice growls as he says, “There’s somebody else on this island.”

Just then, the middle volcano on the island erupted again, smoke and ash billowing into the sky. Luffy and Vivi turn to it in surprise. “Aah?!” Luffy gasped, startled, while Vivi echoed, “Huh? That volcano! That's their signal, right?”

Zoro squinted against the dappled sunlight filtering through the dense canopy of trees as he trudged deeper into the jungle. The air is thick with humidity, and the distant rumble of the volcano echoed ominously through the underbrush. He paused for a moment, glancing upward to see the volcano erupting in a fiery display, ash billowing into the sky. "Well, damn," he mutters, a wry smile creeping across his face. "Guess my time's up."

As he resumed walking, Zoro suddenly felt something soft and squishy underfoot. He looks down, and his heart sinks as he sees a baby triceratops staring up at him with big, tear-filled eyes. "Ah... Sorry, little buddy," he says, trying to step aside.

But as he lifted his foot, the little dinosaur let out an indignant growl and clamped its tiny jaws onto the end of Zoro's boot. Zoro’s eyes widened in surprise as pain shot through his foot. "Ahh! Let it go! I said sorry! Hey!" he shouts, shaking his leg wildly in an attempt to dislodge the stubborn creature.

The baby triceratops growled even louder, refusing to release its grip, its tiny legs wobbling as it struggled to keep up with Zoro's frantic movements. "I don’t have time to mess around! Let my foot go!" he yells, his voice echoing through the trees.

Unbeknownst to Zoro, just behind him, the shadow of the baby’s parent loomed ominously, its massive frame hidden among the foliage, watching with a fierce protective instinct.

Meanwhile, not far away, Sanji was making his way through the thick jungle, a heavy sigh escaping his lips as the ground shook beneath him. "That was the time-out signal," he grumbles, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "And I don’t have any big game to bring back. Having no prey isn’t even funny... Damn it."

As he trudged onward, the tension in the air heightened, and a faint rustling above him went unnoticed. A saber-toothed tiger crouched low on a branch, its sharp teeth bared and drool dripping from its jaws as it fixed its predatory gaze on Sanji. The hunter had become the hunted, and the jungle was alive with the sounds of danger.

Brogy stares at the erupting volcano, his eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and excitement. But then, his surprise quickly transformed into infectious laughter, echoing through the clearing. “Gababababa!!! The call to battle! It's quite active today!” His booming voice reverberated among the trees, filling the air with a sense of anticipation.

Nami steps closer, worry evident on her face. "Are you going to fight? But what about your injuries?" She glances at his bruised and cut body, still fresh from his previous battle with Dorry.

Usopp, his eyes sparkling with admiration, interjects enthusiastically, “That wouldn’t make any difference to him!!” He looks up at Brogy, awe radiating from him. “A warrior like you thrives in battle, right?”

Brogy let out another hearty laugh, shaking his head in delight. “Gababababa! In a fight with no quarter, it would be a disgrace to make excuses!!” His eyes gleam with fierce determination, reflecting the warrior spirit of Elbaf that coursed through his veins.

As the volcano erupts, it jolts Dorry from his stupor. Startled and groggy, he struggles to push himself up, his massive hands digging into the ground. Luffy and Vivi’s eyes widen in alarm at the sight of the giant trying to rise.

“Hey!! Wait, giant guy!!! Don’t go!!” Luffy shouts, rushing forward, his voice filled with urgency. He desperately wants to prevent Dorry from hurting himself further.

“No, Mr. Dorry!!! You can’t get up!!! You’ll die if you push yourself too hard!!” Vivi adds, her heart racing as she watches the giant sway unsteadily, teetering on the brink of collapse.

But Dorry is resolute, forcing himself to stand despite the pain. He wobbles, his massive frame swaying like a tree caught in a storm. “I will fight..... I am... the warrior, Dorry!!!” he declares, his voice a mix of pride and defiance. As he speaks, he coughs violently, more blood splattering onto the ground. "I... Cannot... Gack... Disgrace the name of Elbaf!!!!”

Vivi and Luffy can only watch in mounting concern as Dorry, his massive frame trembling with exertion, sweats, and pants heavily. He finally manages to stand up, muscles straining beneath his skin. With a deep, resolute grunt, Dorry steps toward the strange white mountain, its surface riddled with eerie, gaping holes.

“What is he doing?” Vivi wonders aloud, stepping back instinctively, her brow furrowed with worry.

With a low groan, Dorry grasps the mountain, his grip tightening as the earth trembles beneath him. The mountain responds with a deep, creaking protest, echoing the giant's struggle. Luffy, his eyes sparkling with admiration, shouts, “Awesome! He's picking up that gigantic rock! That is so cool!”

But as Dorry shifts the colossal boulder overhead, Vivi's heart races. “Luffy, look out!” she cries, taking several hurried steps back. Luffy's excitement turns to alarm as he realizes the danger. His eyes widen in panic, and he attempts to scramble away, but it's too late—the mountain descends, pinning him beneath its weight. His rubber body stretches impossibly, trapping him beneath the immense rock.

“Ahhhh! What're you doing, old guy?! Move this rock off me!!!” Luffy yells, his frustration echoing through the clearing as he slaps the ground with his hands, desperate to free himself.

Dorry, still panting heavily, turns to Luffy with a somber intensity. “I cannot be stopped,” he says softly, his voice a mix of exhaustion and determination. Luffy pauses, momentarily stunned by the giant's unwavering resolve. Dorry continues, “It’s been over a century... since we began this duel. Injured or not, I cannot allow myself to run away from this fight. To do so would be to abandon the very title of 'Warrior.' If I forsake my identity as a warrior of Elbaf, I would lose who I am.”

He turns his gaze toward Brogy’s side of the island, a distant look in his eyes, before finally meeting Luffy's gaze. "I'm sorry, I suspect you of causing the explosion," he says with a heavy expression. "I now see this was a judgment...a judgment from Elbaf, the god of war." Dorry looks away as he adds, "I don't have his divine protection. That's all." With that, he begins walking away, sweat pouring down his brow, each step sending tremors through the ground.

"Listen to me!" Luffy growls, still trapped beneath the mountain, his voice filled with rage. "Gods and protection and judgments have nothing to do with what's going on! If a god told you to die, would you?!"

Luffy watches in frustration as Dorry continues his relentless march, closing his eyes and screaming with all his might. "Someone has interfered with your duel!" The words echo in the silence, causing Dorry to pause momentarily.

"A duel that's been interfered with isn't a fair fight anymore! Isn't that right?!" Luffy shouts, his determination rising.

Dorry turns his head slightly, the tension palpable in the air as he bellows back without looking, "Silence!" The command is sharp, cutting through Luffy's cries like a knife. Luffy falls silent, staring up at Dorry's massive form, feeling the weight of the giant's words.

"What can you possibly know about this?" Dorry continues, his voice heavy with scorn. "You've only lived for maybe ten or twenty years! How can you hope to understand the ways of the warriors of Elbaf?" With that, he resumes walking, leaving Luffy twisting his body in an attempt to punch the mountain in frustration.

"Who gives a crap about that stuff?!" Luffy shouts back defiantly. "Get this damn thing off me! Hey! Move this! Old guy, listen to me! Move this rock already! Come on! Get back here! I can't move this! You can't leave me trapped under here!"

Vivi stands helplessly, her heart racing as she listens to Luffy's desperate pleas. She watches Dorry's towering figure, knowing that he is walking towards what could be his death. Fear and concern gnaw at her as she takes in the scene, hoping for a resolution that seems more distant with each passing moment.

As Brogy leaves his camp to head to his duel with Dorry, Usopp cheers him on. "Good luck, Master Brogy!" he shouts. Brogy chuckles cheerfully in response, "Gabababa! I'm going to beat him for sure this time, Usopp!"

He continues walking as Usopp cheers him on. Nami covers her eyes against the sun, watching Usopp cheer for Brogy as he enters the jungle. She sighs, "He sure enjoys this fighting nonsense."

Usopp turns to her, stomping his foot childishly as he retorts, "Don't say that! Brogy's a brave warrior of the sea, just like the kind I'm aiming to be! You have no right to say anything, you idiot!"

Nami ignores Usopp's pouting and looks at her log pose, saying, "Anyway, let's get back to the ship. Waiting a year for the log pose to store up is out of the question. There’s no way we’re staying here that fucking long!" She turns her back on Usopp, adding, "We've got to wait on the ship for the others and work out a plan. Let's go wake up, Blue."

Usopp starts shouting in panic, "Hold it! Just hold it!" Nami looks back at him as he points proudly at himself and declares, "I can't do anything against dinosaurs! Therefore, cutting through the jungle to get back to the Merry won't do us any good if we get killed."

Nami holds her hand out in exasperation, her brow furrowed in disbelief. “What happened to all that ‘Brave Warrior of the Sea’ stuff I just heard you say you wanted to be?” Her voice is sharp, cutting through the tension as she tries to make sense of Usopp’s sudden shift.

Usopp puffs up his chest, his expression earnest. “I was just thinking out loud! I want to be a man... who can be proud of the way he lives!” He gestures dramatically, his hands animated as he speaks. “Plus, a brave warrior has to have enough sense not to get himself killed!" His pride is palpable, but a flicker of uncertainty flashes in his eyes.

Nami frowns, her gaze drifting toward the distant treetops swaying in the breeze. “Well, Luffy and Vivi are at the other giant’s place. Let’s head over there first.” Her voice softens, the urgency of their situation sinking in. She feels the weight of responsibility on her shoulders, and she knows they need to move.

Usopp sticks his nose in the air, rubbing his chin as he beams with misplaced confidence. “Nami, listen! Even if someday... I lose everything and face a horrible, tragic death alone on a deserted island... I’ll die proud of the way I lived! And I’ll say, ‘I am Captain Usopp, a Brave Warrior of the Sea!!!’ That’s what I’ll say!!” His voice rises with each word, and he leans back so far, his nose pointed proudly upward, that he loses his balance and lands with a thud on his back.

Nami shakes her head, a mix of amusement and frustration crossing her face. Without a word, she grabs the strap of Usopp's bag and starts dragging him along. “Yeah, yeah. Let’s wake up, Blue. He should have slept off the liquor by now.” She mutters under her breath, “I wish this bravery of yours would kick in already.” Despite her irritation, there’s a hint of affection in her tone.

Usopp, nearly choking from the strap digging into his shoulders, gasps out, "Oh, right, let’s go!” He struggles to regain his footing as he’s pulled along, trying to keep up with Nami’s brisk pace. They navigate around the rocky outcrops and thick foliage, making their way to the entrance of Brogy’s cave.

As they approach, the massive hunk of meat Brogy had cooked for them still sits invitingly on its giant leaf, the aroma lingering in the air. Nami’s stomach growls, but there’s no time to indulge. They step into the cave, and an unsettling silence greets them. Usopp’s heart races as they scan the space.

Suddenly, Usopp’s eyes widen in horror. He points at the empty pile of hay where Blue was sleeping before. “Blue's gone!!” His voice is filled with panic as he begins digging through the hay, calling out, “Blue, where are you?!”

Nami looks around the cave, her skin prickling with anxiety. “Maybe he’s outside, and we didn’t see him,” she suggests, but the uncertainty hangs in the air like a storm cloud. They step out of the cave, and Nami’s gaze catches the back of the meat, which has been gnawed to the bone on one side. “See? Blue has to be around here somewhere,” she says, trying to convince herself as much as Usopp.

But Usopp, having halted at the entrance, walks over to a blackened spot next to where the rum barrels used to be. The dirt around the circular barrels is scorched and torn up, sending a chill down his spine. “Nami, look at the ground! I think something grabbed Blue!” He holds up pieces of torn white fabric, his hands trembling. “This looks like scraps from his gloves. He never takes them off.”

Nami’s complexion pales as she examines the blackened spot and the torn fabric. A cold sweat breaks out on her forehead, and she lets out a nervous laugh that sounds hollow. “Let’s hurry to Luffy; we can find Blue after; something isn’t right on this island.” Her instincts scream that danger lurks nearby.

Without another moment’s hesitation, the two take off into the jungle, their hearts pounding with urgency as they race to find Luffy.

Chapter Text

With each step, Brogy’s colossal feet crush the smaller trees beneath him, their trunks splintering and snapping like brittle twigs. The jungle seems to shudder with every movement. His massive figure strides effortlessly through the broken jungle, his muscles swelling beneath bruised skin. The sounds of cracking timber and snapping branches echo through the air as Brogy approaches the open clearing where his rival, Dorry, awaits.

As Dorry comes into view, Brogy’s grin widens even more, a savage, toothy smile stretching from ear to ear. His laugh booms across the landscape, rattling the thick trees like a distant storm.

"Gabababababa!" he chuckles, his voice shaking the air around them. "Dorry! How was your drink?! Hit the spot, didn’t it?!"

Dorry stands tall, his eyes narrowing as he wipes away a drop of sweat that drops down his cheek, mixing with the soot and blood on his face. Despite the heavy strain on his body from his earlier wounds, his grin is sharp.

"Aye!" Dorry replies with a deep, rumbling voice. "It was like the nectar of the gods, Brogy! A fine drink indeed!" He grips his massive sword with one hand, the blade gleaming in the afternoon sun, and holds his round shield firmly in his other hand. His broad chest rises and falls with deep breaths, his stance ready. His body may be wounded inside, but his pride is unbroken.

Brogy laughs again, a deep, hearty sound that could rival thunder. "Gabababa! I’m glad you enjoyed it! Gababa! You’re always so full of exaggerations, you blow hard!" His voice booms cheerfully.

With a sudden shift, Brogy grins sharpens as he raises his enormous axe, the weapon gleaming with deadly intent. The ground seems to tremble even more as he shifts into a battle-ready stance.

"Here I come!" he warns, his voice shaking the very air as he charges. His massive legs power him forward, the ground quaking with each step, and the earth beneath his feet shuddering in his wake.

Dorry stands his ground, his massive shield raised in preparation for the other oncoming giant. His other hand tightens around his sword’s hilt, ready to swing it in defense or offense as the two giants collide.

Luffy slams his fists into the ground, knuckles scraping against jagged rocks as he twists his rubber body, bending and straining with every ounce of strength he can muster. His face is a mask of raw fury, teeth bared, brows furrowed, eyes blazing as he snarls, trying to escape the massive weight Dorry has placed on him to stop him from interfering in the giant’s fight. Gritting his teeth, Luffy’s fists clench tighter before hammering into the unyielding mountain in a series of frustrated, desperate punches, his voice echoing through the clearing.

"Move, you stupid rock! Come on!" he roars, his voice cracking with desperation and frustration. Each blow bounces off the mountain, sending ripples up his arms but making no difference. He yells louder, his voice thick with anger, as he punches it repeatedly, his shouts mingling with the distant, thunderous clash of the giants’ battle nearby.

Vivi watches from a distance, her eyes wide with disbelief. She takes in the sight of Luffy’s relentless struggle—his muscles straining, his expression raw with emotion. 'I don’t understand. Why does he care so much about someone he just met?' she wonders, her thoughts a tangle of confusion and awe. 'He doesn’t act like a hardened criminal with a bounty on his head!'

Luffy finally slumps forward, panting, as his rubber body snaps back into place. For a moment, he lies still, his fists resting against the cold, unmovable dirt, shoulders heaving with every labored breath. His hat dips low, shadowing his eyes, but she can see the set of his jaw, clenched tight as rage and determination course through him. He grinds his teeth, frustration building as he scoffs furiously, “Of course, just when I meet a great warrior... this happens!”

Vivi shivers as she watches him, seeing the fierce loyalty and raw emotion that drives him. She whispers under her breath, “Just… calm down…” But his anger seems almost alive, radiating off him in waves that she can almost feel, and it unsettles her. She hears his sorrow and helplessness as he seethes, fists still clenched.

“Who was it?! Who would dare interfere?! I'll kill them!” Luffy snarls, his voice like a crack of thunder, anger, and fury mingling with the sounds of battle.

Suddenly, the ground shudders with another clash between Dorry and Brogy; they watch as entire trees are uprooted and flung into the air, sending leaves spiraling down in a chaotic breeze. The force of their missed blows sends a fierce wind washing over them, rustling Vivi’s hair and clothes.

Then, something catches her eye. She scans their surroundings, her brow creasing with sudden realization. “Luffy…” she murmurs, eyes darting around, “Karoo’s missing!”

Karoo finally slows to a stop deep in the jungle, his chest rising and falling with heavy breaths. He shuffles forward a few steps, grateful to finally rest, and lowers his bill to reach the straw in his small barrel. He takes a swallow, savoring the cool, sweet liquid flowing down his parched throat. But his relief is short-lived. A mocking voice cuts through the quiet.

"Oh? Isn't this ugly bird the one the princess always hangs around with?"

Karoo jolts, his heart leaping into his throat. He choked on his drink, the liquid going down the wrong pipe as he sputters, a geyser of liquid escaping his bill.

Another voice, deep and menacing, follows. “Yeah, it is.” The sound sends a shiver down Karoo’s spine, and he inches his head around slowly. He sees the sight of two figures lounging nearby, their laughter dripping with malice.

On a large rock sits Miss Valentine, her gold earrings glinting in the dappled sunlight, her cruel smile stretched wide as she laughs with unsettling glee. Mr. 5 stands beside her, a dark chuckle rumbling from his chest, his sunglasses flashing in the light. Karoo’s gaze falls on a fresh bandage across Mr. 5’s cheek, and dread washes over him. He slaps his wings to his face, his feathers fluffing up in terror as he lets out a trembling squeak, his body wiggling with fright.

His first instinct is to flee. Moving slowly, he steps back, his talon feet inching along the dirt as he tries to quietly slip away. But Mr. 5’s eyes catch him, and he snaps, “Hey! Don’t go running away now.” Karoo freezes, his feathers standing on end as he stifles a terrified quack, his gaze flitting to Mr. 5, who steps closer, his movements deliberate and intimidating.

"Well, now we're lucky enough to meet out here after all." Mr. 5 smirks, beckoning with a finger. “There’s something we’d like you to do.”

Miss Valentine’s grin widens, her eyes gleaming with cruel delight. “That’s right~,” she says, her voice dripping with malicious anticipation.

Karoo takes a trembling step toward them, but something catches his eye. Behind Mr. 5, partially hidden by tall grass, a motionless figure lies on the ground. Long blue hair spills across the dirt and his hands are tied behind his back—one gloved, the other with faint burn marks. Karoo’s eyes darted nervously between the body and the agents, his heart pounding as a memory flashed vividly in his mind.

~Flashback~

Karoo had been on the main deck with Vivi, who was relaxing in a beach chair beside Nami. They had just finished taking a bath and helping clean up breakfast. They were now sitting back and enjoying a peaceful moment with freshly brewed coffee. They let their hair dry in the sun, close to a large umbrella casting gentle shade over them. Vivi leaned back in her chair, her hair flowing freely, eyes half-closed in contentment as she chatted with Nami, who was equally relaxed. Karoo waddled over to Vivi’s side, settling comfortably and enjoying the calm company.

The quiet of the deck was briefly interrupted by some distant sounds of splashing and complaints; Buggy had taken it upon himself to drag Luffy and Zoro in for a bath, unwilling to let his crewmates stink of blood and smoke. Nami and Vivi exchanged a small smile at the thought of the boys getting cleaned up in a rare peaceful moment, and they continued to sip their coffee.

Suddenly, a faint creak caught Karoo’s attention. He turned to see the bathroom door slowly opening, though nobody was stepping out. He cocked his head curiously, his beady eyes tracking the door. Then, gliding eerily through the open doorway, two gloved hands floated out, casually moving through the air as if they had complete awareness of the deck around them. The hands moved independently, entirely unattached to any visible body; Karoo squawked loudly, his feathers puffing up in every direction as he scrambled backward in shock, his wings flapping wildly.

Vivi looked over, startled by Karoo’s squawk. She gasped at the sight, her hand coming up to her mouth in surprise as the floating hands drifted by them, waving “Hello”. That only emphasized their strange, disembodied state. She instinctively shifted back in her seat, gripping the chair’s edge.

Nami, though, was entirely unbothered. With a chuckle, she explained, “It’s okay; they’re just Blue’s hands.” She glanced at the door with mild amusement. “He must’ve realized he didn’t bring any clothes in for the three of them to change into.”

With a small sigh, Nami gathered some clothing from the boy's room, folded it neatly, and handed it to the gloved hands that paused mid-air, palms outstretched to receive the items. She also slipped in a small note for Buggy. The hands gave a polite thumbs-up, then turned and floated back toward the bathroom.

Vivi, still catching her breath, looked at Nami with wide eyes. “So… Mr. Blue has eaten a Devil Fruit, too?” Her voice held both awe and lingering wariness as she watched the hands disappear.

Nami nodded with a knowing smile. “Yeah, he ate the Bara-Bara fruit. He can’t be cut and can control his body parts.” She chuckled, clearly amused by Vivi’s reactions. “It’s one of his more... convenient abilities.”

Vivi let out a small laugh as well, shaking her head as she relaxed back into her chair. “Impressive,” she admitted, though she shot a final wary glance at the door, almost expecting another surprise appearance from the floating hands.

~Flashback over~

Karoo’s eyes grow wide with recognition and horror as he realizes the body lying before him is Blue’s, captured and helpless.

His legs feel weak, but he shuffles closer, his eyes darting nervously between Blue and the agents. A cold sweat gathers beneath his feathers and tears well up in his eyes. Mr. 5 gives him a stern look, unmistakable command in his gaze. "Now, quack and call for your mistress," he orders, his voice harsh. Miss Valentine laughs, her voice high and mocking. "Kyahahaha! Just give us one loud quack, and we’ll let you go."

But Karoo clamps his bill tightly shut, shaking his head in defiance, refusing to make a sound.

Mr. 5’s brow furrows, and a vein pulses on his forehead. “Huh?” he grunts, irritated by the duck’s resistance. “Too bad, then. We’ll have to make you quack.” He takes a step forward, cracking his neck. “Don’t worry,” he sneers, glancing back at Blue’s unconscious form. “We’ve got orders to keep you and your friends alive. For now.”

With a cruel smirk, Mr. 5 kicks Blue’s body, rolling him onto his front. “Now, let’s hear it—call for your owner real loud, bird.”

Karoo's eyes widen as he gasps in horror, realizing what the agents wanted. Miss Valentine leans in close, giggling with glee. “Give us a real loud squawk, and we might let you go,” she taunts. But Karoo presses his beak closed, shaking his head furiously from side to side, refusing to call Vivi.

Mr. 5’s face twists into a dark scowl, his annoyance boiling over. “Alright then,” he growls, his voice low and threatening, “we’ll see how long you can keep quiet.” With a sharp motion, he pulls his hand from his pocket and delivers a stinging slap to Karoo’s face. The blow lands with a sharp thwack, and the duck flinches instinctively, his feathers ruffling from the impact.

Yet, despite the pain, Karoo’s determination remains steadfast. He keeps his beak firmly shut, his defiance shining through the mist of tears welling in his eyes.

“Now, call for help!” Mr. 5 barks, punctuating each word with another smack. “Let’s hear it, bird! Call out to your precious princess!” Thwack! Thwack! The harsh sound of each slap echoes, but Karoo only trembles, tears streaming down his face as he refuses to cry out.

Frustrated, Mr. 5 growls and pulls his fist back, ready to punch. “Just open your beak, you damn bird!” His fist lands on Karoo’s face, and the duck quivers with pain, but his loyalty to Vivi is unbroken. Even as his eyes squeeze shut and he whimpers softly, he holds his silence, determined not to betray his friends.

Buggy lay unconscious, drifting in a dark haze of dreams. But as the silence stretched, something started to pierce through the void—a faint feeling, like a tickle of static on his skin, faint but insistent, gnawing at the edge of his awareness. It started as a dull ache, like an old echo of pain, but it grew sharper and clearer. His natural observation Haki stirred, tugging him toward a source of distress he could feel but not fully see.

Suddenly, the faint impression sharpened. Buggy’s nose twitched involuntarily, his brow furrowing as cold beads of sweat slipped down his temple. The pain wasn’t his, but he felt it—each blow, each hit, landing on someone. A muffled whimper echoed through the darkness, a pitiful sound soaked in fear and resolve. The whimper became more distinct, accompanied by a series of desperate cries.

"I'm scared! Scared! Scared! Help, it hurts! It hurts! No, I will not! Pain! Pain! Scary! Ouch! No!" The voice wove through Buggy’s senses, raw with terror but stubbornly defiant. Even as each hit landed, the voice held firm, refusing to call for help, refusing to break. It was as though he was there, feeling each pulse of anguish, each wave of dread.

Behind that defiant cry came other voices—harsh, sharp-edged with menace. They loomed over the first voice, frustrated and menacing. They grew louder, pressing in with cruel insistence, their anger palpable. He could feel their frustration brimming, turning into rage as they sought to force their will, threatening to overwhelm the small voice that continued to hold firm in its refusal to yield.

The sensation intensified as the scene expanded in his mind. Three voices became six, each adding to the pressure in his head. The new voices rose in a bright protective rage, the other weary but calm close by, as if they, too, were locked in some battle. They stood firm, undeterred by the mounting pressure. The lines between voices and emotions began to blur as Buggy felt each one distinctly, yet all tangled together—a desperate mesh of defiance and frustration echoing through his mind.

Six voices quickly grew to twelve, and he felt a sense of calm wash over him. One voice was steady and almost serene as if it were simply observing the world—stalking yet kind, unafraid. This voice provided relief from the harsher emotions, a grounding calm that lingered in the air like smoke.

Another voice carried a spark of excitement, bold and eager, as if on the edge of triumph. Its energy pulsed with sharpness but also joy but it felt lost. The excitement and cheer of this voice fought back the more ominous tones, lifting the pressure on Buggy’s mind just enough to feel something beyond the voices.

Beneath the diverse voices, there were darker, unknown tones of arrogance and apathy, alongside a familiar voice calling out, "Blue, where are you?" Buggy's pulse quickened as the scene grew more vivid. The voices intertwined, creating a cacophony of willful resilience, desperation, anger, and, surprisingly, even joy.

He tried to process this tangle of what his hazy mind realizes are soul voices, and he became aware of one last voice, distant and fading. Unlike the others, it was weakened, its voice slowly slipping away like an echo disappearing into silence.

Buggy’s heart clenched, a chill settling in as he realized this soul voice presence was losing its grip, its strength dimming. Buggy’s pulse quickened as the fear of another voice just being gone made a chill settle deep into his bones.

With a violent jolt, his eyes snapped open, and he gasped, gulping in air as if breaking through the surface of water. His heart hammered as he tried to shake off the lingering echoes of those voices, the pain and fear still reverberating in his mind. Slowly, he pushed himself upright, feeling the sweat-soaked chill of his clothes clinging to him like a second skin.

His vision is blurry. He blinks repeatedly in an attempt to clear it. The shapes and colors around him seem to blend together. His natural Observation Haki continued to hum, tracing the path of distress that echoed faintly. He strained to silence the barrage of voices in his mind, desperate to find the source.

"Quack for us!” The words cut through the humid air like a explosion. Buggy’s breath hitched as realization dawned. 'Karoo… It’s that duck, Vivi’s duck.'

Buggy’s eyes darted toward the source of the sound. As the grass come into focus, he saw them: Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine. They loomed over Karoo, trembling on the ground, his yellow feathers streaked with dirt and blood. The duck whimpered weakly, his body battered but his spirit unbroken.

"Come on, birdie," Mr. 5 taunted, cracking his knuckles, ready to hit the duck again. "Let’s hear it. Quack for us!"

Miss Valentine giggled, twirling her parasol as she tilted her head mockingly. "Oh, look at him! So pathetic. Maybe he needs a little more encouragement!"

Buggy’s fists clenched behind his back, his jaw tightening as he fought to steady his breath. Part of him screamed to stay hidden, to use this distraction to escape. But something in Karoo’s trembling form, in the stubborn refusal of the duck to cry out, struck a chord deep within him.

With a determined grin, his hands detached first, slipping free from the ropes that bound him. The restraints fell to the ground with a soft thud, unnoticed by the agents. He suppressed his natural observation Haki, forcing the overwhelming voices into the background as he focused on the scene before him.

“Bara-Bara Escape!” Buggy bellowed, his disassembled limbs launching in a chaotic flurry.

His hands and feet shot forward, spinning wildly and disrupting the scene. Miss Valentine shrieked, leaping back as a fist narrowly missed her face.

"He has Devil Fruit powers too?!" she shouted, her voice a mix of surprise and irritation.

"Damn clown!" Mr. 5 cursed, ducking as a flying foot whizzed past his head.

In the confusion, Buggy darted forward, his torso gliding through the air as his disassembled hands scooped up Karoo. The duck whimpered softly, his body trembling but managing a weak flap of his wings as Buggy cradled him.

Just as Buggy turned to flee, a sudden explosion erupted at his side. The force sent him hurtling forward, with Karoo clutched tightly to his chest. Buggy hit the ground hard, skidding to a stop on his back as his limbs reassembled.

"Good thing I stuck a booger bomb on you earlier," Mr. 5 sneered, strolling forward with his hands back in his pockets. His smirk widened as he eyed the fallen clown. "I knew you’d wake up eventually."

Miss Valentine giggled, spinning her parasol. "Good thinking, Mr. 5! Now we have another weakling to call out for help."

Buggy gritted his teeth, his body trembling as he struggled to push himself up. The pain in his ribs flared with every movement, but the fire in his chest burned hotter. He couldn’t let these two trash win—not against him, and definitely not against the helpless duck. He gathered his focus, readying himself to spring forward, every nerve buzzing with defiance.

Before any of them could move, a thunderous cry tore through the jungle.

"WHO ARE YOU!? SHOW YOURSELF!!!"

The voice was raw and ferocious, reverberating through the trees with an intensity that seemed to make the air tremble. Buggy froze, his ears ringing as the sheer force of Luffy’s scream voice cut through the air. Even Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine hesitated, momentarily stunned by the power in the shout.

Seizing the distraction, Buggy grabbed Karoo and bolted, his legs pumping as he sprinted toward the source of the voice. His heart pounded in his chest as he ran, his mind racing. 'Luffy!…What happened now!?"

Zoro trudged through the thick jungle, dragging the massive carcass of his freshly slain triceratops by its horns. The creature was even larger than his previous kill, its enormous frame leaving deep impressions in the dirt with each step. "Damn!! I'm lost," Zoro muttered under his breath, frustration creeping into his voice. He squinted at the trees around him. "I'm sure I saw this tree before... Turn left at the vine-wrapped one, right?"

His eyes darted to a gnarled tree up ahead, its trunk thick with winding vines that hung in long strands. Was it the same one he had passed earlier? He couldn't tell. The jungle all seemed to blur together, the same shades of green and brown everywhere. He groaned inwardly, realizing he had already reached two dead ends on his way back to the ship. The Kilos of Meat contest was important, but so was getting back in time to win it.

Just as he was about to give up and retrace his steps again, something caught his eye—movement. He paused, staring through the trees.

A flash of orange.

There, leaning against a tree not far off, was Nami. Zoro's eyes lit up with surprise and relief, a wide grin spreading across his face.

"Huh!? Hey!! Nami!" He called out enthusiastically, his voice laced with the unmistakable relief of someone finding an unexpected ally in a place of confusion. "What great timing!!! I'm lost."

He chuckled sheepishly, the weight of the triceratops on his shoulders momentarily forgotten. "I didn't know what I was going to do..."

Zoro dragged the massive beast closer, the ground beneath him shifting as the weight of the creature threatened to trip him up. His eyes stayed locked on Nami, still leaning against the tree, not moving. 'Odd did she not hear me...,' he thought. She didn’t even seem to notice him yet.

He approached, speaking louder. "Never mind... What are you doing in this area anyway?" he asked, a furrow forming on his brow as he tried to make sense of the scene. Nami hadn’t said anything—still hadn’t even turned to look at him.

Getting closer, Zoro’s confusion deepened. Nami was silent, but her posture was strange, almost unnatural. His hand paused midair as he reached toward her shoulder, an instinct to check if she was all right.

"What's the deal?" Zoro grumbled under his breath as he came face-to-face with her. His eyes narrowed as he studied her features more carefully, and that's when he froze.

Zoro’s hand jerked back in shock. "Hey?!" he shouted, his voice breaking the silence of the jungle. His heart pounded in his chest as he took an unsteady step back, his grip tightening on the triceratops' horn.

His eyes widened with realization—this wasn’t Nami. It was some kind of statue, meticulously crafted to resemble her, but only the front of it was painted.Before Zoro could react further, the ground beneath him seemed to shift. A wave of white washed over him, and the world turned dark around him.

Nami and Usopp sprinted through the thick jungle, their legs pumping desperately as they tried to outrun the roaring dinosaurs chasing them. The ground trembled beneath their feet with every heavy step of the massive predators, and their blood-curdling cries echoed through the trees.

"Waaaah!!!! Dinosaurs!!" they both screamed in unison, hearts racing in fear. Usopp’s legs moved faster, each stride fueled by sheer panic, but the beasts were relentless, gaining on them with every passing second.

Usopp’s breath came in quick, ragged bursts as he glanced back at the oncoming threat. He screamed again, louder this time, his voice filled with raw terror, “Dinosaur!!” His legs shot out even faster, and in a burst of adrenaline, he left Nami behind, darting through the jungle with all his might.

Nami’s lungs burned as she pushed herself harder, her breath ragged and uneven. She screamed after him, “Usopp! Wait up!!” But Usopp was already a distance ahead, his figure a blur as he bolted away, leaving her struggling to keep up. "Usopp!!"

Nami's legs felt like they were turning to jelly, but she refused to stop. Finally, she bent over, hands on her knees, her chest heaving as she gasped for air. She tried to regain her breath, groaning in frustration, "Oh, that guy..." Her eyes darted around, scanning the jungle as she tried to make sense of the chaotic noise around her. The dinosaurs’ roars echoed in the distance, but for a moment, the forest seemed eerily quiet. She focused on regaining her breath, but her ears were still ringing with panic, so she kept her eyes darting around for any sign of danger.

As Nami caught her breath, she finally spotted something familiar through the trees—Luffy! He was standing by a tree, waving at her with that trademark grin of his. Her heart leaped in relief, and she shouted, “Luffy!!” Her legs moved again, faster now, as she hurried toward him, her voice full of gratitude. “Thank goodness! What are you doing here?”

But as Nami drew closer to Luffy, she said, "Never mind; we have to hurry, Luffy, Blu—" She paused as she saw Luffy's face. His eyes—there were no eyes, just blank white spots where his eyes should have been. Her blood ran cold, and she stopped in her tracks, her voice catching in her throat. “What—?”

Before she could say anything else, a strange white substance shot into the air, splattering around her with a sickening splash. The wave surrounded her, sticky and thick, and she screamed, “Gaaaah!”

Usopp skidded to a halt, his feet scraping against the jungle floor, sending loose dirt flying. His breath came in shallow, panicked gasps, and for a moment, the sheer terror that had been driving him forward began to subside. The adrenaline still surged through his veins, but the fear remained, gnawing at him from the inside. His wide eyes scanned the dense foliage around him, searching frantically for any sign of Nami. "Na-Na-Nami!!" he stuttered, his voice trembling with desperation.

His heart hammered in his chest, a deafening pulse that drowned out everything else. Sweat poured down his face, mixing with tears that blurred his vision. His hands shook as he reached to wipe his face, but it didn't help. Nami was nowhere to be seen. He called out again, louder this time, "Nami!!! Nami!!!" His voice cracked, breaking into a unashamed scream. The forest around him felt like it was closing in, the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

Usopp froze in place, his legs trembling beneath him. His whole body felt like it was locking up, and he swallowed hard, trying to steady himself. His eyes darted around, still looking, hoping. But he was alone. The realization hit him like a physical blow. "This is bad!!" he whispered hoarsely, his stomach lurching. The emptiness around him seemed to swallow his words. "Blue and Nami are both gone... I-I need—"

His thoughts were abruptly cut off by the sound of a snap. His heart skipped a beat as his head whipped toward the noise. He barely had time to react before a massive dinosaur appeared, its eyes locked on him, its sharp teeth gleaming. Usopp's body went into autopilot, his legs pumping as fast as they could carry him.

"Luffy!!" he screamed, his voice shrill with terror as he zigzagged, trying to throw off the predator’s pursuit. He bolted in the direction of Dorry's camp, his breath coming in ragged gasps.

His muscles burned as he pushed harder, each stride faster than the last. "Luffy!" he cried out again, the name a lifeline in his fear. But in his panic, his foot caught on a rock, sending him sprawling face-first into a massive boulder in a clearing. The force of the impact reverberated through the stone, causing it to crack under the weight of his crash.

The suddenness of his appearance and crash startled Luffy and Vivi, who were nearby.

Usopp, dazed and disoriented, staggered to his feet, his heart still racing. He could barely feel the pain from the blood dripping from the gash on his head and the fresh bruises on his face. He blinked rapidly, trying to focus, and finally spotted Luffy. Seeing his friend sent a rush of relief through him, but it was short-lived. Tears welled up in his eyes, mixing with the blood and snot that leaked from his nose. His voice cracked as he shouted, "This is terrible! N-Nami!! A dinosaur ate Nami!!!"

Luffy's eyes widened in shock. His mouth fell open, and for a moment, he couldn't process what Usopp had said. "WHAT!? NO WAY?!" His voice echoed across the clearing, full of disbelief.

Usopp staggered over to Luffy and Vivi, his body still trembling from the fear. He could barely catch his breath, but he forced himself to explain what happened. "Nami and I were running through the jungle to get to you, and dinosaurs started chasing us! When I turned around... she just disappeared, like Blue!!!" His voice grew thick with emotion, and he clenched his head in his hands as if trying to stop the wave of guilt that washed over him. "What have I done? I let my friends get killed!!! How can I live with myself now?! Aaaaaaah!"

His words devolved into a wail of despair, a deep cry that came from the pit of his stomach. Luffy's frustration mirrored his own as he pounded his fists into the ground, trying to pull his body free from the weight of the mountain pinning him down.

Vivi, ever calm , stepped forward, her voice firm and steady. "W-wait a minute! You guys need to calm down!" She inhaled deeply, gathering herself before raising her voice even louder. "Calm down and listen to me for a second, will you?!" The sharpness of her tone made Usopp and Luffy stop mid-scream and turn toward her.

She took a breath, her eyes narrowing with a mix of concern and logic. “You said Nami suddenly disappeared, but... didn't you go back and check on her?”

Usopp’s eyes were wild with panic as he snapped at Vivi. "You idiot!! How could I!? I was scared! If it wasn't a dinosaur, then it was a wild beast! Or it could have been whatever took Blue!?" His hands trembled, his body still wracked with fear.

Luffy and Vivi shouted in unison, "Blue/Mr. Blue disappeared too!!"

Usopp’s voice wavered as he continued, trying to explain. "That's why we were coming here, too!!" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a charred white fabric. "We found these next to a black spot where the barrels were at Brogy’s camp!!"

Vivi’s brow furrowed as she examined the fabric. "I don’t know for sure... But if Baroque Works agents followed us from Whisky Peak, then it would make sense that they captured Nami and not you. We could be in serious danger if we stay here too long."

Usopp’s eyes widened in shock as he processed what Vivi was saying. "Eh?! You mean Baroque Works is here on the island with us?!" His voice cracked with disbelief. "Wait, but why capture Nami and not me?"

Luffy, his face dark with thought, listened closely as Vivi spoke.

Vivi explained carefully, "Of the three of you, Nami’s the one they’d target. After all, you haven’t really gotten in their way, so you’re probably not on their assassination list." She paused, her thoughts racing as she mumbled, "But why Mr. Blue?"

Usopp nodded, his mind trying to piece everything together. "Okay," he said, trying to follow the logic.

Vivi’s eyes widened as another thought occurred to her. "Now that I think about it, that rum might’ve been meant for us instead!"

Luffy’s expression darkened, his gaze narrowing as he recalled one of the enemies he and Zoro had fought in Whisky Peak, a man who could somehow turn his body into explosives. "Wait…" he murmured, realization dawning on him.

Usopp looked at Vivi, confusion still etched on his face. "Rum?! What did you say about rum?!"

Vivi’s face grew grim as she filled him in on the grim truth. "Brogy gave Dorry some of your rum. It must have been tampered with because when Dorry drank it, the liquor exploded inside his stomach."

Usopp’s mouth dropped open, his eyes wide with horror. "WHAT!? The rum exploded in his stomach?!" He looked between Vivi and Luffy, the implications of what she had said sinking in. "You’re saying he was injured that badly, and he still went to the battlefield all busted up like that?!"

Luffy, his voice rough from all the shouting, nodded. "I tried to stop him, but that’s how I ended up like this," he said, gesturing to the white mountain that’s pinning him down. He slapped the stone in frustration, the echo of the slap sounding hollow in the air.

Usopp’s voice shook with anger as he turned to Luffy and Vivi. "THIS IS HORRIBLE!" he cried. "THEY’VE BEEN FIGHTING FULL TILT FOR A HUNDRED YEARS, AND IT ALWAYS ENDED IN A DRAW! IT’S PROBABLY THE MOST PRIDE-FILLED BATTLE IN ALL OF HISTORY!!!" His eyes were red from crying as he shouted in denial, "IT CAN’T END LIKE THIS!!"

Vivi and Luffy pressed their lips tightly in thought, their faces set in grim determination. Vivi nods in agreement and asks, "The one thing I can’t figure out is why they would take Mr. Blue. He’s not on the hit list, and he had no bounty, right?" She glanced at Luffy for reassurance.

Usopp, still reeling from everything, remembered a conversation he had had with Nami about Buggy: *”We need to know more about him than we do now. We don’t know if the older Buggy has enemies, so it would be better for us to call him a different name."*. He rubbed his head roughly, frustrated. "I can't think of a why!"

Luffy’s teeth ground together as he clenched his fists. His eyes blazed with a fierce determination. "Who cares why?!" he shouted. "It doesn’t matter! We’re getting Nami and Blue back!!" His voice rang with conviction, unwavering in the face of all the uncertainty surrounding them.

Brogy swung his axe down with brutal force, colliding with Dorry’s massive sword. The clang echoed through the dense jungle, sending nearby birds scattering in terror.

Dorry’s grip held firm as he braced himself against the impact, but his face was slick with sweat. Every movement was heavier than the last, his torn insides slowing him down, yet his eyes still blazed with determination.

“What’s wrong, Dorry?!” Brogy bellowed, his voice booming like thunder as he brought down another relentless flurry of axe strikes, each backed by years of honed strength. The blows came fast and powerful, forcing Dorry to retreat a step each time, the trees beneath his feet cracking and shattering with the weight. He could barely keep up, deflecting Brogy’s strikes with his shield, each impact sending shock waves up his arm. Brogy’s booming voice held a trace of worry as he roared, “You’re a bit sluggish today!”

Dorry clenched his teeth, shifting his grip to steady his sword against the barrage. Though his body was filled with pain, his spirit remained unbroken. He met each swing of Brogy’s axe with his sword and shield, matching him blow for blow. “Ho… I’m as good as ever!” he shouted, his voice straining but defiant, refusing to yield even an inch.

Meanwhile, not far from the clashing giants, Mr. 3 lounged against a tree, unbothered by the colossal battle raging nearby. He sipped his tea with smug detachment, his arms crossed leisurely over his chest.

Beside him, Miss Goldenweek sat comfortably on a small picnic blanket, her shoes placed neatly off the blanket beside her. She munched on a rice cracker, completely unfazed as trees trembled and leaves shook with each crash of the giants’ weapons. “Well, he keeps fighting,” she noted, her tone as calm as if she were watching a quiet play.

Mr. 3’s eyes glinted with malice as he watched the duel unfold. His sinister grin stretched wider, a flicker of greed sparking in his eyes. “Yes, Dorry the Blue Ogre is indeed tenacious,” he chuckled, his laughter low and scheming. With a flick of his wrist, he gestured toward Dorry’s feet, a devious plan forming. The top of his three-shaped hair ignited with a small flame as he chuckled, “Maybe I should lend a hand…”

From his gesture, a thick, white substance oozed out, spreading across the ground like a creeping flood. It snaked its way behind Dorry, forming a slick, sticky puddle just as Dorry took another forced step backward, driven by Brogy’s relentless assault.

Unaware, Dorry’s foot slipped on the white trap, his balance lost as he staggered, his weight tipping backward.“What—!!” Dorry gasped, his eyes widening in shock as he felt himself falling.

Brogy’s eyes narrowed, seizing his chance. A fierce grin spread across his face as he roared, “You’re mine, Dorry!” With a bellow, he raised his axe high, his muscles tightening with the anticipation of victory.

As Dorry’s body fell backward, Brogy’s axe came slicing down, the metal gleaming with deadly purpose. Dorry’s eyes, still wide with shock, tracked the descending axe, realizing his fate in that brief, silent instant.

Brogy’s tight, savage grin reflected a mix of pride, ferocity, and a bittersweet acceptance. 'A whole century… It has been a long and difficult battle indeed,' he thought as he swung down with everything he had.

The axe struck Dorry’s shoulder and chest with a shattering force, cleaving through armor and flesh. The impact echoed out with a resounding SHAAAWK! Blood erupted from the wound, gushing high into the air in a red torrent that splashed over the trees, staining leaves and branches with a macabre rain. The thick spray reached so high it seemed to touch the sky, a symbol of the end of a century-old rivalry.

From Dorry's camp, Luffy, Usopp, and Vivi stood frozen, their faces drained of color as they watched the geyser of blood shoot up from Dorry’s camp, stark against the bright blue sky. Their hearts clenched as they realized the magnitude of what had just happened.

The force of the strike kept Dorry from toppling backward completely. Instead, it dragged him forward, his knees buckling as the weapon tore through him. He let out a raw, guttural yell, the agony evident in his voice. His sword and shield slipped from his hands, clattering uselessly to the ground as his body slumped. His vision swam, the world around him fading as his blood continued to pour into the soil. The light in his eyes dimmed, his fierce, unyielding spirit fading with each passing moment.

With a gasping exhale, Dorry’s body fell forward, slamming into the ground with a heavy, earth-shaking KRASH. The ground quaked, the surrounding trees swaying from the sheer impact of his collapse. Dorry lay motionless, the proud Blue Ogre fallen at last.

Brogy stood over his friend, his breaths harsh and labored, his chest heaving as the adrenaline ebbed and the full weight of his actions settled in. The fierce energy that had driven him vanished as he panted with a smile across his cheeks. He gazed down at Dorry’s still form, the axe still clutched tightly in his hand as Dorry's blood dripped from it. The silence that followed was almost unbearable. "Seventy-three thousand... four hundred and sixty-seven battles and one victory." Brogy's voice wavered.

Luffy’s entire body tensed as the resounding KRASH of Dorry’s massive body hitting the ground echoed through the jungle. The impact wasn’t just a sound—it was a force that seemed to ripple through the earth, vibrating up through the solid mountain that pinned Luffy’s body in place. The mountain’s weight pressed against him, unyielding and cold, trapping him in place no matter how much he twisted and pulled.

Sweat streamed down Luffy’s face, mixing with the dirt smeared across his skin as he struggled against the immovable stone. His rubbery body stretched and strained, but his unnatural flexibility couldn’t budge the crushing weight. Frustration bubbled inside him, hot and volatile, like magma coursing through his veins.

Dorry’s last words rang in his ears, each syllable driving the guilt deeper into his chest.

*“I now see… This was a judgment… a judgment from Elbaf, the god of war. I don't have his divine protection. That's all.”*

The words were a blow, more painful than the mountain crushing his legs. They looped in his mind, over and over, and with each repetition, the fury inside him swelled, threatening to overflow.

Luffy’s teeth clenched so hard it felt like they might crack, his jaw trembling with the force of his emotions. His hands balled into fists, dirt grinding against his palms as he slammed them against the ground. The helplessness he felt burned like fire—his pride wounded by his inability to stop it. He should’ve done something, anything, but instead, he was stuck, useless, while a warrior, a new friend he respected, fell.

The volcano inside him erupted.

Luffy snarled, his voice a guttural growl as he smashed his head into the ground with a resounding WHAM! WHAM! The impact sent a shock wave through his head, but he barely felt it. His hat flew off, tumbling into the dirt beside him. His chest heaved as he pulled back and slammed his head down again, harder this time, the sound reverberating through the jungle like the crack of thunder.

WHAM! WHAM! WHAM!

Each strike was a release, a desperate attempt to vent the storm of rage and sorrow that was consuming him. Blood trickled from a tiny scrape on his forehead, but he didn’t stop. His yells grew louder, raw and pained, echoing through the silent jungle like the roar of an animal caught in a trap.

“Stop it, Luffy!” Usopp’s voice broke through the haze, high-pitched and panicked. His hands hovered in the air, unsure whether to reach out or keep their distance.

Vivi stepped closer, her eyes wide with fear and concern as she stretched a trembling hand toward Luffy. “Please, Luffy, calm down!” she begged, her voice cracking.

But Luffy didn’t hear them. The storm inside him had reached its peak, and there was no holding it back. His eyes snapped up, wild and burning with unrestrained fury, his pupils sharp and focused despite the mess of dirt and sweat on his face.

The veins in his arms bulged as he planted his hands firmly on the ground. His chest heaved as he drew in a deep breath, and then he screamed with everything he had, his voice shaking the jungle.

“WHO ARE YOU!? SHOW YOURSELF!!!”

The raw power of his shout erupted like a cannon blast, shaking the leaves on the trees and scattering birds into the air. The sheer force of his voice seemed to reverberate in the ground itself, as though even the earth beneath him responded to his fury. It wasn’t just a scream—it was a challenge, a demand, an explosion of grief and rage all at once.

Even the mountain above him seemed to shiver slightly from his roar. Vivi and Usopp froze, their words dying in their throats as they stared at Luffy in stunned silence.

Farther away, in another part of the jungle, a sharp CRUNCH broke the silence as Miss Goldenweek bit into a rice cracker. She chewed slowly, her serene expression unchanged as the flavors settled on her tongue. Her picnic supplies were strapped neatly to her back, a small thermos clinking softly as she adjusted her load.

She paused mid-bite, her brows knitting together slightly in confusion. She stopped walking, tilting her head slightly as her ears strained to catch the faint remnants of a sound. "Mr. 3," she said softly, her voice calm but curious. "I think I heard something..."

A few steps ahead of her, Mr. 3 let out a dismissive snort, his teacup balanced delicately in one hand. The Roman numeral "III" engraved around the rim gleamed faintly in the sunlight as he raised the cup to his lips, savoring the steam that curled upward. His laughter came in short bursts, stifled yet mocking.

"Pfft! Hahahaha!" he chuckled, the sound low and condescending. "How amusing!" He took another slow sip of his tea before continuing, his voice dripping with mockery. "You can hear the howl of a defeated dog in the jungle!!!"

Miss Goldenweek didn’t respond right away, her chewing slowing as she glanced around. The crunch of the rice cracker in her mouth felt oddly loud against the quiet stillness that had settled over the jungle. She blinked once, then shrugged, dismissing the thought as easily as her companion had.

Mr. 3, however, was still laughing softly to himself, his grin widening as he imagined the desperation of his foes. "How fitting," he mused, swirling his tea in the cup. "The jungle truly does echo with the cries of those who fail to understand the brilliance of my art."

Brogy’s broad shoulders slumped under the immense weight of emotion, his massive frame trembling slightly as the adrenaline of the battle ebbed away. His axe, dripping with Dorry's blood, slipped from his grip with a metallic clang, followed by his shield, which thudded against the ground. His chest heaved with each ragged breath, a mix of exhaustion and the crushing weight of loss. Tears began to form, welling up in his bloodshot eyes before spilling down his battered face, carving streaks through the sweat and grime that clung to his skin from the brutal duel.

The tears came unbidden, a silent acknowledgment of the victory that felt more like a curse. Each drop shimmered faintly in the light, a testament to the friendship and rivalry he had shared with Dorry for a century. His forced grin, meant to mask his anguish, faltered under the weight of his grief. It clung to his face awkwardly, more a grimace than a smile, as if his soul rebelled against the facade. As tears a snot rushed down his face.

He huffed deeply, his breaths ragged, the sound mingling with the stillness of the jungle. The scene felt wrong—too quiet, too hollow—as if the island itself mourned alongside him. Brogy's massive hands hung limp at his sides, his fingers twitching faintly as though they sought something to hold onto, something to anchor him amid his sorrow.Suddenly, a mocking laugh shattered the fragile stillness.

“Hohohoho! Hohohoho!”

The sound grated against Brogy's ears, invasive and sharp. His forced grin collapsed into a deep scowl as he turned his head, his gaze darkening at the sight of a peculiar man emerging from the shadows. The man's hair curled into the shape of a massive numeral "3," and his posture oozed arrogance. He sipped delicately from a small teacup, his demeanor utterly unaffected by the tense air around him.

“You weep for joy because you won, eh?” the man said, his voice dripping with smug condescension. He took another sip from his cup, savoring the moment before continuing. “Simple-minded people have it so easy. Well, I suppose congratulations are in order... for now.”

Brogy’s scowl deepened, his brows knitting together in a storm of anger and confusion. His chest still heaved as he tried to steady himself, the remnants of his battle leaving his muscles trembling with fatigue. He growled low in his throat, his deep voice rumbling like distant thunder.

“Weep with joy!?” He roared, his voice shaking the trees. “What would you know!? WHO ARE YOU!?”

The man stepped forward with a slow, deliberate gait, his polished boots crunching softly against the earth. He gestured grandly with the hand holding his teacup, a self-satisfied smirk curling his lips.

“My code name is Mr. 3; it's required in my line of work,” he announced, his voice calm yet carrying an edge of menace. “I work with wax.” He turned slightly, motioning to the small girl beside him who had set up a picnic and was sitting on a yellow and blue striped blanket. “And this is my assistant, Miss Goldenweek—an artist of gravity. All great artists have an assistant, of course.”

Miss Goldenweek sat quietly, her expression unreadable as she nibbled on a rice cracker. She seemed utterly disinterested in the unfolding tension, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the smirk growing on Mr. 3’s face.

Brogy’s nostrils flared as his eyes darted between the two strangers. A sense of unease prickled at the back of his neck. He tried to steady his stance, but the exhaustion from his duel weighed on him.

“I tell you all this because…” Mr. 3 said, his voice turning cold and sharp as his smirk widened. “I've already captured you in one of my artworks.”

Before Brogy could react, he felt a strange sensation wrapping around his ankles. Looking down, his eyes widened in shock as he saw a viscous white substance creeping up his legs. It moved unnaturally, oozing and solidifying as it climbed past his calves.

“What!!? What is this!!?” Brogy bellowed, his booming voice tinged with alarm.

As Luffy struggles to pull his body free,Usopp comes to a decision, his voice shaky but determined. “Okay, Luffy!” he says suddenly, drawing Luffy’s attention. Usopp takes a deep breath, puffing out his chest as if trying to appear braver than he feels, and yells, “I’m gonna find whoever did this!! And I’m going to kill him!!”

Vivi steps closer, determination flashing in her eyes. “I’ll come with you!” she says firmly, her voice unwavering.

Usopp’s upper body radiates conviction, his chest thrust forward in a stance of bravery, but his legs betray him, trembling like leaves in a storm. He swallows hard and tries to sound bold. “Good! Come along! I... I can use the emotional support!”

Suddenly, a small explosion rocks the jungle across the clearing, sending a burst of smoke into the air. The group whirls around, startled, staring in the direction of the blast. For a moment, silence lingers, only broken by the rustling of the disturbed foliage.

Usopp shrinks slightly but clenches his fists. “I—I don’t care! I’m still going to find out who did this!” His entire body is trembling now, but his tear-filled eyes glow with an unyielding resolve.

A deep voice rumbles from the jungle. "You're not going anywhere!”

The group stiffens. Luffy’s eyes widen as two figures emerge from the dense greenery. The pieces fall into place in his mind, his expression hardening as he points an accusatory finger. “You guys did this!!!”

Vivi’s breath catches, and a cold sweat forms on her brow as recognition dawns. Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine step into the clearing, exuding arrogance. Mr. 5 adjusts what he’s carrying and tosses it unceremoniously in front of the group.

A collective gasp escapes them. And then Vivi cries out in horror, “KAROO!!” while Luffy and Usopp yell in unison, “BLUE!!”

The battered forms of Karoo and Blue lay before them—Karoo barely conscious, his bruised body twitching weakly, and Blue, unconscious, his body dirty and covered in soot, faint wisps of smoke rising from him. Mr. 5 crosses his arms and smirks. “You can have them back. We’ve finished; we don't need them.”

Miss Valentine throws her head back and laughs gleefully. “Kyahaha! What a pathetic sight!”

Vivi drops to her knees beside Karoo, frantic as she checks for signs of life. Her voice cracks with desperation. “Karoo! Are you okay?!” Her trembling hands confirm he’s still breathing, but her heart breaks at his injuries. She whirls to face the agents, tears of anger welling in her eyes. “Why?! Karoo had nothing to do with this!”

Usopp scrambles to Blue’s side, shaking as he checks for a pulse. Relief washes over him as he finds one. “Come on, Blue,” he mutters, his voice shaking. He then looks up at the agents, his face twisting with rage. “What did you do to him?!”

Luffy grits his teeth, his rubber arms straining as he struggles to free himself. “You bastards!” he growls, fury radiating off him.

Usopp points at the agents, his voice cracking with disbelief. “Who the hell are these guys, Luffy?!”

Luffy growls low and dangerous, his eyes burning with anger. “They were at Whisky Peak.”

Mr. 5 chuckles, his tone dismissive. “That’s right. The bird had nothing to do with it. As for your friend here? Just unlucky. Wrong place, wrong time.” His words are casual, but they carry a cold malice that makes Luffy grind his teeth audibly.

Usopp doesn’t wait; with surprising speed, he drags Blue further from the agents, muttering, “You’re gonna be okay, buddy.”

Vivi’s face pales as Mr. 5 continues. “The duck? We needed him to lure the princess away from you, Straw Hat. But he was stubborn,” he sneers, glaring briefly at Karoo, then shifts his disdainful gaze to Blue. “And this guy? Tried to get in the way after we already drugged him.”

Luffy’s rage boils over as his fists dig into the ground, his rubber body twisting with effort. “You hurt them… for that?!” he roars.

Vivi's face goes white as she knows Karoo was hurt for her. "Karoo!!" she yells at him, trying to get a response from the duck. Who lets out a small, weak, whimpering quack.

Miss Valentine cackles louder, taunting them. “Kyahaha! What a mess of fools!”

Vivi’s hands ball into fists, her head snapping up as a storm of fury clouds her expression. “You dirty…!” Her voice is a low growl, shaking with anger.

Usopp’s finger trembles as he points at them. “Then it was you!? You rigged the rum to explode!!”

Mr. 5 cocks his head lazily. “Yeah, that was us. Who are you?” He glances at Miss Valentine. “Is this new guy on the list?”

Miss Valentine sneers dismissively. "No, but he's clearly a friend of theirs. So let's rub him out."

Usopp growls angrily, his voice trembling with indignation but holding firm. "You messed with the giant's battle!" His grip on his slingshot tightens, his knuckles whitening. Despite his bravado, sweat glistens on his forehead, and his legs remain unsteady.

Meanwhile, Luffy continues to strain against the weight pinning him, his rubber body twisting and contorting as he claws at the earth. “You did it!!” he bellows, his voice raw and full of fury. “I’ll rip you to pieces!!”

Vivi, consumed by rage, steps forward with defiant resolve. “You’re the ones who’re gonna get rubbed out!!” she yells, tearing open her top to reveal her hypnotic shirt beneath. The bold, swirling patterns catch the light, and with a swift motion, she draws her Peacock Slashers from their hidden compartments. The gleaming blades whirl in deadly arcs as she readies herself, her expression sharp and unyielding.

"Oh-ho! So you want to play, Miss Wednesday?" Mr. 5 taunts, his tone dripping with mockery as he watches her approach.

Beside him, Miss Valentine sneers, her laugh shrill and condescending. “And once more she really thinks she stands a chance against two agents like us?” she jeers, spinning her umbrella with a theatrical flair.

Usopp steadies his slingshot, his hands trembling slightly but his focus locked on the agents. “Cretan Death!!” he shouts, the tension in his voice giving way to determination.

“Peacock Slasher!” Vivi cries, lunging forward, her blades slicing through the air in deadly arcs.

Usopp fires his slingshot, the projectile shooting through the air. “Exploding Star!” he yells, his aim true. The shot connects directly with Mr. 5, erupting into a fiery explosion that engulfs the agent in thick smoke. Usopp pumps his fist, a triumphant grin spreading across his face. “Yeah!!” he shouts, his voice carrying a mixture of exhilaration and relief.

Miss Valentine laughs maniacally as the blast reverberates through the jungle. “Kyahahaha, what a blast!!” Using the force of the explosion to lift herself higher, she floats effortlessly into the air, her umbrella helping her as she manipulates her weight. Her movements are graceful but menacing, her laughter ringing like a twisted melody.

Through the haze of smoke, Vivi charges toward Mr. 5, her blades glinting with lethal intent. Usopp’s triumphant expression quickly fades, his eyes widening in panic as he spots movement within the smoke. “Vivi! Wait!” he calls, but it’s too late.

The smoke clears to reveal Mr. 5, entirely unharmed, brushing dust from his jacket with an air of indifference. His hand flicks upward, a small ball of greenish mucus resting on his finger. “Nose Fancy Cannon,” he mutters nonchalantly, flicking the booger with precision. It sails through the air and connects with Usopp, detonating into a powerful explosion.

Usopp is still standing, but his body is scorched and smoking as his legs wobble. Above him, Miss Valentine adjusts her weight, her expression gleeful. “My condolences!” she cackles, folding her umbrella and dropping rapidly from the sky. “10,000 Kill-O-Press!!” she declares, her heels aiming directly for Usopp’s shoulder. The impact drives him into the ground like a nail, his body groaning under the immense pressure.

“Usopp!!” Luffy cries out, his voice thick with helpless rage. He redoubles his efforts, twisting and pulling against the mountain holding him down. Still, he remains trapped, his frustration boiling over.

Vivi charges toward Mr. 5, a fierce cry tearing from her throat. Her peacock slasher slices through the air in deadly arcs as she closes in with determined ferocity. Mr. 5 stands motionless, his expression cold and detached. “Now now, calm down,” he says lazily, lifting his leg.

A small explosion erupts at his feet just as Vivi is within striking range. The blast disrupts her charge, sending her into a forward flip through the air. Before she can process what’s happening, Mr. 5 moves with blinding speed. His hand shoots out and catches her by the throat mid-flip with a sharp, echoing whap!

The impact halts her momentum instantly, leaving her suspended in the air, her blades falling from her grasp. Vivi’s hands fly to his arm as she struggles desperately, her fingers clawing at his iron grip. “Argh!” she chokes out, her voice strained as her legs kick futilely, trying to find purchase against nothing but air. Mr. 5’s expression remains cold, his hold unrelenting.

“Don’t get excited,” Mr. 5 says coolly, his grip tightening slightly. “We’re not going to kill you guys… yet!” His words hang ominously in the air, sending a fresh wave of dread through Luffy and Vivi. “We’re just here to capture you…” he continues his tone casual but laced with menace. “Per Mr. 3’s orders.”

Luffy freezes for a moment, his anger replaced by confusion. “Mr. 3?” he mutters, his mind racing.

Vivi’s face is strained as she chokes out her realization, her voice barely above a whisper. “Mr.3!The Wax-Wax Fruit man!! He’s here on the island with us!?”

Fear spreads across her face as the name registers, her struggles momentarily ceasing. Mr. 5’s lips curl into a sinister grin. "That's right. He uses the wax his body produces as a weapon. He's the human candle."

Luffy questioned, confused, "The candle man?" He muttered under his breath, "I don't care how many of you there are; I'm going to rip you to shreds." Luffy yells at the two agents.

Mr. 5’s grin vanishes, his patience clearly at its end. “Take the princess,” he orders coldly. Miss Valentine lands beside him, her heels clicking against the ground. She smirks as she grabs Vivi’s arm and twists it sharply behind her back. Vivi lets out a cry of pain as Mr. 5 releases her, leaving her restrained and helpless in Miss Valentine’s grasp.

With Vivi secured, Mr. 5 turns his attention to Luffy, who is still thrashing against the mountain holding him down. “Time for you to watch your mouth.” Mr. 5 sneers, his eyes narrowing. He steps forward, his movements deliberate. Lifting his foot, he growls, “Bomb Kick,” before slamming it into Luffy.

The resulting explosion sends a shock wave through the clearing, smoke and dust erupting into the air.

Brogy thrashed against the encroaching substance, his massive legs straining against the growing prison of hardened wax.

But the wax held firm.

With a sudden loss of balance, Brogy toppled forward, his colossal form crashing into the ground. The impact shook the jungle, sending birds scattering into the sky. Before he could recover, the wax surged up his body, encasing his wrists, shoulders, mid-back, and even the back of his neck. The substance hardened almost instantly, locking him in place.

Brogy’s eyes grew bloodshot, his veins bulging as he thrashed with all his might. His muscles rippled with strain, but the wax refused to budge. A guttural howl tore from his throat, filled with rage and frustration.

“COWARD!!” he roared, his voice echoing through the jungle. “WHAT’S YOUR GAME!?”

Mr. 3 chuckled darkly, the flame atop his numeral-shaped hair flaring brighter as more wax began to flow from his body. It dripped down his outstretched arm in thick, glossy white streams before rushing toward Brogy like a river.

“You want to know?” Mr. 3’s voice was dripping with smug satisfaction, his every word laced with malice. He took another sip of his tea, savoring the moment before delivering his answer.

“I’m going to create a work of art... of course.”

His words hung in the air, heavy with foreboding. Brogy’s furious roars continued, but the wax prison grew tighter, creeping over his back as Mr. 3’s malicious smile widened. Miss Goldenweek sat off to the side, nibbling calmly on another rice cracker, her placid demeanor only adding to the unsettling scene.

Chapter Text

Miss Valentine tightens her grip on Vivi’s arm, her nails digging in as she sneers. “Be a good girl now, Kyahahah! Did you truly think someone like you could escape Baroque Works?” She twists Vivi’s arm sharply, drawing a pained cry from the princess. “Ow!” Vivi winces, her jaw clenched as she glares at Mr. 5.

Mr. 5 stands over Luffy’s scorched and battered form, his smug expression unshaken. “Heh. That pays him back for what he did at Whiskey Peak,” he sneers.

Miss Valentine laughs mockingly, her voice grating. “Kya ha ha ha! Even the one worth 30 million berries turned out to be a loser!”

Vivi bites her lip, seething silently as Mr. 5 taunts. “You pirates shouldn’t have meddled in our affairs. We’ve already caught your swordsman friend and the other girl as well.”

Luffy coughs weakly, struggling to lift his head. “You caught Zoro? Then you’re doomed,” he mutters, his voice hoarse but defiant.

Mr. 5 raises an eyebrow, unimpressed. “Still talking after taking a face full of my kicky bomb?” His tone drips with contempt.

Luffy sticks his tongue out at him, spitting with a loud ptoo! that lands squarely on Mr. 5’s shoe. “Bleh! Drop dead!”

Miss Valentine sighs disdainfully. “Pathetic.”

Mr. 5’s eye twitches as he looks down at the spit, a vein throbbing on his forehead. Without a word, he draws his leg back and kicks Luffy with explosive force. BOOM! Smoke and debris fly as he kicks, again and again, the relentless explosions shaking the ground.

“Luffy!!” Vivi screams, struggling against Miss Valentine’s hold. Dirt and smoke billow around them, and Usopp remains half-buried, unconscious, with burns dotting his body. Mr. 5 snarls, “Die!” as he delivers one final, deafening kick.

The smoke clears, and Luffy’s hand twitches before dropping to the ground. Mr. 5 scoffs. “Fool.”

Vivi cries out again, her voice breaking. “Luffy!!”

Miss Valentine yanks her forward, twisting her arm even harder. “Let’s go,” she sneers, dragging Vivi along. Despite her struggles, Vivi can only glance back at her fallen friends—Luffy, Usopp, Mr. Blue, and Karoo—each motionless in the clearing. The sight makes her stomach churn as the wind scatters the smoke.

Meanwhile, Brogy strains against the wax encasing him. Each movement sends a loud wham! Reverberating through the air as he fights to free himself. His veins bulge, his muscles straining, but the wax holds firm.

“You little swine!” Brogy bellows, his fury echoing across the forest.

Mr. 3 laughs triumphantly, wax dripping from his hands in steady flup, flup sounds. “ Give it up! The candle jacket I’ve wrapped you in is harder than steel now! ” To demonstrate, he sculpts a small wax bust of Brogy’s head, which hardens with a tak tak tak as he taps it with his knuckles. “You are my prisoner, giant. And not even your great strength can save you now.”

Brogy glares at him, his rage palpable, but Mr. 3 only smirks. “Don’t glare at me like that; it frightens me!” he mocks before throwing his head back. “HA HA HA! Aren’t you happy? Your long battle is finally over. Sure, you won with a little help from a human; victory is still sweet, isn’t it?” Miss Goldenweek stands nearby, watching with a blank look, completely unbothered by the events taking place.

Brogy began to roar, his deep, booming voice filled with fury that reverberated through the clearing. “Coward…” he growled, his massive frame shaking as his arms strained against the thick wax imprisoning him. His biceps bulged, the veins in his neck and forehead throbbing with effort as he glared at Mr. 3. Every jerk of his body sent a loud wham echoing through the air as he fought against the unyielding restraint.

Mr. 3 stood smugly, a hand resting lazily on his hip, his glasses glinting under the faint sunlight filtering through the trees. “Coward? Such harsh language,” he mocked, his voice light with amusement, clearly unbothered by the giant’s rage.

But as Mr. 3’s words sunk in, Brogy froze mid-struggle. His face drained of color, and the fire in his eyes shifted to a look of horrified realization. His hands trembled against the wax, his massive chest heaving as Mr. 3 words caused dread to grow in his chest. “No!!” he ground out through gritted teeth, his booming voice shaking with disbelief and fury.

Mr. 3 threw back his head and laughed, the sound cold and grating, echoing cruelly through the clearing. “Ha ha ha ha ha! But I am the real winner here!” he crowed triumphantly, spreading his arms theatrically. “Did you know that the bounty on your heads from long ago—that colossal sum of money—is still collectible?”

Brogy’s face twisted with rage, his eyes reddened, and his teeth clenched so hard they could crush stone. His deep voice erupted into a furious scream that seemed to make the very earth tremble. “You dirty little…!!! So that’s what you were after, eh, Mr. 3?!”

Mr. 3’s smug smirk didn’t falter, but a rustling sound in the nearby bushes stole his attention. He tilted his head, an eyebrow raised in mild curiosity. “Hm?” he muttered, his gaze shifting toward the sound.

The bushes parted as Mr. 5 stepped into the clearing, his hands casually in his pockets. Behind him, Miss Valentine emerged, dragging Princess Vivi roughly by the arm. Vivi stumbled, her head held high despite the pained grunt that escaped her as Miss Valentine tightened her grip.

“We have her,” Mr. 5 stated flatly.

Miss Valentine pulled Vivi forward, her sharp nails digging into the princess’s arm. “We caught the traitorous woman,” she sneered, her mocking voice dripping with contempt.

Vivi glared at Mr. 3 as soon as her eyes landed on him, her fury overcoming the pain in her arm. “What a cowardly trick!! Planting a bomb in Mr. Dorry’s rum!!” she shouted, her voice filled with disgust and righteous anger.

Brogy froze at her words, his entire body stiffening. His expression shifted from rage to stunned disbelief as her accusation echoed in his mind. “Rum? The rum that I gave him? That rum!?” His voice cracked, trembling as he looked downward, trying to process what he’d just heard.

Memories of his interactions with Dorry surfaced unbiddenly.

~Flashback~

"Brogy, seeing Dorry, called out cheerfully, " Dorry! How was your drink?! Hit the spot, didn’t it? !"

Dorry stood tall, his eyes narrowing as he wiped away a drop of sweat that dropped down his cheek, seeming to mix with some dark dirt on his cheek. He gave a sharp grin.

"Aye! " Dorry replied with a deep, rumbling voice. " It was like the nectar of the gods, Brogy! A fine drink indeed! " He gripped his massive sword with one hand, the blade gleaming in the afternoon sun, and held his round shield firmly in his other hand. His broad chest rose and fell with deep breaths like he was tired, but his stance was ready.

Brogy laughed again, a deep, hearty sound that could rival thunder. " Gabababa! I’m glad you enjoyed it! Gababa! You’re always so full of exaggerations; you blow hard! " His voice booms cheerfully.

~Flash back~

Brogy’s breathing quickened, his broad shoulders shaking. “Is that what it was, Dorry, my friend?” he muttered under his breath, the words heavy with denial and growing despair. His mind replayed their final battle—how Dorry had seemed strange, struggling in ways he hadn’t before.

“Hmph,” Mr. 3 scoffed, snapping Brogy back to the present. “You gave away my secret! Big mouth!” he barked at Vivi, his voice dripping with irritation. With a sharp wave of his arm, he snarled, “Candle Lock!!”

Vivi’s eyes widened in fear. “AAH!!” she screamed as a stream of molten wax shot from Mr. 3’s hand, flowing unnaturally fast toward her.

Miss Valentine gave her a rough shove forward. Vivi stumbled, her balance breaking as the wax coiled around her ankles like snakes. The wax solidified instantly with a Ka-chak! , locking her legs together in an iron-like grip. She toppled forward with a cry, hitting the ground with a loud thud! Pain shot through her as she lay there, struggling against the unyielding wax.

Mr. 3 didn’t even glance back at the fallen princess. Instead, he turned away, addressing his subordinates with an air of superiority. “Mr. 5, bring me the swordsman and the girl. It’s time for my…”

The flame atop his head roared to life with a fwoosh, growing brighter and larger. He threw both arms forward as wax poured from his hands in a thick, shimmering stream. His voice rang out, filled with cruel excitement. “…Extra Special Candelabra!!”

A massive river of wax flowed forth, spreading rapidly to form the base of his deadly creation, the heat of his flame casting ominous shadows across the clearing. The grotesque structure began to take shape, a monument to his sinister plans. His outstretched hand glistened with thick, molten wax. With a theatrical flourish, he began shaping his signature creation. The wax twisted and coiled like serpents under his command, rising from the ground to form an immense, ornate structure that seemed plucked straight from a grandiose banquet hall.

The clearing was silent, save for the ominous crackle of flames perched atop an unnatural, towering structure. Rising high above the jungle canopy, the grotesque monument gleamed in the midday sun, its waxy surface shimmering like polished marble. It was shaped like a monstrous candelabra, with tiered layers resembling an extravagant, oversized cake, each level dripping with frozen cascades of wax. At its apex, a broad, grinning face loomed, its hollow eyes and wide, sinister smile giving the construct an air of mocking triumph.

Mr. 5 strode into the clearing with a cold, indifferent expression, dragging two figures behind him like discarded luggage. Mr. 5 ruthlessly hurls Nami and Zoro onto the ground, their movements restricted by candle locks securing their wrists behind their backs and binding their ankles. The pair hit the ground hard, face first, with a dull thud. Zoro grunts, his voice sharp with irritation, while Nami lets out a pained yelp, "Ow!"

Groaning, she shifts her weight and lifts her head, struggling to push herself up. Her eyes lock onto the strange wax tower in the center of the clearing. "What!? What is that!?" she shouts, her voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and dread.

Zoro’s eyes widened slightly, and his gaze was fixed on the towering structure. His muscles tense as he quickly assesses their dire situation.

Nearby, Vivi is sprawled on the ground, looking shaken. Nami spots her and calls out in surprise, "Vivi! I thought you were with Luffy!?"

Pushing herself up weakly, Vivi hesitates, her voice wavering. "Yes, well..." She trails off, her thoughts racing back to the chaos she left behind. Her face darkens as she imagines Luffy's and the other’s condition.

Mr. 5 sneers confidently, his arms crossed. "If you mean Straw Hat, I got rid of him."

Zoro scoffs, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Oh, yeah? Heh..."

Mr. 3 steps forward with exaggerated flair, his arms spread wide as if presenting a masterpiece. "Experience my extra special candelabra, folks!" he exclaims gleefully. Wax streams from his hands, lifting Nami, Zoro, and Vivi into the air. The three struggle futilely as the wax hardens around their feet, rooting them to the candelabra-like decorative candles.

With a flick of his hand, Mr. 3 recalls the wax locks on their wrists, freeing their arms but leaving them immobilized. The solid wax around their feet glues them in place. He grins maliciously as the candelabra's top begins to spin, emitting a rhythmic fwip, fwip, fwip.

Nami tilts her head back, her hands on her hips to steady herself, staring at the spinning mechanism. "What's that spinning thing up there?" she asks, her voice tinged with suspicion.

Zoro crosses his arms, his tone dry. "Now I know how it feels to be a candle on a birthday cake."

Vivi clenches her fists, her gaze shifting to Brogy, who remains trapped in the wax jacket. Her expression is solemn as she takes in their worsening predicament.

Nami glances down at her trapped feet, attempting to wiggle free. Her movements are futile as the wax remains rigid. Beads of sweat form on her brow as panic rises. "I can't move... my legs," she says, her voice strained. She shifts her weight from side to side, but the wax holds firm.

Zoro scowls. "He's immobilized us, and I have a feeling it's not because he enjoys our company."

Vivi suddenly notices something unusual. "Something's raining down on us!" she exclaims, staring up at the spinning candelabra.

The spinning top of the candelabra had begun releasing droplets of melted wax into the air. The molten substance fell like rain, making soft blup, blup sounds as it splattered against the ground and their skin. The warmth of the droplets caused wisps of vapor to rise around them, enveloping the trio in a fine, misty haze.

Below, Mr. 3 laughs maniacally. "Ha ha ha ha! Savor it! My extra special candelabra! " He watches with glee as the candles atop the spinning structure heat the wax, causing it to drip and splatter. The droplets, transformed into a fine mist by the spinning top, cascade down on Nami, Zoro, and Vivi.

"The waxy mist raining down on your heads will soon turn you into wax figurines!" Mr. 3 explains with sadistic pride. "Not even my skill in the plastic arts could craft such perfect human figures! You'll be wax figures with real souls! Die in the name of art!"

Nami’s temper flared as she shouted down at him, “Forget it!! We don’t want to be your stupid art!” Her anger turned toward Brogy, her voice rising with urgency. “Brogy! Don’t just lie there! Fight!! He’ll turn you into wax too!!”

Brogy’s weary eyes flicker at her words, but he remains silent, his massive chest heaving as he tries to catch his breath.

Zoro sizes up the giant for the first time, raising an eyebrow. "You must’ve eaten all your vegetables as a kid, huh?" He mutters. Still, Brogy didn’t respond, his gaze fixed downward as he continued to catch his breath.

Mr. 3 spread his arms wide and scoffed, his voice dripping with mockery. “Hmph! It’s no use talking to that one. He learned the truth a short while ago!” He sneered, crossing his arms. “Without realizing his friend Dorry was hurt… he slew him after a battle of 100 years!!” Mr. 3’s laughter grew louder, more mocking. “Were you weeping for your friend or at your own stupidity? Ha ha ha!! It doesn’t matter. What’s done is done, you great fool!!!”

Zoro glanced at Brogy, his expression quiet as he observed the giant’s reaction. Brogy’s eyes darkened, and his voice came out low, almost a whisper. “I knew… From the moment we began trading blows… I knew Dorry was hiding something!!!”

Mr. 3 mocks him, laughing harshly. “You did? Ha ha ha!! You say you knew!? Don’t lie! If you knew, then why didn’t you stop the fight? I don’t see any hint of mercy in your attack.”

Brogy’s voice cracked as he replied, pain and fury mingling in his words. “Worm, you know nothing of duels and honor. You could never understand why I cried.” His voice gained strength, roaring with pride and sorrow. “He was a proud warrior who chose to fight despite his injuries!!! How could I shame him by refusing him battle!? When he was willing to suffer so in order to fight, how could I dishonor him by showing mercy!!?”

Mr. 3 paled as Brogy’s massive frame began to shake, his muscles flexing against the hardened wax. The sound of cracking filled the air as Brogy roared, “But now I know the whole story!!!” With a deafening krck! The wax around his left wrist shattered. His voice thundered through the clearing. “And I shall destroy you with my own hand!!!”

Mr. 3’s pupils shrank in fear as Brogy’s body thrashed and struggled. The wax around him fractured with each surge of his immense strength.

But as Brogy broke free of the wax jacket holding him down, a sudden explosion rocked the air. Kaboom!! Smoke engulfed the area as Mr. 5’s voice rang out, “Nose Fancy Cannon!!”

“Brogy!!” Vivi and Nami cried out in unison.

When the smoke cleared, Brogy lay motionless, his face covered in soot and light burns. His massive body slumped forward, and his eyes rolled back into his head.

A heavy silence hangs in the air as Zoro, Nami, and Vivi stare at him in shock.

Mr. 5 snarls dismissively, "Noisy monster."

Back at Dorry camp, Luffy lay sprawled on his front, his lower body pinned under the colossal weight of the mountain. His arms stretched out before him, fists clenching and unclenching in frustration. His face was smeared with dirt and soot, and his breaths came shallow and ragged, stirring the dust around him.

Not far away, Usopp was buried upright in the dirt like a stake driven deep into the ground. Only his head and shoulders were visible, his arms pinned beneath the surface. Soot streaked his face, and his goggles were askew, hanging loosely around his neck. He coughed violently, expelling wisps of smoke, his body trembling with the effort. The dirt around him bore the evidence of the violent blow that had driven him into the ground.

Luffy lifted his head weakly, his black eyes glinting through the grime and exhaustion. "Usopp…" he croaked, his voice hoarse and barely audible.

Usopp's head jerked slightly at the sound of Luffy’s voice. He groaned, struggling to tilt his head and look in the direction of his captain. His voice was muffled and raw as he managed a weak cough in reply.

“Usopp,” Luffy repeated, louder this time, though his voice cracked under the strain. “Are we going to let them get away with this?”

Usopp’s eyes fluttered open, bloodshot and bleary. He gritted his teeth, clenching his jaw tightly as if to push back the exhaustion threatening to consume him. “No!! No way!!” he rasped, his voice thick with anger. His defiance burned through the smoke lingering in his lungs.

Suddenly, a frantic pair of hands began clawing at the soil in front of Usopp, their movement filled with a sense of urgency that startled both him and Luffy. It was Buggy, his one hand adorned with a pristine white glove, while the other was bare, its fingers grimy and smeared with dark soot. As he dug into the earth, his fingers scraped against the ground, sending small clumps of dirt flying. The intensity of his efforts was palpable; each yank was accompanied by a low grunt, a clear indication of his determination to free Usopp from the weight of the soil.

At the same time, a rapid tapping sound echoed near Luffy. Karoo had appeared without warning, his beak hammering relentlessly at the dirt around Luffy's body. Each furious peck sent small chunks of debris flying as the duck worked with unrelenting vigor.

Luffy’s tired eyes widened slightly as he noticed the movement. “Blue… Karoo…” he murmured in surprise, his voice catching. He hadn’t heard them approach, had not even noticed the two had woken up.

Buggy’s face was a mask of rage as he dug furiously, his teeth gritted and his jaw set. “I told you not to get stuck!!” he bellowed at Luffy, his tone a mixture of anger and concern. His gloved hand yanked away a particularly stubborn rock with a sharp growl. “Now look at you both!! I’ll get you out—just give me a moment!” His bare hand trembled slightly, but his movements remained steady and purposeful.

Luffy’s lips curled into a faint but relieved grin. His breath hitched as he spoke. “Blue…” he whispered, gratitude thick in his voice. He turned his head to glance at Karoo, whose bill worked with relentless determination, sending dirt flying in all directions.

“Are you mad too, birdie?” Luffy asked, his grin widening despite the burns on his face stinging with the action.

Karoo paused for a brief moment, his beady black eyes locking onto Luffy. Tears of fury welled in the duck’s eyes, and he let out a sharp, indignant quack in agreement. Then, with a resolute nod of his head, he resumed his relentless pecking, his movements fueled by anger and loyalty.

Luffy let out a weak laugh, the sound low but filled with unyielding resolve. “Then let’s go clobber these guys!” he declared, his voice firm and fiery. His black eyes burned with determination.

Buggy nods in agreement, pauses as he digs up Usopp, and says, "Let's get you two free and patched up a bit." He reaches behind his back into his hair and pulls out a small first aid kit.

Brogy’s massive head slams onto the ground with a muffled fwomp, stirring a cloud of dust around his face. Nami screams, her voice tinged with desperation, “Brogy!!”

Miss Valentine doubles over in laughter, her shrill voice piercing the tense air. “Kya ha ha ha ha ha!! The fool!!”

Mr. 5 sneers, his upper lip curling in revulsion as he spits, “Yuck.”

Miss Goldenweek stands quietly, her expression apathetic, as though she’s merely observing a dull event. Mr. 3’s brows furrow as he comments with irritation, “I underestimated him. Giants are incredibly strong. I never thought he’d be able to break my candle jacket.”

On the ground, Brogy stirs, forcing himself back to consciousness. His breaths are harsh and labored, a testament to the pain radiating from Mr. 5’s explosive assault. His fierce eyes snap open, locking onto Mr. 3 with a glare that could pierce steel. Despite his agony, his warrior’s pride burns brightly in his gaze.

Mr. 3 takes an involuntary step back, his confidence faltering under Brogy’s intense stare. He clenches his teeth and mutters to himself, "I have to secure him more thoroughly." Without hesitation, his body begins producing wax, flowing in thick streams as he leaps to a safe distance from Brogy’s reach.

Raising his arm high, Mr. 3 forms a massive wax blade, its edges glinting menacingly in the light. “Wax-Wax Arts… Sword!” he declares, his voice echoing with malicious glee. He swings the colossal weapon down with brutal precision, the tip slamming into the back of Brogy’s hand. Blood spurts from the wound, pooling beneath his giant palm.

“Now stay put!” Mr. 3 orders as the sword drives deeper into Brogy’s flesh, pinning his hand to the ground. Brogy grits his teeth, suppressing a scream, but his sight briefly goes white from the excruciating pain.

Not satisfied, Mr. 3 quickly conjures three more wax swords. One after another, they pierce Brogy’s remaining hand and both feet. Each strike is precise, sinking into flesh and driving into the earth below. Blood seeps from the wounds, staining the ground crimson.

“If you move, your hands and feet will be torn off!” Mr. 3 shouts gleefully, his voice dripping with cruelty. He laughs wickedly, his sadistic nature on full display.

Brogy can no longer contain his voice. His agonized scream tears through the clearing, echoing off the trees. “AARRGGHH!!!” His massive frame is pinned to the ground, face-down, the swords anchoring him in place.

Vivi’s eyes flash with fury as she screams at Mr. 3, “You cruel monster!!”

Ignoring her, Mr. 3 whips his hand toward the candelabra. “Speed up, my extra special candelabra!! ” he commands. “Hurry up and turn them into wax figures!”

The top of the candelabra obeys, spinning even faster. The flames on its candles roar brighter, melting the wax with greater intensity. Droplets spray into the air, forming a dense, misty haze that descends on the trapped victims below.

Nami coughs violently, clutching her chest. “Koff... Koff... Ungh... my chest is starting to hurt!” She gasps, her voice weak.

Zoro tilts his head back, silently observing the thickening mist raining down on them.

“Koff…” Vivi covers her mouth with one hand, pressing the other to her chest. Her eyes widen with realization as she exclaims, “The wax is getting in our lungs! He means to turn us into wax figures from the inside out!”

Mr. 3 throws his head back, laughing mockingly. “Ha ha ha ha ha!! That’s right! Die in agony!” He points up at them, his voice filled with maniacal pride. “Agony is the look I seek! Let your bodies become monuments to horror!”

Nami glares down at him, her voice defiant despite her fear. “Forget your art, you twisted top-knotted fiend!” She gestures toward Brogy. “How dare you do that to Brogy!?” Her anger falters as another coughing fit wracks her body. She clutches her throat, struggling to breathe before forcing out her words. “You guys are going to pay for this!! You hear me!?”

Vivi’s gaze shifts to Brogy, her heart aching at his suffering. Zoro remains still, his arms crossed, analyzing their predicament with cold calculation.

Mr. 3 folds his arms, cackling triumphantly. “Ha ha ha ha ha ha!! Shout your head off!” He taunts, relishing Nami’s outrage.

Nami turns to Zoro, her frustration boiling over. “Zoro!! Don’t just stand there! Do something!!”

Pinned to the ground, Brogy stares blankly as the wax begins to coat his skin, turning it a ghostly white. His mind spirals into despair. “One hundred years…” he thinks, his heart heavy. His hands and feet throb with pain from the swords embedding them into the earth. “Day after day, we fought each other… We fought and thought… We were warriors of Elbaph. Our pride made us fight on. If this is our end… Oh, Elbaph... It is too cruel! Would you deny me an honorable death in battle!?”

Anguish and bitterness swirl within him, tears streaming down his face as the wax hardens over his left cheek, freezing it in place.

Mr. 3 points at Brogy’s tear-streaked face, laughing louder. “Ha ha ha ha ha ha!! What an expression! That look of tortured bitterness—I love it!! Grief! Torment! What a magnificent work of art!”

Miss Valentine joins in with her shrill cackles, while Mr. 5 smirks faintly. Miss Goldenweek remains indifferent, her face a blank slate.

Brogy clenches his jaw, his silence a testament to his defiance. The mocking laughter surrounds him, echoing like a cruel melody. The wax creeps further, encasing half of his face and freezing it in an eternal mask of despair. “Elbaph…” he whispers in his mind, clinging to his homeland’s pride.

Nearby, Nami struggles desperately, grabbing her wax-coated arm with her free hand. The hardened substance creaks but refuses to budge. Her breaths grow shallow and rapid as panic sets in. “I can’t move my hand!?” she cries, her voice trembling with fear. “No! I can’t die like this!” Her eyes dart around frantically, searching for any escape. “Isn’t there some way out!?”

Zoro stares ahead somberly, his arms still crossed. Vivi’s voice breaks through the heavy air, her tone grim. “Our bodies are already beginning to harden!”

Zoro closes his eyes briefly, his calm demeanor unshaken by the thickening wax encasing his body. When he opens them, his gaze sharpens like steel as he calls out, his voice firm and steady. “You can still move, can’t you, giant?”

Brogy, caught in his grief and despair, shifts his one free eye toward Zoro, drawn by the swordsman’s unyielding tone. Zoro holds his gaze and continues, “A giant without hands and feet… is still more useful than a dead man.”

Brogy’s heart stutters at the words, and the fog of despondency in his mind begins to lift. Zoro’s words pierce through the haze like a blade, offering a sliver of hope.

Zoro uncrosses his arms, the wax casing his body emitting groaning creaks and cracks as it strains against his movement. His hand finds the hilt of Sandai Kitetsu, pulling it free from its sheath with a sharp schink. Brogy’s eye widens in shock as Zoro smirks, the glint of the cursed blade reflecting his resolve. “If I can cut off my legs,” Zoro says with a grin that borders on madness, “how about we crush these guys together?”

Zoro’s words ignite something deep within Brogy. The despair that had consumed him moments ago begins to waver, replaced by a faint, flickering ember of determination.

But Zoro’s bold statement sends a ripple of panic through the air. Nami’s and Vivi’s protests erupt almost simultaneously, their voices shrill with disbelief.

Nami’s cry comes first, her face pale with shock. “Your legs!? Your own legs!?” She shakes her head, as though trying to reject the reality of his words. “You can’t be serious! How can you say that at a time like this!?”

Zoro glances at her with an almost dismissive calmness. “Is there a better time to say it?” he retorts, tilting his shoulder as if testing the limits of his encasement. The wax cracks audibly but holds firm. “What’re you girls going to do?”

Vivi’s frustration spills over, her voice quivering with equal parts fear and anger. “Do!? It’s hopeless!! Even if you do get down from here, they’ll just trap you again!!”

Zoro’s response is a faint, confident smile. “You never know until you try, right?” he says, his tone light despite the grim situation. “We’re dead if we stay here, that’s for sure. I say we go out putting up the ugliest fight we can. Why lie down and die for these creeps? Right?”

His words fan the embers in Brogy’s chest into a blazing inferno. The giant’s face, partially encased in wax, twists into a grin of fierce resolve.

Miss Valentine scoffs from below, her voice tinged with incredulity. “What’s he saying!? Is he crazy!?”

Mr. 3 folds his arms, his composure masking the flicker of doubt in his eyes. “Hmph. He’s bluffing. He could never do it! He’s all talk!”

But Brogy’s booming laughter shatters the tension in the air. “KA ba ba ba ba ba ba!!!” His voice rumbles like distant thunder, drawing everyone’s attention. “You’re a cocky lad!” Brogy says to Zoro, his grin widening to reveal sharp teeth. “I’d almost lost my will to fight…” His eyes gleam with the fire of a rekindled warrior’s spirit. “But I’m with you. I like your spirit!!!”

The bloodthirsty grin spreading across his face sends shivers through the Baroque agents. Brogy’s laughter echoes in the clearing as his grin turns feral.

For a moment, silence falls over the clearing. The only sound is the eerie whooshing of the candelabra’s spinning top. Then Mr. 3’s voice breaks through, disbelief laced with panic. “What!?”

Nami stares at Zoro, her expression stricken with shock. “You’re… you’re not serious, are you!? Without your legs, how will you fight!?”

Zoro draws Yubashiri from its sheath, the wax encasing his body creaking and cracking with each deliberate movement. He shifts his stance, his arms ready, and casts a sharp grin at Nami. “Dunno,” he replies, his voice as steady as ever. “But…” He pauses, letting his grin grow sharper. “I’ll fight to win.”

The sound of creaking wax fills the air as both Zoro and Brogy begin to move. The strain of their defiance is almost palpable, their bodies resisting the encroaching wax.

Mr. 3 takes an involuntary step back, the sight of their determination unnerving him. “What’s wrong with these people!?” he shouts, his voice tinged with fear.

Mr. 5 grumbles, his face contorted in a scowl. “They’ve lost their minds!!”

In Vivi’s mind, Igaram’s last words resurface, echoing with quiet urgency. “Princess Vivi, it’s up to you to save the kingdom!” Her face pales as the weight of her responsibility sinks in. Her lips tremble as a small “Wa…” escapes her. But the fear vanishes as her resolve hardens, mirroring the wax encasing her.

“Wait!” Vivi calls out, her voice steady despite the chaos. She looks at Zoro with newfound determination. “I’m with you too!”

Zoro’s sharp grin widens at her words. “Good,” he says simply.

Nami turns to Vivi, her voice rising in disbelief. “Vivi!?” she cries, her bewilderment plain.

Brogy’s voice roars like an avalanche. “Let’s do it!!” His massive arms strain against the wax swords pinning him, blood gushing from his wounds as he forces them to move.

Mr. 3’s composure shatters, and he screams at the group. “This is ridiculous! I’ll kill you all!!” His body begins to ooze wax, preparing for another assault.

Zoro steadies his breathing, his hands gripping Yubashiri and Sandai Kitetsu. He aims the blades at his legs, encased in wax, ready to strike. With unwavering resolve, he begins to drive the swords downward.

Nami shuts her eyes tightly, unable to bear the sight. “Zoro…” she whispers, her voice trembling.

But suddenly the sound of splintering wood interrupts the tension. A massive tree crashes to the ground, its falling form announcing the arrival of reinforcements.

Luffy, Blue, and Usopp—who is perched precariously on Karoo’s back—burst into the clearing with aggressive battle cries. The chaotic group trips over a log, sending them flying through the air like comets.

“Whoosh!” They sail past the Baroque agents, their wild trajectory causing a moment of stunned silence.

Usopp spots the agents mid-flight, pointing at them as he yells, “Hey, you jerks! Get ready to die!!”

The quartet crashes to the ground with a thunderous boom, kicking up a thick cloud of dust.

As the dust begins to settle, the clearing falls silent. The onlookers stare, their expressions blank with disbelief. Someone mutters under their breath, “What the hell…”

The haze dissipates, revealing the chaotic new arrivals poised for battle. The group of four emerges from the dissipating dust cloud, their silhouettes sharpening as the haze clears. Luffy adjusts his straw hat with a determined grin, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he shouts, “Let’s get them!!”

Beside him, Buggy cracked his knuckles loudly, the sound sharp and deliberate, echoing ominously across the battlefield. Each crack of his fingers echoed through the tense air, punctuating the silence with an eerie finality. His grin stretched into something feral and menacing, his sharp teeth flashing like a predator preparing to strike.

The sunlight glinted off his bright red nose, an unusual contrast to the dark aura radiating from him. His eyes narrowed, shadowed with intensity, as he muttered darkly, “These flashy fiends are in for a world of pain!!” His voice carried a sense of dangerous anticipation, the kind that sent shivers down spines.

Karoo let out a loud, defiant quack, the loyal duck flapping his wings with fierce energy, his small body exuding the determination of a warrior preparing for battle. His feathers bristled, and his eyes glinted with sharp focus, ready to charge at the first sign of threat.

Usopp, sitting tall on Karoo’s back, adjusted his goggles with a flourish, his fingers steady despite the tension thickening the air. He swallowed hard, but he would never admit to his nerves. He raised his slingshot high, his voice booming with exaggerated confidence. “All right!!” His words bounced off the surrounding trees, reinforcing his bravado, his heart pounding like war drums in his chest.

From their perch atop the wax candelabra, Vivi and Nami cried out in unison, their voices ringing with relief. “Luffy!!! Usopp!! Blue!! Karoo!!” Their desperate calls cut through the chaos, filled with newfound hope, but also laced with urgency. The wax continued to creep along their limbs, threatening to steal their movements entirely.

Usopp’s keen eyes scanned the battlefield, locking onto Brogy’s massive, battered form. His heart clenched at the sight of the once-mighty warrior now reduced to a vulnerable state. His initial excitement quickly shifted to resolve, his expression hardening with determination. “Master Brogy!!!” he shouted, his voice reverberating with righteous fury. “We’ll avenge you!!”

The giant, despite his injuries and the suffocating weight of the encasing wax, stirred slightly at Usopp’s words. A faint warmth flickered in his chest, cutting through the despair like a flame struggling against the wind. His lips parted as he murmured, almost unconsciously, “Usopp…”

Buggy’s sharp gaze snapped to Brogy, his eyes widening as he took in the extent of the giant’s injuries. The sheer brutality of it made his stomach churn, rage curling in his gut like a coiled snake. His voice rose sharply, tinged with alarm and disbelief. “What the flashy hell happened here!?”

Before anyone could answer, Nami’s voice cut through the chaos like a whip, filled with fiery urgency. “ JUST BATTER THESE CREEPS BEYOND RECOGNITION AND BLOW THEM FAR, FAR AWAY!!”

Luffy responded immediately, his determination burning as bright as ever. He punched his fist into his palm with a resounding smack, cracking his knuckles as he spoke with unwavering confidence. “You got it!” he declared, his grin never faltering. “These guys spoiled the giant’s battle!!”

Buggy, standing beside him, narrowed his eyes as Luffy’s words settled in. “Giant’s battle…?” he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper. His mind raced, forcing him to push past the cacophony of soul voices around him and focus.

Then, his gaze landed on Dorry’s lifeless body.

For a moment, everything around him faded. A cold sensation spread through his veins, ice gripping his chest as his heart seemed to stutter. He froze, his mind unable to immediately process what he was seeing. ' No… but his soul’s voice is still here… I just need to get over there .'

Buggy clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms. His entire body radiated tension, a fire of barely contained rage and grief boiling beneath the surface. His teeth ground together as he fought to maintain control. 'Think out your plan. Stay cool, then move. Just like Rouge said…'

Taking a slow, deliberate breath through his nose, he exhaled steadily, forcing the seething rage to simmer under control. When he turned back to face the Baroque agents, his demeanor was eerily calm, but his eyes blazed with a terrifying intensity, like a storm restrained behind a fragile dam.

“So your head carries the highest price in all the East Blue, eh?” Mr. 3’s mocking voice cut through the tension as he stepped forward, spreading his arms in an exaggerated, almost theatrical welcome. His smirk dripped with arrogance. “The Navy certainly has lowered its standards.”

Luffy’s gaze snapped toward Mr. 3, but instead of anger, his face lit up with pure curiosity. His lips parted in awe. “Yow! Hoo, boy, look at that weird hair!”

The insult landed like a slap across Mr. 3’s pride. His face twisted with irritation, his eyes flashing with fury. “SHUT UP, YOU!!!” he bellowed, his composure cracking.

Luffy, completely unfazed, tilted his head in wonder. “Whoa, it’s a three! And it’s on fire!” His fascination only seemed to grow, his eyes locked on the fiery numeral atop Mr. 3’s head.

“SHUT UP!!” Mr. 3 screeched, his rage boiling over, but Luffy remained blissfully entertained.

From the candelabra, Nami’s sharp voice cut through the ridiculous exchange, her tone laced with desperation as she fought against the thickening wax. “Never mind that, Luffy!!! You guys need to break the pillar behind us!! We’re being turned into wax figures!”

The urgency in her voice snapped the group’s attention toward the towering wax structure. Their trapped crewmates, slowly being encased, sent a jolt through them. Buggy blinked, momentarily stunned by the absurdity of the situation.

Luffy tilted his head again, this time toward the captives. “Oh. You’re in danger?”

Despite the growing pool of blood beneath him, Zoro remained eerily calm. He rested Sandai Kitetsu on his shoulder, his expression utterly nonchalant. “Nope. No problem here,” he said, a small smirk playing on his lips.

A soft plop, plop, plop echoed below him. Nami’s gaze flicked downward, her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes widened in horror as she spotted the source—a steadily growing puddle of crimson beneath Zoro. Her voice wavered. “H-hey! Your legs are bleeding!!”

Zoro finally glanced down, as if just noticing for the first time. His pants were soaked in dark red, the deep gashes in his legs glaringly visible through the torn fabric. “Yeah,” he muttered, shrugging. “I guess I hacked about halfway through them. Heh heh.”

Vivi’s face paled, her jaw slackening. The sheer absurdity of his statement left her momentarily speechless. Nami, however, found her voice, and it erupted in a scream of unbridled fury. “YOU CALL THAT NO PROBLEM!?”

Buggy, still crouched near the ground, blinked rapidly as if trying to process what he had just heard. His mouth opened, then closed, then opened again before he muttered incredulously, “Cut halfway through…?” His face twisted with frustration and disbelief. “What kind of lunatic—?!”

Zoro simply chuckled, waving off Nami’s hysterics as though she were overreacting. “Anyway, Luffy,” he said, his voice as casual as if he were discussing the weather, “could you break the pillar? We’ll let you finish up here.”

Luffy’s grin widened, his determination shining through. He cracked his knuckles once more. “Sure!”

Mr. 3 steps forward, attempting to reclaim his composure with a haughty scoff. “Hmph. I can’t let you do that.”

Buggy’s sharp grin faded into a focused, calculating expression. His sharp blue eyes narrowed as he scanned the battlefield, his gaze predatory and precise. Without drawing attention, he detached his feet from the rest of his body, leaving them planted firmly on the ground as he slowly drifted upward, moving like a specter in the chaos. Silent and unnoticed, he hovered, watching and waiting for the perfect moment to act.

Above, Nami, Zoro, and Vivi remained trapped atop the wax candelabra, their bodies stiffening as the relentless mist of wax rained down from the grotesque spinning contraption above them. The thick, suffocating scent of burning wax filled their lungs, making each breath feel heavier. Second by second, they were being encased in a prison of hardened wax, like figures trapped in an artist’s macabre sculpture. Their limbs lost sensation, their movements slowed, and the dread of complete immobility grew stronger.

Luffy stood nearby, his straw hat tilted slightly forward, casting a shadow over his determined eyes. His fists clenched tightly, the muscles in his arms flexing with anticipation. A sharp crack echoed as he popped his knuckles, his stance unwavering. "I have no idea what that thing is, but I’m going to destroy it!" His voice rang across the battlefield like a battle cry, igniting a spark of energy among his allies. The ground beneath his feet almost seemed to react, vibrating slightly as if preparing for the chaos to come.

Usopp, perched on Karoo’s back, straightened his posture and steadied his nerves. His hands trembled slightly as he gripped his slingshot, forcing himself to appear confident. "Understood! Get ready to witness a completely new and improved Usopp today!" His voice was filled with bravado, but the slight waver in his tone betrayed his nerves. Karoo, however, remained steady, flapping his wings with determination, his beady eyes brimming with loyalty.

Above them, the massive wax candle crackled ominously as molten wax dripped down in thick rivulets. The flames above burned hot, intensifying the mist that thickened the air around the trapped trio. Each droplet of wax that landed on their bodies solidified instantly, adding layer after layer to their growing encasement.

"Hurry up!! We’re getting stiff!" Nami’s voice rang out in desperation, thick with urgency. She glanced between Luffy and the towering wax structure, frustration burning behind her eyes. Helplessness gnawed at her; they were running out of time.

Below, Mr. 3 stood with an air of supreme confidence, arms crossed as he admired his so-called masterpiece. To him, the battlefield was no more than his personal stage, and his victims were mere pieces in his grotesque display of artistic cruelty. The candle’s flickering light cast eerie shadows across his smug face, making his grin even more sinister.

Miss Goldenweek remained detached, nibbling on a rice cracker as if she were merely watching a dull street performance. Meanwhile, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine stood on either side of him, their expressions filled with amusement, anticipation gleaming in their eyes as they waited for their enemies to be fully encased.

On the candelabra, Zoro remained as nonchalant as ever, seemingly unbothered by the creeping wax sealing him in place. His arms crossed over his broad chest, his expression unreadable, as though he were merely waiting for something interesting to happen. The wax continued its slow advance over his torso, but instead of concern, his voice carried the same confident drawl as he mused, "If I’m going to be turned into a wax statue, I might as well look good." He lifted one of his swords in a dramatic motion, striking an exaggerated, heroic pose as if he were preparing to be immortalized in legend.

Nami’s eye twitched as her patience snapped. "What are you doing?! Stop worrying about your stupid pose and do something about your bleeding legs! Just looking at them is painful!"

Zoro, still calm as ever, shrugged. "Then don’t look."

Vivi, barely holding in her panic, scolded him as well. "Idiot! This is no time to be playing around!"

Nami threw her hands up in frustration. "What kind of fool cuts off his legs so he can run away?!"

Zoro, still holding his pose, corrected her without hesitation. "You got it wrong. I was going to cut off my legs so I could fight."

Nami scoffed, folding her arms. "That’s even stupider."

For the first time, Zoro’s confidence faltered. Flustered, he muttered, "Shut up, okay?"

Vivi could only stare at the two in disbelief. Were they seriously having this conversation while being moments away from turning into wax figures?

A distorted voice, sharp and mocking, sliced through the air. "Oh no, even a child knows not to cut themselves on purpose! Nami, what we have here isn’t a swordsman—it’s a big toddler!"

All three snapped their eyes downward.

"Blue?! Mr. Blue?!" Nami and Vivi shouted in shock.

Buggy hovered just below them, a smug grin plastered on his face. His body floated effortlessly, while his feet remained firmly on the ground below.

Zoro’s face turned red with irritation as he barked, "Shut up! I am not! It was so I could fight, damn it!" His indignation quickly turned to pain as he yelped, "Ouch!! What are you doing?!"

Buggy, uncharacteristically serious, inspected Zoro’s bleeding legs with narrowed eyes. "Making sure you don’t bleed out, you idiot!" His voice cracked with urgency. "Thank the seas you cut from front to back and not the other way around, or you’d never walk again! If you severed your Achilles tendons, you’d be done for!"

He muttered under his breath, his eyes scanning for anything he could use. "Shit! I need something clean to staunch the bleeding. I used up all my first-aid kit."Buggy bites his lip as his mind races on what he could use to stop Zoro from bleeding; as his loose hair falls onto his face, his eyes widen as he gets an idea.

"Shit!" Zoro grunts in pain as Buggy touches his legs again, then shouts as Buggy pulls Wado Ichimonji slightly out of its sheath. "Hey! What are you—" Zoro began, but his words stopped as Buggy grabbed a small portion of his own long blue hair and swiftly sliced it off with Wado Ichimonji.

The long strands of hair in Buggy’s hand go limp and then move to try and reconnect to Buggy.

"I have nothing to staunch the bleeding, so I need to sew it close for now so you don't bleed out! Now stop whining; I need to focus!" Buggy wraps the wiggling strands around his hand, then grabs one and glares at it as sweat gathers on his brow. The hair strand goes straight. His forehead beaded with sweat as he controlled the hair with precision. Without another word, he began stitching the deep wound in Zoro’s leg, his movements quick and precise.

Miss Goldenweek interjected with a hint of sarcasm, her voice cutting through the tension. As she points at the quartet on the wax candelabra, drawing draws Mr. 3's attention to herself. "Nothing seems to rattle those people, Mr. 3."

"The same is true for you, Ms. Golden Week." Mr. 3 says with exasperation, as he sees that Ms. Golden Week has set up a picnic for herself and is eating a rice cracker and drinking tea.

Seeing a fourth person on the candelabra with blue hair, he blinks and looks back at where the teen was before, then back at the teen now on the candelabra treating the swordsman's legs. "How did you get past us!?" Mr. 3’s irritation grew as he observed the teens' actions. But what irked him most was that brat didn’t even look at him—he merely continued sewing and had the audacity to flip him off mid-stitch.

Vivi’s gaze darted between her allies, disbelief plain on her face. As she thinks, ' We’re still being turned into wax figures! It's almost as if they have no sense that they're in danger .'

Regaining his composure, Mr. 3 scoffed. "No matter. That kid will be trapped as well soon enough. These people don’t seem to respect our power—that’s the most annoying." He turned to Luffy, narrowing his eyes. "And that one doesn’t look like any threat at all."

Luffy, unfazed, simply cracked his knuckles, flashing a confident grin. "Alright!" he shouted, his voice booming across the battlefield.

Mr. 5 stepped forward, his movements slow but deliberate, his cold gaze fixed on Mr. 3. "Mr. 3, let us finish him off."

Mr. 3 scoffed, waving a dismissive hand as if swatting away a pesky insect. "Finish him off? Don't be ridiculous. Just look at him. Your attacks on him failed miserably. He's still very much alive. Obviously, your team can't deal with him."

A smug smirk tugged at the corner of Mr. 3’s lips as he extended his arms, thick globs of wax beginning to swirl around them like liquid marble. His voice took on a tone of sadistic delight. "You two, clean up that trash behind him. I’m going to add Straw Hat Luffy to my collection of wax figures."

From the side, Usopp tensed, his fingers tightening around the handle of his slingshot. His usually shaky resolve had hardened into something dangerous. With a sharp nod, he barked, "You scumbags talk too much. You went too far!! Now rest in pieces!!"

Karoo, ever loyal, let out a fierce, battle-ready quack, flapping his wings aggressively as if to echo Usopp’s words.

Luffy turned his head and looked behind him at Usopp and Karoo, who were now crouched behind some trees, their bodies half-hidden in the foliage. "Huh? Did you say something?"

Usopp exhaled sharply, lowering his voice to a whisper. "Okay! We’ll back you up, Luffy!" Karoo let out a quieter, determined quack from behind his tree, his beady eyes fixed on the enemy.

Meanwhile, Brogy exhaled heavily, his massive frame sagging against the ground. The battle-worn giant cast a sidelong glance at Zoro, offering a tired but knowing smile. "It seems we don’t get to fight after all, eh, lad?" 

Zoro grimaced, shifting his weight slightly as pain flared through his wounded legs while Blue stitched them closed. Even through clenched teeth, he returned Brogy’s smirk. "Yeah. Looks like… they’ll be taking it from here."

Taking advantage of Luffy looking away, Mr. 3 lunged. His voice rang out in twisted triumph. "Take that!!" With a fluid, practiced motion, he hurled a thick tendril of wax toward Luffy. "Candle Lock!" The molten substance shot forward with unnatural speed, ensnaring Luffy’s legs in an instant. The wax solidified upon impact, locking his feet together with a sharp, echoing snap.

Luffy’s eyes widened momentarily. "Whoa?!"

He teetered for a second, his rubberized body bending and twisting as he fought to free himself. However, the weight of the hardened wax sent him crashing onto his back with a loud, resounding thud. The wax’s sheer density pinned him down, momentarily halting his movement.

From the sidelines, Usopp and Vivi gasped simultaneously. Usopp’s jaw is practically unhinged. "What the heck is this?!" he stammered, his voice filled with a mixture of disbelief and horror. "His legs—his legs look like a hammer now!"

Vivi’s breath hitched as she pointed toward Luffy. "H-he caught him!" Panic surged through her tone as she struggled against her own impending fate atop the candelabra.

Meanwhile, Luffy’s head lifted slightly as he inspected his newly wax-bound feet. A slow, satisfied grin stretched across his face. "Oh," he murmured with a childlike curiosity. "This is perfect."

Mr. 3 chuckled darkly, thoroughly entertained by Luffy’s reaction. "That was too easy," he mused, eyes gleaming with triumph. With a simple flick of his wrist, more wax formed at his fingertips. "Next up are your hands."

"Candle Lock!" he shouted once more, sending another stream of wax hurtling toward his prey.

Luffy’s instincts kicked in just in time. "Whoa!!" With a sharp twist of his torso, he sprang himself out of the way, narrowly dodging the second lock.

In the same breath, he suddenly shoots one of his arms outward with incredible force. "GRAAAH!!"

His rubbery limb stretched at an impossible speed, aimed directly at Mr. 3. The sheer velocity of the strike made the villain flinch, his confident smirk faltering for the first time.

But then, the arm shot past him.

"Where is he aiming…?" Mr. 3 muttered, eyes narrowing in suspicion.

The answer revealed itself in the form of a giant wax sword—one of the many impaling Brogy’s hand.

Mr. 3 took an instinctive step back. "Huh? What's he doing?"

Luffy’s extended arm went taut as he yanked himself forward, his body whipping through the air like a slingshot. His momentum carried him at dizzying speed toward the embedded weapon.

As he zoomed past, he shot Brogy a brief glance. "Excuse me, Mr. Giant."

Brogy’s confusion deepened, but before he could process the words, pain exploded in his hand. Luffy, using his own body as leverage, swung around the hilt of the sword, causing it to twist violently in Brogy’s palm.

"AAARGH!!" Brogy bellowed, his entire arm jerking involuntarily from the sudden agony.

Buggy looked up from tending to Zoro’s wounds just in time to witness the bizarre scene. His face twisted in horror as he saw the blood gush up out of Brogy's hand. "Luffy! What the hell are you doing?!"

Mr. 3 adjusted his glasses, his mind struggling to comprehend the sheer absurdity of Luffy’s strategy.

Vivi’s voice rang out. "Luffy!"

Brogy, now pale-faced from the pain, let out another guttural yell. Blood oozed freely from his punctured hand as the sword wriggled in its place.

Zoro, momentarily stunned, snapped, "What are you doing?!"

Luffy’s response came in the form of a triumphant battle cry. "Gomu Gomu… Hammer!"

With a final, powerful spin, he used the wax encasing his legs like a bludgeon, slamming it into the base of the wax pillar.

The impact was cataclysmic.

The wax pillar cracked, a spiderweb of fractures spreading across its surface in an instant. Then, with a deafening roar, the entire structure began to crumble, pieces of hardened wax raining down in a chaotic storm.

Mr. 3’s proud masterpiece collapsed before his eyes. "No…" Mr. 3 whispered, his voice barely audible beneath the cacophony of destruction.

Above, Nami’s stunned voice carried over the chaos. "Alright! The wax pillar is falling!"

Relief flooded her system, but it was short-lived. As the wax structure crumbled, the massive candelabra at its peak remained intact—and now it was plummeting straight toward them.

Nami, Vivi, Zoro, and Buggy looked up, their expressions shifting to terror in unison. Four screams pierced the battlefield as the monstrous wax top descended upon them.

Luffy, now holding onto the sword handle amidst the chaos, let out a triumphant laugh. "I did it! That thing in my legs broke off too!" he declared, his usual confidence undeterred even in the face of such destruction.

A loud crash followed as the wax debris settled, and as Luffy turned his head, he saw the four still standing on the wax. He tilted his head in confusion.

As the top of the massive candelabra crashed onto the base of the wax sculpture, a tremor rippled through the battlefield. Wax shards scattered across the ground like shattered glass, sending up small plumes of dust and smoke. The heavy structure groaned as it settled, its impact sending vibrations through the solidified wax floor. Nami, Vivi, Zoro, and Buggy blinked up at the looming wax formation, their expressions a mixture of shock and incredulity.

"I'm alive!" Nami gasped, her voice quivering between relief and exhaustion. Her breath came in short bursts as adrenaline pulsed through her veins, the close call leaving her heart hammering in her chest.

"I still can't move," Zoro grumbled, frustration thick in his tone. His arms felt like they were cast in stone, the hardened wax creeping up his limbs like an unrelenting parasite, sapping his ability to fight back.

"We're alive..." Vivi panted, the tension in her shoulders momentarily easing before reality set in. Survival was one thing, but their situation had only worsened. They were alive—but they were completely trapped.

Buggy's eyes darted between the unstable wax structure above and the deadly proximity of the flames. His pulse thundered in his ears. "T-that's a little too close for comfort," he muttered, his throat dry. His instincts screamed at him to move, to escape.

A carefree voice shattered the heavy tension. "Hey, it's dangerous there! How come you're not running away?" Luffy asked casually, tilting his head, utterly unconcerned by the growing crisis.

Buggy blinked as realization dawned on him. His gaze lowered, taking in the solidified white substances gripping the other's legs and covering their bodies in growing white spots.

Nami's eyes flared with rage. "BECAUSE WE CAN'T MOVE!!" she bellowed, her frustration erupting like a volcanic explosion. She fought against the thickening wax, every muscle in her body straining in futile resistance.

Luffy frowned at her, puzzled. "...You can't? But I wrecked the pillar like you said."

Vivi, teetering on the edge of her patience, whipped her head toward Zoro and Buggy. "ARE WE REALLY ENTRUSTING OUR LIVES TO THIS BOOB!? MR. BUSHIDO!? MR. BLUE!?" Her voice cracked with sheer disbelief, desperation breaking through her usual composure.

Zoro, momentarily stunned by her valid outburst, let out a long exhale before admitting, "I have no choice. My arms have already hardened." A rare note of resignation tinged his words—a stark acknowledgment that brute strength alone wouldn’t save him this time.

Buggy, still staring at their feet ensconced in the white material, blinked rapidly. "I think I might be able to dig you out?" His voice was uncertain, lacking its usual bravado.

Nami attempted to turn and glare at Zoro, but the thick wax locked her in place. "Wait a minute! My body's hardening too!! I can't move at all now!!" she shrieked, her panic escalating.

Mr. 3, standing at a smug distance, let out a devilish chuckle. His voice oozed condescension as he sneered, "Imbeciles!" The laugh started low but quickly erupted into full, mocking cackles. "Fuhahaha! Now that the candles are closer to you, the hardening process has sped up even more!"

The ominous glow of the giant candle intensified, its radiance casting eerie shadows over the battlefield. The thick wax dripped in heavy globs, slithering like molten chains around their immobilized bodies.

"Hurry up and turn into my beautiful wax dolls!" Mr. 3 taunted, his grin stretching with sadistic delight.

Buggy's breath hitched as he looked down at the wax creeping up Nami, Zoro, and Vivi's bodies. "Wax?!" he echoed.

Luffy’s eyes widened as delayed realization hit him. "What?! You’re turning into wax dolls?!" His voice carried genuine shock, as though he were only now grasping the gravity of the situation.

Nami’s frustration reached a boiling point. "Isn’t that what we said from the beginning?! Just destroy this entire candle set, Luffy! Blue, get away from the wax mist before you get stuck!"

Buggy nodded quickly at Nami’s warning, then glanced at his arms and legs from his crouched position. His expression twisted into something between concern and resignation. "Umm... I think it's a little too late for that."

Luffy clenched his fists, his carefree expression hardening into something fierce. "A-alright!" he shouted, shaking off his momentary hesitation.

A sharp blur cut through the air.

“Wax-Wax Arts: Harpoon!” Mr. 3’s voice rang out with sharp authority as a spear-like tendril of wax streaked toward Luffy at blistering speed. The projectile glinted menacingly in the sunlight, its trajectory aimed straight at his heart.

“Didn’t I tell you not to interfere?!” Mr. 3 spat with disdain.

From a distance, Usopp had already taken aim. His breath hitched, but his grip on the slingshot remained firm. "Now’s my chance!" he muttered, narrowing his eyes. "Take this! Gunpowder Star!" The projectile shot forward in a perfect arc, heading straight for Mr. 3’s exposed back.

Just as it was about to land, Mr. 5 stepped forward casually. Without a hint of concern, he tilted his head back and caught the Gunpowder Star in his mouth. He swallowed it whole, completely unfazed.

KABOOM!

Luffy barely dodged the harpoon, twisting his body in mid-air to evade it. "Whoa!" He landed in a crouch, muttering, "Darn," as he realized Usopp’s attack had been intercepted.

Smoke billowed from Mr. 5’s mouth and ears as he swallowed the explosion. His stomach briefly ballooned before deflating. He released a burp of smoke and licked his lips before smirking. "The flavor could be better. You don't use good gunpowder, do you?"

Usopp’s jaw unhinged. "My Gunpowder Star?! He… he ate it?!" He stood in stunned disbelief. Karoo, equally shocked, froze in place, beak hanging open.

Meanwhile, Zoro clenched his teeth, glaring down at his wax-covered body. "This isn’t good. It’s really coming down fast now." He exhaled sharply before muttering, "Good thing I chose this pose."

"IDIOT!" Nami shrieked, panic thick in her voice.

“Luffy, please hurry!” Vivi pleaded, desperation rising.

Buggy shifted, muttering under his breath, "I think I almost got it," as he moved his arm slightly.

Luffy’s gaze locked onto the massive wax pumpkin. The molten wax gleamed ominously in the flickering candlelight, its thick layers creating an impenetrable-looking shell. Sweat trickled down his temple, but his determination never wavered.

"I just have to destroy that, right?" His grin widened with unshakable confidence. "Got it!"

With a deep inhale, Luffy dug his feet into the ground, his muscles coiling like loaded springs. “Gomu Gomu no…” His arms stretched back at an unnatural length, the tension in his rubberized limbs crackling through the air like a drawn bowstring. The sheer energy of his attack caused the air to ripple in anticipation.

“Bazooka!” he roared, his fists hurtling forward like twin cannonballs, their momentum enough to crush stone. The force of his launch sent a shockwave outward, ruffling the grass and dirt beneath him.

But Mr. 3, ever the cunning strategist, was ready. A knowing smirk played on his lips as he raised his arms. “Candle Wall!” he bellowed, his fingers splaying wide as he summoned a thick, fortified barrier of wax between himself and the incoming fists. The impact was hard. Luffy’s fists collided with the wax wall in an explosion of force, causing them to rebound off the wall. A thunderous crack echoed as the wall absorbed the attack’s power.

Luffy’s arms snapped back to him like elastic, his feet skidding slightly as he landed. He glared at Mr. 3, frustration creeping into his voice. “Hey, you! Stop getting in my way!” His brow furrowed as he clenched his fists, determination hardening his features.

Mr. 3 huffed, brushing dust off his wax-coated suit. “Same to you. You should stop interfering in my wax work!” His irritation flared as he assessed the battlefield, the destruction Luffy had already caused making his blood boil. Without hesitation, Mr. 3 launched another attack. His fingers curled into tight fists as he commanded, “Candle Lock!” A thick stream of molten wax surged toward Luffy, aiming to bind him in place before he could retaliate.

Luffy instinctively jerked back, his body twisting to dodge. “Not again!” he muttered, eyes darting to the incoming wax tendrils. But then an idea sparked in his mind, quick as lightning. His lips curled into a mischievous grin. “Oh! I know!”

Instead of evading, he deliberately let the wax ensnare his arm, allowing it to harden around his forearm with an audible clamp. Mr. 3’s smug expression faltered, confusion flashing across his face.

Luffy chuckled, his excitement bubbling over. “Hee hee hee! Thanks for the hammer!” He hoisted his wax-encased arm, now a makeshift weapon, and spun on his heel.

Mr. 3’s eyes widened in horror, cold sweat forming on his brow. He knew what was coming before Luffy even moved. “Curses!” he hissed, scrambling to summon another defense. “Candle Wall!!”

But it was too late.

With a mighty roar, Luffy swung his wax-hardened arm like a wrecking ball. “Gomu Gomu no… Hammer!”

The collision was catastrophic. Cracks spider webbed through the thick wax wall, spreading like fissures in an earthquake. Then, with a deafening shatter, the entire structure exploded outward, sending massive chunks of wax flying in all directions.

Luffy’s fist smashed into Mr. 3’s face with crushing force, sending him flying backward. Blood spurted from his nose as his glasses shattered and flew off his face. His body flipped uncontrollably through the air before crashing into the ground with a heavy THUD , skidding across the dirt and leaving a trail in his wake. Dust rose around him as he lay sprawled, motionless, and dazed.

“Mr. 3!” Mr. 5’s voice rang with alarm as he rushed forward.

“Impossible…” Miss Valentine whispered, her usual playful demeanor vanishing as she stared in sheer disbelief.

Usopp, who has been watching from behind cover, suddenly leaped up, throwing his arms into the air. “Whoo!” His triumphant cheer rang out across the battlefield, his relief palpable. Karoo quacked in agreement, flapping his wings enthusiastically.

Meanwhile, Buggy’s face goes pale. He whirled around, eyes locked onto Luffy, a sense of dread creeping up his spine. ‘ What the hell is that!? His soul’s voice! I’m going to hurl !’

As the wax wall trembled and cracked under the relentless attack, Nami’s voice cut through the chaos, sharp and urgent. “You did it, Luffy! Now hurry up and destroy this candle set!” Her panic was evident as the wax around her constricted further, creeping around her body like living chains.

But instead of immediately acting, Luffy stood there, his posture unnervingly relaxed. His head tilted slightly, his expression unreadable.

Then, in an eerily calm tone, he said, “No.”

Nami’s blood ran cold. “What?!” Her face contorted in disbelief. “Now’s not the time for jokes! Hurry!” Her frustration boiled over, her voice bordering on hysterical.

Luffy’s response was completely indifferent. “No, I’m just not in the mood to save you.” His voice carried an unsettling detachment as if the dire situation around him was nothing more than an afterthought.

Nami’s breath hitched as she felt the wax harden further. “Luffy! This isn’t the time for one of your idiotic antics!” Her panic escalated, the realization that time was running out striking her like a hammer.

Vivi, standing frozen in terror, added her plea. “Luffy, please!” Desperation seeped into her voice, her usual composure crumbling under the weight of their predicament.

Nami’s mind reeled, struggling to comprehend his bizarre change in demeanor. She remained still for a moment, dread clawing at her chest. “What’re you talking about?” she demanded, her heart dropping and her eyes brimming with disbelief.

A soft crack echoed through the battlefield as Miss Golden Week nonchalantly took another bite of her rice cracker. The crisp crunch seemed to mock the urgency of the moment. “Color Trap,”

Chapter Text

“Luffy! We're running out of time! Smash this stupid pumpkin already!!!” Nami's voice rang out urgently, a sharp edge of panic cutting through her usual confidence.

Luffy, his straw hat casting a shadow over his wide, troubled eyes, muttered, “I know.” His voice lacked its usual certainty and was replaced with something uncharacteristically hesitant.

“IF YOU KNOW, THEN HURRY UP AND DO IT!” Nami yelled, frustration and desperation battling for dominance.

But Luffy didn’t move. His fists trembled at his sides. He clenched his jaw and lowered his head slightly as if weighed down by an invisible burden. “I know…” he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. “But… I don’t want to save you guys.” He looks up, his eyes wide and his eyebrow pushed up as if surprised by what he has said himself, sweat dripping down his cheek.

The weight of his words seemed to momentarily stun his friends, their fear momentarily overshadowed by sheer disbelief. Buggy's body shook with disgust.

He could hear Luffy's soule voice screaming to move, to save his friends—but something was drowning it out. A foreign soul voice forced its way over Luffy's own, whispering relentlessly: You don't care. You don't want to. Don't help. Don't listen. Betray. Betray. Betray...

“The problem isn’t about what you want to do or not!” Nami shouted, desperation lacing her tone. “WE'RE ABOUT TO BECOME WAX FIGURES! DON'T YOU GET IT!!? WE'RE GOING TO DIE!!!” Her voice cracked slightly at the end, the reality of their situation pressing down upon her like an immovable weight.

Luffy’s eyes darted between his friends, his mind warring with itself. He understood, yet his feet remained firmly planted, unmoving, as if shackled by an unseen force."Yeah, but somehow, I just don't feel like it."

"YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE IT!?" the trapped trio shouted.

Buggy’s face turns white as he bites through his lip, drawing blood, using the pain to push against the wax shell covering his body. Instead of the 'WRONG, WRONG, WRONG' of what was happening to Luffy's voice.

Meanwhile, Usopp and Karoo, the large duck, peeked out from behind a tree, their eyes wide with horror as they watched the exchange unfold.

"What's wrong with the idiot?" Usopp muttered, his voice barely audible. Usopp nods to himself and starts to rise from his hiding spot. "Our guys are going to die!! I'll bring him to his senses!! Let's go, Karoo!!" Usopp looks to Karoo for support.

"Quack!" Karoo agrees and gets ready to move with him. But before they can help, they are startled by seeing Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine blocking their way.

Mr. 5's sinister voice broke through the tension. “It's hopeless. He's already caught in the trap.” His posture was nonchalant with both hands in his long coat pockets.

Miss Valentine smirked, hand on her hip. "That's right. Do you see where his feet are?" she pointed behind her with her umbrella.

Usopp, nervous but unable to resist his curiosity, flips up his goggles, adjusting them as he squints toward Luffy’s feet.

Luffy’s foot shifted slightly. Below him, an odd black marking glistened in the sun, looking both wet and dry at the same time.

“Huh? He's standing on some weird black symbol.” Usopp murmured, his brow furrowing in confusion."What is it!?"

Miss Valentine giggled, her laughter light and carefree, completely at odds with the gravity of the situation. "It's just ordinary paint. Kya ha ha ha ha!"

“Paint!?” Usopp echoed, doubt creeping into his voice.

Mr. 5 sneered, pulling his leg back before swinging it out in a devastating kick. “But it means that you and all of your friends will go to hell!”

Usopp gasped as Mr. 5's foot swung toward him. “YOW!!!” he shrieked, throwing himself and Karoo backward just as the kick exploded against the ground.

A violent explosion followed, the force of it sending dirt and debris into the air as a tree next to their trunk shattered and fell.

“Let’s go, Karoo! Escape! Full speed ahead!!” Usopp shouted as he grabbed Karoo’s reins in a panic.

“Quack!” Karoo responded, flapping his wings wildly, his own instincts screaming at him to flee.

"He's escaping on the duck!!" Miss Valentine warned, a cruel smile tugging at her lips.

Karoo, fully panicked, bolted before Usopp could properly mount him, yanking the reins from his hands in the process.

“Hey! Wait for me! I'm not in the saddle yet!” Usopp wailed, scrambling after Karoo with an expression of sheer terror.

“After them,” Mr. 5 commanded, and he and Miss Valentine took off in pursuit, their footsteps crunching against the jungle floor as they gave chase.

Karoo, glancing back in confusion, heard Usopp yelling. Then let out a distressed quack at the sight of Usopp’s face contorted in absolute panic as he sprinted after him.

“Stop! Let me ride you!” Usopp pleaded, stretching his arms desperately to grab hold of the duck's feathers.

"Quack!" Karoo sped up even more, disturbed by Usopp’s flailing limbs and wild expression.

"Why are you scared of me?!" Usopp screamed, frustration mixing with desperation.

Meanwhile, Vivi's gaze locked onto a familiar figure standing in the distance. Her breath hitched. “Miss Goldenweek! This is your handiwork, isn't it?” she exclaimed, realization dawning upon her like a heavy storm cloud.

A girl with a wide-brimmed hat and eerily blank eyes chewed on a rice cracker, her expression unreadable. Between bites, she mused, “It's my color trap—Betrayal Black.”

The words sent an immediate chill down Vivi’s spine, confusing Nami and Zoro. Buggy is listening to the conversation but stays silent as he glares at the wax covering his legs.

“The black paint makes people want to betray their friends,” the girl continued, “he won’t care to listen to his friends now.”

Nami tried to look over at Vivi, the wax holding her face in place. “What does that mean… What's going on?!

"That girl…” Vivi explained, her voice tight with dread. “...is an artist who can accurately recreate the color of emotions. She uses paint... to make refined color images that hypnotize people.”

Zoro, who had been silently observing, grimaced. “Hypnotize!? Oh no!! Hypnotism powers would be devastating against a simple-minded fool like him! He wouldn't stand a chance!” He threw a glance at Luffy, his face dark with concern.

Buggy mutters under his breath, wriggling his legs. "Hypnotize? My flashy red nose, it’s worse than that... It’s sick."

Zoro overhears, his eyes narrowing in suspicion before flicking his gaze back to Luffy.

Nami gritted her teeth. “But... well, can't he just step off the design?” She reasoned, before shouting down to Luffy, “Luffy! Step away from that sign!”

Vivi’s eyes widened as she got an idea. “That’s not going to work!” she cried. “Luffy! Please, whatever you do, don't step out of the black circle!! I beg you!!”

Miss Goldenweek watched their frantic shouts with a black expression; the rice cracker in her mouth snapped with a crunch as she watched on.

“Princess! What're you saying?!” Nami yelled, confusion and frustration bubbling to the surface.

But Luffy’s expression remained wide-eyed. His voice is almost cold, detached. “I don't want to help you at all.” His foot lifted backward. He then stepped completely off the mark. “I won't listen to you.”

Zoro, with difficulty from the hardening wax, raised an eyebrow. “Now I get it.”

Buggy looks up and glares at Miss Goldenweek, slowly moving his body.

Luffy shakes his head sharply, gripping his hat as if trying to ground himself. 'Huh? That was weird... Something was messing with me!' His growl deepens as he snaps his gaze toward his trapped friends. "But I'll save you now!!" He places one hand on his opposite shoulder and moves to throw his arms back to attack.

Buggy flinched violently, gritting his teeth. His face paled as sweat beaded on his forehead. He clutched his stomach, struggling not to gag. "She is getting punched!" he grunts.

Zoro's eyes again flicker from Luffy to Buggy and Miss Goldenweek back again.

Luffy’s body stiffened. His head tilted slightly as if processing something foreign. Then, a wide grin spread across his face—unnaturally wide. And suddenly, he laughed. A booming, uncontrollable laugh.“HAHAHAHA But let me laugh first, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

“What’s wrong?! Now!?” Vivi, Nami, and Zoro shout, jaw-dropping in shock. At the sudden change.

Buggy can hear Luffy's soul voice; he sounds confused and frustrated, wanting to break the thing trapping them, but the thing covering his voice just says, 'Just laugh! Funny! Just laugh! Funny!'

“Color trap,” Mrs. Goldenweek says between the rice cracker in her mouth, as she finishes the last stroke of yellow on Luffy's back, the paint drying instantly. “Laughter yellow. Now you mustn't move."

Luffy falls to the ground laughing hysterically, rolling back and forth, kicking his legs up into the air as he laughs and laughs. "Ha ha ha ha! Ho Ho Ho! Ha HA HA!"

Nami sees the yellow on Luffy's back as he rolls around and shouts, "It's on his shirt!!! Luffy, take your shirt off!!"

Luffy’s laughter echoed across the battlefield. “Hahahaha! No way! I just wanna laugh right now! Aaahh!” Luffy rolled, his body convulsing with laughter.

Zoro clenched his teeth in frustration. “Rats. With the wax falling so fast, we won't last another minute!"

Usopp on Karoo's back bursts into the clearing with Mr. 5, and Miss Valentine is right behind them. Karoo looks behind him sees the agents and lets out a panic cry. "Quack!"

Usopp sees them and lets out a loud, panicked 'EEK!' As Karoo bolts forward, they crash into the hysterically laughing Luffy, sending him sprawling onto the ground with a heavy thwump!

"Bwahahahahah! Hahahah!" Luffy laughs, landing on his face.

Nami screams at Usopp and Karoo. " DID YOU GUYS JUST COME HERE TO PLAY AROUND!!?"

Vivi feels the sweat drip down her head as she mumbles out embarrassed, "Karoo!!"

Usopp and Karoo disappear back into the jungle. "Blast! They're too fast." Mr. 5 curses as he bolts into the jungle after the two; Miss Valentine runs after him.

“Look!” Nami cheered happily. “ When Usopp and Karoo hit Luffy, the paint on his shirt got rubbed off."

Luffy stopped laughing as he caught his breath. "Ugh," he groaned as he got to his feet. “She did something to me again?" he growled. Luffy’s eyes burned with fury. He clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles cracked."Cut it out, you little witch!!!" his voice boomed across the battlefield.

“Did you enjoy my Laughter Yellow?” Ms. Golden Week asked.

"Shut up!! Are you crazy!!" Luffy looks up at the spinning pumpkin head and shouts, "I gotta wreck that pumpkin!!" He thrust both arms backward. "Gum-Gum..." he started to say as he let his arms stretch back.

Miss Goldenweek, acting quickly, paints a red paint symbol on the ground nearby. "Colors trap—Bull-fright red."

"Bazooka!!" Luffy yells, his arms flying forward, only for him to hit the red symbol painted on the ground.

Zoro, Nami, and Zoro scream in rage at Luffy." NOT THERE, FOOL!!"

Buggy’s jaw dropped as he stared at the red symbol. It practically screamed at him—‘HIT ME! HIT ME!’

Luffy yells at Miss Goldenweek, "Stop getting in my way!"

Miss Goldenweek tilted her head slightly, still chewing. "No, Mr. 3 will be angry if you break it. So now you’ll want to hit that sign just like a bull that always wants to hit a red cape,” she explained blandly.

Luffy’s muscles tensed. His fists clenched. He took a deep breath, then, his voice resolute, he declared, enraged, “Yargh!!! You're gonna get it!! You're history!! Gum- Gum...… BAZOOKA!!!”

His arms shoot back, then forward, only to turn away from his target and hit the red-painted symbol on the ground with a ShuK...

Zoro, Nami, and Vivi can only watch on speechless as they are almost completely covered in wax."It's hopeless! She's too strong!! His powers are useless!" Nami pants in pain as the wax covering her hardens around her.

“Is that fun?” Miss Goldenweek asks.

Buggy throws himself off the wax candelabra and flies down quickly, yelling, "Bara Bara—Punch!" aiming at the red symbol, shattering it and the ground around it.

Nami, Zoro, and Vivi look at Buggy in shock, yelling, "How did you get free!"

Buggy smirked, panting. "I just used my Bara Bara no mi. Now hurry up and smash that thing, Luffy!

Miss Goldenweek’s eyes widened—for the first time, she showed emotion. And that emotion was worry.

Luffy yells, "Got it!" and throws his arm back.

“Not so fast; I will mix this color for you,” Miss Goldenweek says in a rush. “Laughing Yellow, the color of fun on your shirt… mixed with sorrowful blue, the color of sadness.” She swipes her paintbrush in blue paint and slashes it at Luffy's back. "Colors trap—Calming green."

Luffy barely has time to flinch before the blue paint splashes across his back, mixing into green. His body relaxes instantly, his movements slowing as Miss Goldenweek’s color trap takes hold.

Buggy’s face went ghostly pale. He reassembled himself in an instant, then lunged at Miss Goldenweek. His fist blasted forward like a bullet."Bara Bara-Punch!" But she turns and slashes blue paint at Buggy's bare hand that is flying at her. "Color trap—sorrowful blue, the color of sadness."

“This is bad…” Vivi whispered, eyes wide in dread. Zoro lets out a string of loud curses along with Nami as they watch Buggy fall to his knees, staring blankly off into the distance. Luffy unwillingly calms down and is guided by Miss Goldenweek to sit with her on her picnic blanket, calmly drinking the tea she hands him.

A light breeze rustled the leaves in the trees as the distant small explosions of battle echoed through the jungle. The sun shone down brightly on the clearing, its light reflecting off the thick wax candelabra in the clearing. The scent of wax mixed with the earthy aroma of the forest, the slight smell of blood, sweat, and a faint trace of herbal tea lingers in the air.

“Aah, this tea is good,” Luffy muttered, his expression completely relaxed as he sipped the tea that Miss Goldenweek had given him. His posture was casual, his demeanor completely unbothered, as if he had not a single care in the world.

Buggy’s vacant stare was unsettling. He sat motionless, his legs sprawled awkwardly, his breath so shallow he seemed barely alive. His normally sharp eyes were dull—unfocused, lost in something far beyond the present moment.

The sight was enough to push the trio still trapped on the wax candelabra over the edge. Their eyes widened with rage, their wax-covered forms trembling as they screamed in unison, "YOU BITCH!!"

Nami, gritting her teeth, forced herself to suppress her frustration and fear. Her mind raced as she analyzed the situation, her eyes flicking from Luffy’s unnervingly calm demeanor to Buggy’s unsettling stillness. She swallowed her worry, then turned to Zoro and asked, "So what now?"

Zoro, his face partially frozen in wax, let out a resigned sigh. A cocky grin stretched across his lips despite the circumstances. “See? You two should’ve struck a pose like me.” His voice was light, teasing, but there was an underlying frustration in his tone, a bitterness toward their helplessness. "Your loss."

Vivi, unable to contain her disbelief, snapped at Zoro. "You're still making jokes? Could you please be more serious here!?" She hissed, desperation bleeding into her words. The last bits of hope clung to her voice, but they were thinning fast.

Zoro simply smirked. "Too bad for you." His words were meant to be teasing, but his eyes held a shadow of understanding. He knew their situation was worsening by the second; if something didn’t change soon, they wouldn’t be joking about anything ever again.

Mr. 5 adjusted his coat and took a calm stance. His movements were slow and deliberate as he shifted in preparation for an attack. The sound of his coat rustling was barely audible over the distant jungle noises, but the intent behind it was clear.

“Nose Fancy…” he muttered under his breath, the words rolling off his tongue like a quiet promise of destruction.

Without hesitation, he roared, "DOUBLE CANNON!" Flicking two boogers forward, he launched his attack directly at Usopp and Karoo, who were running ahead of him.

Karoo, quick on his feet, dodged the projectiles effortlessly. The first explosion erupted to his right, the second to his left, sending dirt and debris flying.

Usopp, bouncing slightly on Karoo’s back from the force of their speed, let out a loud laugh. "Ah ha ha ha! You missed!" he taunted, grinning widely before patting Karoo’s side. "Good duck, Karoo!"

Karoo let out a proud quack in response, his powerful legs carrying them forward at full speed. Usopp, adjusting his goggles and regaining his balance, reached into his bag and pulled out his slingshot. His hands trembled slightly, whether from adrenaline or nerves, as he pulled back the elastic; his sharp eyes locked onto his target.

“Death Blow… LEAD STAR!” he shouted, his voice filled with determination as he let the shot fly.

The lead ball whizzed through the air, cutting through leaves and branches. For a split second, Usopp thought he had landed a direct hit, but Mr. 5 tilted his body just enough to let the projectile graze past him harmlessly.

Mr. 5 reached into his coat, pulling out a large revolver. “Trying to chase them isn’t going to get us anywhere,” he said, his tone exuding casual confidence. He twirled the weapon in his hand before pointing it toward the sky, exhaling slowly as if savoring the moment. “It’s better to just end it quickly.”

Beside him, Miss Valentine adjusted her parasol, twirling it idly in one hand. Her bright yellow lemon-patterned dress swayed slightly as she walked, her interest in the chase almost nonexistent. "True," she murmured, her tone light, indifferent, as if she had already determined the outcome.

“I really didn’t want to have to use this thing on a couple of small fries like them, but…” Mr. 5 muttered, tilting his head slightly as he weighed his options. He lifted the gun, its barrel gleaming ominously under the sun.

Usopp, still turning on Karoo’s back, caught sight of the weapon, and his heart skipped a beat. "A pistol!!" he yelped, then groaned. "Agh! That's okay. Let's see if we can dodge some bullets!"

He quickly straightened his posture, gripping Karoo’s reins tightly. "Let's go by our guys again!" he commanded.

"QUACK!" Karoo responded with an affirming cry, shifting directions to head back toward the clearing.

As Karoo rushed forward through the jungle, Usopp’s thoughts swirled in chaos. He pieced together the fragments of information he had gathered from Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine’s words. "The enemy told us about those color traps! When we bumped into Luffy earlier, the mark was painted on his shirt. That mousy girl beside him must've done it."

His fingers curled into fists. His eyes burned with determination, a scowl setting deep onto his sweat-covered face.

Miss Goldenweek.

The memory of her calm, detached demeanor burned in Usopp’s head. She hadn’t lifted a finger in direct combat, yet she had ensnared Luffy completely.

"It has to be her!!!" Usopp growled, his energy renewed. "Charge!!"

Karoo, sensing the urgency, picked up speed, dirt kicking up beneath his powerful strides. "Quack!"

As the duo burst out of the jungle and back into the clearing, their eyes widened with horror and shock. Karoo’s pace slowed to a hesitant trot as the sight before them sent chills down their spines.

Nami, Zoro, and Vivi stood frozen in place—completely covered in a thick layer of white wax. The three of them had been transformed into eerie, wax figures.

Usopp let out a shaky breath, his fingers tightening around Karoo’s reins. Slowly, his head turned, and his horror deepened as he spotted Brogy, the giant warrior, also covered in the same wax, his massive frame now a petrified monument of what he once was.

Behind them, emerging slowly from the jungle, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine advanced. Mr. 5 tilted his revolver skyward and smirked. "You'll never dodge the bullets… from my 6-shot. 44 caliber flintlock revolver. It's the new rage of the South Blue. A rapid-fire death machine. With me doing the shooting, you'll never know what hit you."

Luffy sat peacefully with his back to Usopp and Karoo, sipping his tea, utterly unaffected by the nightmare unfolding around him. Across from him, Miss Goldenweek remained just as unreadable as ever.

“Aha… the tea is good,” Luffy mumbled, savoring the taste.

Buggy’s entire body began trembling like a leaf in the wind.

Karoo came to a halt behind Luffy but in front of the candelabra. His mouth hung open in shock. Usopp, gripping Karoo tightly, roared in anger, "LUFFY! BLUE! WHAT ARE YOU TWO DOING?!"

Luffy remained oblivious, lowering his cup.Something inside him cracked. His grip tightened. His hand shook. His teeth ground together.

“The… tea is…” he gritted out, his teeth grinding with each word.

His pupils shrank. The veins in his eyes popped. Sweat dripped down his face. His entire form tensed, his fists clenching so tightly his knuckles turned white. “G…OO…D!”

Unseen by anyone, silent tears began to fall from Buggy’s vacant eyes, dripping onto his hands. His breath hitched—but his face remained blank.

'This wasn’t the first time he’d felt this way. The same suffocating sorrow, the same twisting pain in his chest. The last time… it had been Captain Roger...left too... Blood on his hands.. on his back. —no. No. NO!'

Usopp, gritting his teeth, hissed, "Idiots…" as his gaze locked onto the green symbol on Luffy’s shirt and the blue one on Buggy’s bare hand. His fingers curled around his slingshot tighter, his mind racing for a solution.

Mr. 5 popped open his revolver’s cylinder, spinning it lazily before taking a breath and exhaling into it. A chilling smirk crept across his face. "You're done for now! This is my ultimate power!!" he declared, his breath flowing into the revolver’s chamber. He then aimed directly at Usopp and Karoo, firing three rapid shots.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Usopp screamed, "Dodge!" as he pulled on Karoo’s reins. "Jump!" he ordered, and the duck leaped into the air.

Usopp pulled back his slingshot, his eyes narrowing. "Death Blow…!" he growled as he released a flaming projectile, aiming straight at Luffy and Miss Goldenweek.

Miss Goldenweek’s calm finally broke completely. Her eyes widened in fear as the fireball shot toward her. She yelped, shielding herself as the flames struck Luffy’s back, igniting his shirt.

“WAAAH!” Luffy screamed as flames engulfed him.

"Fire Star!!" Usopp says as he and Karoo land on the ground. "Where'd his bullets go?" Usopp looks back at Mr. 5, not hearing the bullets hit anything.

Miss Valentine floated overhead, giggling wildly. "Kyaahaahaa! What an idiot! He missed and hit his own friend instead!" She cackled.

A sudden gust of wind rushed toward Usopp and Karoo. Mr. 5 smirked. "Breeze Breath Bomb!"

A massive explosion followed, engulfing Usopp and Karoo in a fiery blast. Their scorched bodies landed with a heavy smack against the ground, black smoke curling into the air.

Mr. 5 chuckled."Did I forget to mention? Even my breath is explosive."

“Crud!!! This is ridiculous. Did he run out of bullets!?” Usopp panted, his face pressed into the dirt. His breath came in short, ragged gasps as he tried to lift his head. “You okay?” he asked, his voice hoarse, turning toward Karoo.

Next to him, Karoo let out a weak, breathless quack, his large body trembling slightly as he shifted his weight, trying to regain his footing.

Usopp groaned, pushing against the ground with shaky arms, his body screaming in protest. His goggles were knocked askew, and the lenses cracked from the impact. Soot clung to his face, mixing with streaks of blood trickling from beneath his bandana. Droplets fell, landing with soft plip plip sounds on the dirt beneath him. His fingers dug into the ground, clawing for stability as he forced himself upright, his breath ragged and uneven.

“Huff... Huff... Hey!! Are you awake now, you idiot!!?” He snapped, his voice edged with both frustration and desperation. His muscles ached, his bones throbbed, but he pushed it all aside. They didn’t have the luxury of weakness right now.

Luffy, crouched a short distance away, slowly exhaled, his breath heavy but steadying. He lifted his head, shaking off the lingering daze, and locked eyes with Usopp. A small smirk played at the corners of his lips, his expression filled with both gratitude and rekindled determination. “Yeah… I’m awake,” he muttered, rolling his shoulders as if shaking off invisible chains. His voice was firm, resolute. “Thanks. That paint won’t work on me anymore.”

Miss Valentine’s smirk faltered, her confident posture wavering as a bead of sweat trickled down her cheek. Her usual playfulness was absent as she murmured in disbelief, “He… He attacked his own friend on purpose… just to burn his shirt and break free of the trap…”

Luffy finally stood to his full height, rolling his neck with a sharp crack, his dark eyes shadowed beneath the brim of his hat. The air around him grew heavier, more oppressive, as something primal and untamed awakened inside him. His fists clenched at his sides, shaking with barely contained fury.

His breathing deepened, heavy gulps of air fueling the fire burning in his chest. His shoulders rose and fell, his body tensed like a coiled spring, ready to snap.

“Huff… Huff…!” His nostrils flared, his pupils dilating. The heat in his blood surged, coursing through his veins like liquid fire. His body trembled—not from exhaustion, but from an all-consuming, uncontainable rage.

Then, like a storm finally breaking, he threw back his head and roared, his voice ripping through the battlefield with the force of a cannon blast.

“I’M REALLY PISSED OFF NOW!!!”

Luffy’s chest heaved, his fingers twitching as if itching to strike. His knuckles were white, his veins bulging beneath his skin as he clenched his fists tighter, his nails digging into his palms. His teeth ground together, a deep growl bubbling in his throat. The intensity of his fury was almost tangible, a force of nature that demanded reckoning.

Then, his voice came again, deeper, filled with an unshakable conviction that sent shivers through the air.

"YOU'RE NOT GONNA KILL MY FRIENDS!!!”

Sanji exhaled a slow stream of smoke, the tip of his cigarette burning softly as he leaned against the ship’s railing. The stream of smoke formed a question mark in the air. His sharp blue eyes scanned the jungle beyond, his brows furrowing in quiet concern. Something wasn’t right.

“I’ve been waiting here forever,” he muttered, tapping his cigarette lightly. “But nobody’s come back yet…”

A gnawing sensation of unease crept up his spine. He couldn’t ignore it any longer. He straightened, rolling his shoulders.

“Something’s definitely wrong, very wrong.”

His gaze drifted toward the dense forest, the thick foliage swaying with the occasional rustling of unseen creatures. The ship remained eerily quiet, and the sounds of the island felt distant, almost muted. His thoughts turned toward Nami and Vivi.

“Could something have happened to Nami or Vivi!!?” he murmured, concern flickering across his features. He pushed off the railing, letting out a sigh of resignation. As he landed lightly on the giant T-Rex he killed, he absently dusted his suit, his thoughts elsewhere.

“If so, this is no time for me to be cooking a lizard dinner.” His voice was firm now, the decision made.

With a final flick of his cigarette and a sharp tug at his tie, he made his way toward the jungle’s edge. “That’s it, I’m gonna go look for them.”

The jungle air was thick with humidity, the scent of damp earth clinging to every breath. Sanji’s black dress shoes pressed into the soil as he moved swiftly, weaving through the dense vegetation. His ears perked at a distant roar, followed by a rustling that sent leaves trembling in waves.

“NAMIIIIII!!” he called, his voice cutting through the jungle. “VIVIIIIII!!”

There was no immediate response, only the stirring of wind through the trees.

“HEEEEY! SAY SOMETHING BACK IF YOU CAN HEAR ME!”

A guttural roar erupted from behind a thick wall of vines, shaking the trees with its force. Sanji barely had time to react as a massive beast emerged—a hulking creature with massive fangs and eyes that gleamed hungrily. "MRAR!!!"

His brows shot up in momentary surprise.

“Hmm?”

The beast let out another deafening roar, saliva dripping from its fangs as it lunged. Sanji acted on instinct, flipping off the ground just in time to dodge the oncoming attack. He landed gracefully on his feet and turned, eyes narrowing.

Sanji sat cross-legged as he rode on the back of a saber-toothed tiger that had attacked him. The tiger sobbed in fear, tears streaming from its cat-like eyes as it ran through the jungle. A huge knot throbbed on its head from where Sanji had struck it. Turning his head left and right, Sanji continued shouting, "Hey!! Are you out there!?" As he looked, he saw a flash of white.

"What's that?" Nudging the saber-toothed tiger, he turned toward it and stopped in front of a strange, square-like structure standing in a clearing ahead. Its smooth, waxy surface gleamed under the sunlight. Sanji leaped off the tiger's back, landing before the building, and shooed it away as he took a cautious step forward. His gaze sharpened as he approached the structure.

Meanwhile, at the heart of the battlefield, Luffy stood amid the wreckage, his bare chest rising and falling with steady breaths. The wax structure towered behind him; remnants of destruction littered around the clearing. Karoo lay on the ground, exhausted, his feathers ruffled from the struggle. Usopp, leaning on one hand, tried to steady himself.

An arrogant laugh rang through the air. "Ha Ha Ha Ha! So what if you’re mad? Look at your friends!"

Luffy’s eyes burned as he took in the sight before him. Zoro, Nami, and Vivi stood frozen in place, their bodies encased in a thick layer of solid wax, their expressions still visible—etched with struggle, frustration, and fear.

“So?! They’re still alive!” Luffy’s voice rang out with fierce determination, his fists clenched tightly at his sides.

“HAHA… I wouldn't be too sure about that.…” The voice mocked Luffy. “When Miss Goldenweek finishes her painting, they’ll all be magnificent wax figures!”

From the shadows of the jungle, heavy footsteps cracked branches as they approached. Mr. 5 kept his revolver pointed downward and sneered. "It’s too late, Strawhat."

A massive shadow began to emerge from the darkness of the jungle. “That’s right!!! Taste the bitterness of despair!!!”

Luffy’s gaze flicked toward the source, where Mr. 3 stood in the shadows, his glasses glinting ominously in the sunlight.

A vein pulsed at Luffy’s temple as his rage flared once more.

The ground shook as a massive figure emerged—a towering humanoid form of pure wax, its surface gleaming like polished marble. The top of its head was alight with an ever-burning flame.

Mr. 3 spread his arms dramatically. “ATTACK! CANDLE CHAMPION!”

The wax behemoth moved, its joints creaking as it raised a spiked fist. Luffy barely dodged in time, flipping backward and skidding to a stop, his toes digging into the dirt. His gaze locked onto the monstrous form before him.

“Whoa!! What’s that?” Luffy asked, his voice filled with curiosity rather than fear.

Miss Valentine spoke in awe. “This… is Mr. 3’s greatest work of art!”

Mr. 5 smirked. “It’s the thing that was once used to take down a criminal whose bounty was worth 42 million Beli.”

Mr. 3 laughed triumphantly. “Now then, Miss Goldenweek! Please apply a coat of paint to this! And do it as artistically as possible! I’ll crush that impudent Straw Hat!!!”

Miss Goldenweek simply adjusted her palette and began mixing her paint. "Then can I rest?"

“Why, of course!! In fact, don’t help me!! In this form, I’m already invincible!!” Mr. 3 continued his confidence swelling. “My special wax-wax armor gently encases me in a carapace harder than steel. And there’s no weak point in this armor!”

Luffy’s eyes sparkled. "Wow! Cool!"

Usopp, watching from the sidelines, gaped. "DON’T ADMIRE HIM!! FIGHT!!"

A detached hand with smeared blue paint smacked Luffy on the back of the head. "Will you just kick his ass already!? I want to blow up that wax candelabra!"

Luffy and Usopp turned to see an angry Buggy, his eyes puffy and red, glinting with a maniacal light. "Usopp, you’re with me! Got it?!" Usopp nodded rapidly, his mind racing. 'Wax? Hmm…'

Luffy quickly turned back to the Baroque Works agents, cracking his knuckles as he stepped forward. “Got it… Gum Gum… PISTOL!”

He launched his arm forward, his rubber fist stretching out with incredible force.

Miss Goldenweek smirked. "The paint job's finished."

Luffy’s fist struck the now-painted Candle Champion, but it barely budged, absorbing the hit with ease. Luffy’s eyes widened in realization.

A wicked grin spread across Mr. 3’s face. “Now then…”

"Championship Fight!" Mr. 3 shouted as he moved into close combat range with Luffy, his massive, wax-armored figure whirring into motion.

With a gleeful sneer, he lifted his colossal arms, sending waves of wax-coated fists hurtling toward his opponent. "Little Garden!" he bellowed, his voice reverberating through the battlefield as his attack tore through the ground in a relentless barrage. Chunks of earth exploded into the air, scattering debris in all directions as the force of his blows sent shock waves rippling outward.

Luffy barely managed to evade the first few attacks as he twisted and leaped. He landed a few feet away, bouncing back with exaggerated speed. "Yow!" he yelped as he narrowly dodged another devastating strike.

His body stretched and coiled, his muscles primed for a counterattack. "Gum Gum—" His words were lost in the rush of wind as he shot forward, his leg snapping back, gathering momentum.

"STAMP!" he roared, his flaming foot crashing down onto the wax armor with earth-shattering force. The impact sent Mr. 3 skidding backward, his armored feet digging trenches into the dirt. Sending dust and smoke billowing into the air.

Luffy landed gracefully, his frown deepening as he stared at his opponent. "Umm."

But Mr. 3 was unfazed. His wicked grin widened as he let out a slow, deliberate chuckle. "Heh heh..."

From a distance, Usopp’s eyes widened in sudden realization, his brain piecing together the puzzle. "That's it! Why didn't I realize sooner?! That mist is melted wax!!"

Buggy giggled and patted Usopp on the shoulder, thinking, 'I'll just let him have his moment, even though he's the last to know.' Buggy then glanced at the four covered in wax. 'They're fine. Their voices are muffled but they just sound pissed, they're fine.'

Usopp's voice cracked through the battlefield, carrying an urgency that couldn’t be ignored. "Luffy! Heat can melt wax! No matter how hard it is, it's still wax!"

Luffy’s gaze snapped toward him, processing his words. "Huh? Really?!"

Usopp nodded frantically. "And that means our guys and Master Brogy haven’t been hardened for long! We can still save them!"

Karoo, the loyal duck, let out a shocked "Quack!" flapping his wings as Usopp turned toward him, his mind racing with a plan. Buggy hums his agreement.

Luffy’s face lit up with hope. "Is that true?!"

Miss Goldenweek, still lounging nearby, nodded indifferently. "Yes, it's true."

Mr. 3’s expression darkened, rage flashing in his eyes as he turned sharply toward her. "Don’t give away our secrets!" He snapped.

But the damage was done. Luffy had the information he needed, and his confidence soared.

Still, Mr. 3 wasn’t finished. His lips curled into a smirk as he spoke with eerie amusement. "Heh heh... But that won’t make any difference. You have no chance of winning! And your time is almost up!" He cackled, reveling in the moment. "Your friends only have about thirty seconds before their hearts stop forever! Right now, darkness is closing in on them! They are tormented by pain and the horror of death!"

Usopp clenched his fists, his resolve hardening as he glared at Mr. 3. "I don’t need thirty seconds!" he declared, gripping his sligshot tightly as he aims at the candelabra. "I’m gonna save them now! Death Blow—Fire S—"

Just as he let go of the sling shot's band, he felt someone grab the back of his shirt and pull.

"Breeze Breath Bomb!"

Mr. 5 had acted swiftly, his attack detonating right where Usopp was. Bug Buggy moved even quicker as he grabbed Usopp and Karoo to dodge Mr. 5’s attack, letting the smoke and dust cover their escape.

Luffy’s heart pounded as he saw his friend go down in smoke. "Usopp! Blue!" he cried out, his fists trembling.

A coughing fit wracked Usopp’s body as Buggy dropped him on the ground as the dust settled. Karoo quacked frantically, flapping his wings as he was set by Usopp’s side. Buggy set the two down safely as he stuck his tongue out, blowing a raspberry at Mr. 5. "Blhe~~… You missed~~!"

Luffy let out a laugh of relief at seeing Usopp and Blue safe, then glared at Mr.5.

Mr. 5’s voice cut through the air with an angry, mocking tone. "Didn’t you hear Mr. 3?! You have no chance of winning. Just give up already."

Miss Valentine giggled, her laughter high-pitched and cruel. "Kya ha ha ha ha ha!"

Luffy gritted his teeth, frustration boiling in his veins. "Damn it! I don’t have much time left!" He stretched his arm back, preparing to attack Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine.

Mr. 3 lunged forward, slamming his wax fists into Luffy, driving him to the ground with crushing force. "Give up!" he snarled.

Nearby, Mr. 5 grumbled. "Hmph..." he muttered, observing the unfolding battle.

Usopp whispered to Karoo and Buggy, subtly slipping a rope into the duck’s beak. "Hey... take this rope."

Buggy grinned wildly, his eyes sparkling with mischief as he soaked the rope with a bottle of oil Usopp gave him. "Heh, heh, yes, burn!"

Karoo let out a quiet, determined "quack"; his eyes gleamed with understanding.

As Usopp lay sprawled on the ground and Buggy stood above him, the sharp click of heels sounded behind them. Miss Valentine approached with a slow, deliberate sway, twirling her umbrella between her fingers. Her lips curled into a teasing smile. "What are you three plotting? Won’t you let me in on the secret?" She cooed, tilting her head in amusement.

Buggy’s fingers twitched, his mind racing as he analyzed her stance, looking for an opening. Usopp, still weak and bleeding, twitched in fear, his limbs locking up as he realized just how vulnerable he was. Karoo let out a distressed "QUACK!" his bill falling open in shock.

Buggy's, bright eyes glared at Miss Valentine as his smile sharpened. "It’s payback time."

Without warning, he detaches his foot and launches it straight at Miss Valentine’s umbrella. The impact sent the umbrella flying from her hands, making her eyes widen in surprise.

Usopp saw the opportunity and shouted, "GO, KAROO!!!" His voice cracked with desperation and urgency. The duck, understanding the gravity of the situation, let out a determined "QUACK!" and took off at full speed, his webbed feet kicking up dirt as he bolted forward with the oil-soaked rope clamped tightly in his beak.

Buggy, watching the duck sprint, threw his arms in the air with exaggerated enthusiasm. "Run as if your life depends on it, birdy! Because it does!" He cackled, then added under his breath, "If you mess this up, I swear I'll have Sanji cooking you for dinner!"

Karoo, hearing Buggy's threat, sprinted even faster, pushing his exhausted legs beyond their limits. His beak clamped tightly around the oil-soaked rope, his body weaving through the battlefield like a darting fish in rough waters. He could hear Usopp’s desperate voice behind him, cheering him on. He could not fail.

"I'm counting on you, Karoo! Run around the candle sticks!" Usopp shouted, voice hoarse from exertion.

"QUAAACK!" Karoo let out a determined cry, eyes burning with the same unwavering resolve as his human companions. He had never run faster in his life.

Standing in front of Usopp and Buggy, Miss Valentine performed a graceful backward somersault landing lightly on her feet garbing her umbrella then flipping up into midair floating up into the air. Her face twisted into a scowl as she glared down at Buggy. "You’ll regret that you red-nosed freak!"

Buggy eyes gleamed as he snapped back immediately, crossing his arms in exaggerated offense. "Who’s nose is wonderful and red, you oversized lemon?!"

Miss Valentine gasped, her face turning red in rage. "Oversized?!" Her fury surged, her body trembling as she prepared to bring her full weight down in a crushing attack.

Meanwhile, Mr. 5 stood at a distance, watching Karoo’s frantic dash with a smirk. He casually blew into his pistol’s barrel before leveling it at the duck. "It’s over now," he muttered. "Breeze Breath Bomb!" With a flick of his wrist, he fired, sending explosive rounds straight toward the sprinting duck.

Karoo zigzagged wildly, barely dodging as the ground erupted into plumes of dirt and fire behind him. His heart pounded, his breath ragged, but he refused to stop.

Usopp, struggling to push himself up, cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, "Run around them, Karoo! Don't stop!"

"QUACK!" Karoo cried, his eyes welling with terrified tears of determination as he darted around and over the wax-covered Brogy, looping the rope chaotically around the battlefield’s center.

Mr. 3, rained down a flurry of heavy punches at Luffy. "Hahahaha! Give it up! They’ve already become my works of art!" The wax fists crashed into the ground with deafening force, creating deep craters in the dirt.

Luffy dodged each strike, leaping backward and then forward again, bouncing from one wax fist to another. Each jump sent out a distinct toing, toing, toing sound as he made his way closer to Mr. 3’s head. "Hmph! Forget it! I’m not losing my friends....,"

A massive wax fist came rushing toward him. Luffy stretched his arm back stopping the wax fist with one hand and his another hand shots toward Mr.3 head. In a flash, his fingers latched onto Mr. 3’s hair.

"To someone like you!!!" Luffy roared, his grip tightening as he gleefully yanked Mr. 3’s topknot.

"Owww!" Mr. 3 gasped, flailing frantically. "Ow, ow, ow! Stop pulling my hair!"

Luffy ignored his whining, his grin wide as his gaze locked onto the massive wax structure. "If heat melts wax… then I’ll use your fire right here!" He yanked Mr. 3’s flaming ‘3’-shaped hair downward.

Usopp, barely able to stand, gasped, "Luffy!! That flame’s too small!! Light Karoo’s rope instead!"

Luffy’s eyes darted to Karoo, still sprinting with all his might, the oil-soaked rope trailing behind him like a fuse ready to be lit.

Buggy, turned his back to Miss Valentine as if she wasn’t even worth his time, his eyes shining bright as he burst into laughter. "I soaked it in oil! It’s going to be a flashy blast! GYAHAHAHA!"

Luffy grinned. "Gotcha! Okay! Wake up, you guys!" He yanked Mr. 3’s flaming hair downward, setting the rope alight.

"No, wait! Stop!" Mr. 3’s voice cracked in horror as the rope caught fire instantly, racing up the length of the rope with terrifying speed. The fire seemed to explode outward, a violent surge of heat and light that devoured everything in its path. It rushed up the rope like a living thing, flickering and crackling as it crawled higher, its edges leaping and flickering in the wind. The flames billowed outward in a consuming wave, a fiery tide that swallowed the battlefield in its ferocious embrace.

The heat was intense—so fierce it seemed to pulse and throb, radiating like the heart of a wild, uncontrollable beast. The air shimmered with its intensity, warping everything it touched. Sparks and embers flew into the air, scattering like burning stars as the fire surged forward, its roaring roar like thunder as it fed on the rope. It stretched upward, crackling with fury, and then exploded in a massive fireball, sending a shockwave of blistering heat that scorched the earth around them.

"It’s gonna get hot... but grit your teeth and bear it!" Usopp called out, gritting his own teeth as he struggled to stand on his feet. His skin tingled as the heat began to sear the air around him, but he held firm, staring at the inferno with determination.

Mr. 3’s face drained of color, his eyes wide with terror. Sweat poured down his face, his hands shaking as he helplessly screamed, "STOP!!!"

The flames raged like a wildfire unleashed from the depths of hell. The wax that once held its form began to melt, liquefying in rivers of molten white as the fire wrapped around them. The flames crawled over the statues’ hardened surfaces, melting making them dripped like the wax it's is.

"QUACK!" Karoo screeched, barely able to keep hold of the rope as the flames reached their peak. With a final desperate screech, he let the rope drop, barely escaping the inferno’s wrath.

The massive wax candelabra twisted and melted, collapsing under its own weight. Mr. 3 shrieked as his wax armor deformed, melting into burning pools.

"Ow!! Hot! Hot! I-Impossible!" Mr. 3 wailed, his body shaking violently as he pulled himself free of his wax armor. "I’m burning up!! Blast you, Straw Hat!"

Luffy, watching the wax dissolve, scratched his head. "Huuu- whoops, that’s a big fire!Are they gonna be alright?!"

Mr. 3, now frantic, starts running away, his arms flailing. "Curse you.. you stupid. straw hat pirate! How dare you destroy my Candle Service Set?! How dare you show such disregard for artistic integrity!! You'll pay for this!." Miss Goldenweek follows right behind him as he runs into the jungle escape.

Luffy’s eyes locked onto him. "No! you're not getting away with this, you jerks!" He lunged forward, chasing after Mr.3 running into the jungle after him.

Karoo panicked as massive globs of molten wax dripped from the candelabra. "QUACK QUACK!" he squawked, dodging wildly, flapping his wings in alarm.

Meanwhile, Miss Valentine screeched in fury, her patience finally snapping. "I'm sick of you and your friends! No more fun and games!!" She pointed her legs downward and bellowed, "10,000 Kilo-Press!" Her body became an unstoppable force, aiming to crush Usopp once and for all.

Usopp cringed, bracing himself for impact. At the last second, Buggy detached his ankles, propelling himself forward, and snatching Usopp out of the way. Just before Miss Valentine’s crushing blow could strike Buggy's back instead.

Two shadows burst through the flames, their weapons gleaming.

With synchronized strikes, Nami and Vivi swung their weapons, a Bo Staff and Peacock Slashers slamming into Miss Valentine mid-air.

'WHACK!' The sound echoed as Miss Valentine crashed to the ground in a heap.

Buggy set Usopp back on his feet, panting. Usopp wiped the blood from his forehead and grinned.

"Thanks, Blue. You saved me again."

Buggy's eyes, vibrant with a manic gleam, now appear dull. Despite the fatigue etched on his face, he wears a smug smirk."I’m used to pulling Red out of trouble. This ain't much different."

Nami spun her staff, sighing. "That was too close! And do you have any idea how hot it is?! Couldn’t you have thought of a better plan?"

Usopp squinted at her, his gaze slightly unfocused as blood ran down into his eyes. Exasperation in his voice, he deadpanned, “Your being a little picky here don't you think? Can't you just a little bit grateful.”

Nami smirked and winked. "You have a point there. Thanks." She stood there, slightly singed, her shirt reduced to smoldering scraps that left her clad only in her bra and skirt. Vivi, too, was in a similar state, her shirt charred and tattered, revealing her hypo shirt burnt in places. Breathless, she brushed the ash off her arms, her heart racing as she coughed, still struggling to comprehend the surreal scene around them. "Koff Koff, It's amazing I can't believe it… we're alive."

Their brief moment of relief was shattered when an angry voice cut through the air. "Drat! The wax melted!? What a pain." It was Mr. 5, his words sharp and filled with fury. His face twisted in anger as he prepared to make his next move. He pointed his revolver and cocked the trigger, aiming directly at the four. "We can't afford to fail in our mission again!"

Nami gasped in shock, her hands tightening on her Bo staff, while Vivi's voice rang out in alarm. "Mr. 5!!"

Buggy moved quickly, detaching his hands in an attempt to pull Vivi, Nami, and Usopp out of the way. But Usopp moved even faster, already taking aim with his slingshot. He pulled back hard, his voice full of determination as he yelled, "Death Blow—Exploding Star!"

Mr. 5 caught the shot in his mouth, chomping down on it with a sickening crunch. "Fool!" he sneered. "I've shown you over and over that you pathetic explosives don’t work on me at all!!! Their nothing to an exploding man!!!" He threw his head back, swallowing the Exploding Star whole.

Usopp's lips curled into a chuckle, his tone lighthearted, yet calculated. "You took the bait!" he says, his eyes glinting mischievously.

Mr. 5's assured grin wavered. An unusual, gurgling noise emanated from his stomach. His demeanor changed subtly as discomfort took hold. Sweat began to form on his forehead and trickled down his face rapidly, while a warmth spread in his mouth.

Usopp’s grin widened, his voice dripping with mockery. "I'm Sorry, but I’m a fibber—that wasn’t a bomb." His words hung in the air, tension thickening as Mr. 5’s eyes widened in alarm. "It was my deluxe Tabasco star!!!"

A beat passed.

Then, Mr. 5's face turned an alarming shade of red." Spicy!!" His mouth flew open as a violent, fiery stream erupted skyward. "GAAAH!!! WATER!!" He clawed at his throat, his body convulsing in pain as the unbearable heat spread through his system.

Usopp's laughter burst forth, loud and unrestrained. "HA HA HA HA!" The clearing echoed with his triumphant cackle. "I've personally tested just how effective it can be!" His pride was palpable, his grin stretching wider as he watched Mr. 5 writhe in agony.

Mr. 5 dropped to his knees, coughing and sputtering as his throat burned. "Damn you, you stupid pirate!!! Koff! Koff!" His hands clutched at his stomach, groaning as the intense heat burn his mouth. "I refuse to let you make a mockery of me!"

Through teary, furious eyes, he glared at Usopp with unbridled rage. "I'll blow you to bits with my full-body blast!" Without warning, he lunged at Usopp, tackling him with a crushing force.

"GRRAH!!" Usopp howled in terror as Mr. 5 wrapped his arms around him in a vice-like grip, his intention clear—self-detonation with Usopp in the center of it all.

"Usopp! Stop! Let him go!" Nami, Vivi, and Buggy shouted in unison, rushing forward in a desperate attempt to intervene.

Mr. 5's voice boomed with manic glee. "WHEN I'M FINISHED WITH YOU, THERE WON'T EVEN BE BONES LEFT!!!"

From within the still-burning flames, a shadow moved. A voice, calm yet fierce, sliced through the chaos. "Flaming…"

The flaming silhouette burst forward at an incredible speed, appearing behind Mr. 5 in an instant. A blade gleamed as it slashed through the air, cutting into Mr. 5's chest in one swift motion. "-Onigiri!!!"

A sickening spray of blood erupted from Mr. 5's body. His eyes widened in shock as pain wracked his form. Fire licked at his wounds as his body crumpled to the ground.

The shadowy figure landed gracefully, sliding his sword back into its sheath with a solid "chink." A smirk played at his lips as he murmured, "A burning sword… not bad."

The group turned, eyes wide in surprise. "Zoro!" they exclaimed as he straightened from his landing stance, his body scorched but unwavering.

Behind them, a giant hand—bloody and battered—slammed into the earth. The ground trembled beneath the impact. Brogy, pushing himself up with immense effort, looked toward Dory's fallen form, his eyes glinting with sorrow.

Zoro smirked, as he looks at the giant. "Heh… glad to see you made it out alive."

Brogy let out a breathy chuckle, nodding as he settled into a seated position. "Heh… Aye."

Usopp’s eyes flickered toward the giant, his voice barely above a whisper. "Master…"

Brogy, despite his injuries, folded his legs beneath him, his massive, bleeding hands resting on his knees. His expression hardened, his focus sharpening. "So now it seem two foes… are left to fight."

Luffy sprinted through the dense jungle, his sandal feet kicking up dirt and leaves as he chased after Mr. 3. The thick foliage rustled violently as he moved, a determined fire burning in his eyes. Beside him, Karoo dashed at full speed, helping track the Baroque agents, his breaths coming in quick, short quacks.

"Bird!" Luffy called out, urgency laced in his voice, his arms pumping furiously to keep up the speed.

Karoo let out a sharp quack in response, his keen sense of smell locked onto Mr. 3 and Miss Goldenweek's scent as they fled. Luffy gritted his teeth, pushing his body forward with sheer willpower. "Don't let 'em get away!!" he commanded, his voice edged with frustration.

The jungle blurred around them as they surged ahead, weaving between thick tree trunks and dodging sprawling vines. Luffy’s eyes darkened with anger, the veins on his forehead bulging. He clenched his fists, his muscles coiled with restrained force. "Anybody who'd spoil a battle of honor..." his voice was low, but the rage was evident. "IS NOT A REAL MAN!!!"

Suddenly, Luffy and Karoo skidded to a halt as laughter echoed through the jungle. "HA HA HA HA HA HA!!" The sound reverberated around them, bouncing off the trees from all directions. As the echoes faded, dozens of identical figures of Mr. 3 became visible, standing in different positions, each with the same smug smirk on his face.

"I'm glad you've come," Mr. 3 sneered, his arms crossed. "Welcome to my Wax-Wax Mansion."

Karoo let out a deep, unsteady breath before releasing a nervous yet somehow defiant quack. Luffy's eyes darted across the figures, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What’s going on...?!"

The jungle air grew still for a moment as Luffy remained motionless, scrutinizing each figure, but their identical nature made it nearly impossible to distinguish the real one.

"Now, now it just a little game of hide ans seek.Which one is the real me?" Mr. 3 taunted, his voice teasing and brimming with confidence. "Can you tell?"

"Ha-ha-ha-ha!" His laughter rang out once more, his many copies joining in, creating an eerie chorus of mockery.

Karoo gulped, sweat forming on his feathery face as the unsettling laughter filled the air. Mr. 3 continued, the smirk never leaving his face. "You've picked the wrong enemy to challenge," he declared. "We are the best brains of Baroque Works. And you? You’re just a simple-minded oaf who only acts on instinct!" He crossed his arms mockingly, tilting his head. "You'll never take us."

Luffy said nothing, his expression void of emotion, merely watching them all with a blank stare. Mr. 3 straightened, adjusting his glasses. "I am Mr. 3!" His voice rose dramatically. "I never fail in my mission."

His sneering face glistened with arrogance. "Ha ha ha ha ha! Come, step forward!!" His smirk widened as he added menacingly, "But the moment you turn your back on me... you'll stab you. Right thought the pathetically noble heart of yours!! Ha ha ha..."

Somewhere in the jungle, a dagger gleamed as it was drawn by Mr. 3, ready to strike the moment Luffy showed an opening.

Mr.3 had barely finished laughing when Luffy picked his leg up and said, "Gum-Gum..." In a flash, his foot went flying forward and slammed into Mr.3's face leaving an imprint of his sandal. "Stamp!" The attack landed with crushing force. His nose bent sideways. Teeth cracked. Blood spewed from his mouth as his body rocketed backward, sending Mr.3 sprawling backward with a gurgled cry. His entire body contorted from the impact, blood spurting from his mouth as he crashed violently against a tree, the wax clones melting around him.

His wide, dazed eyes trembled as he choked out, "Wha… how… how did you know... where I was!?"

Luffy stared down at him, his expression completely serious. "Instinct."

Karoo noticed a slight shadow slipping quietly through the bushes. It was Miss Goldenweek, attempting to flee the battle. Fearful tears ran down her cheeks as she saw Karoo. With a furious quack, his feathers bristling at the sight, Karoo charged at her, causing Miss Goldenweek to scream in fright. "Aaah!!!"

At the same time, in a strange, unexpected setting deep within the jungle, a small, pristine white table was elegantly set with a full tea set. At the table sat Sanji, holding a steaming cup of tea, his posture relaxed.

He took a slow sip, savoring the flavor, before sighing with satisfaction. "Hey, wait a minute!!" He suddenly straightened, realization dawning in his sharp blue eyes. "I shouldn't be sitting here sipping tea!!"

Sanji placed his cup down swiftly, his fingers twitching in annoyance. "Nami and the others might be waiting for me to save them!" he muttered, pushing himself up from the chair. He took a few steps toward the exit, his mind racing. He glanced around the oddly peaceful setting and frowned. "Hmm... What's a nice relaxing place like this doing in the middle of a jungle anyway?" he pondered aloud, his brow furrowing in suspicion. The thought nagged at him, his instincts telling him something was off.

Just as he was about to leave, a soft ringing sound broke the silence.

"What's that?" Sanji turned his head toward the unexpected noise, his gaze sharpening.

Following the sound, he moved toward a wicker basket sitting on a small side table. The rhythmic chime continued, low and steady, filling the space with an eerie sense of anticipation.

"Purururururu… Pururururu…"

Curiosity piqued, Sanji opened the basket and pulled out a snail with a mustache. His brow arched as he muttered, "Oh, it's a Denden Mushi." He placed the snail on the table.

With a nonchalant motion, he flipped open the receiver, lazily exhaling a puff of smoke from the cigarette dangling from his lips. "Hello, this is the shitty restaurant. Would you like to make a reservation?" His voice dripped with sarcasm, a smirk playing on his lips.

A voice responded from the other end, cold and authoritative. "You can quite fooling around now, jackass. You're late with your report!!"

Sanji’s eyebrows lifted slightly, intrigued by the sudden shift in tone. "Reports...?" he repeated, dragging out the word as if tasting it for the first time, his smirk widening with amusement.

He leaned back slightly, tapping the ash from his cigarette. "Uhh… and whom might this be?" he asked, voice brimming with playful curiosity.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, a low, ominous voice answered simply. "It’s me."

Sanji exhaled a slow stream of smoke, his smirk remaining intact, but his eyes now gleamed with interest as the voice on the Denden Mushi declared, "Mr. Zero."

Sanji's gaze flickered to the side as he recalled what Vivi had said. "Mr....Zero...?" he murmured, thoughts racing. 'Isn't Mr. Zero... the boss guy of Vivi's enemies?'

The sound of a finger tapping could be heard from the Denden Mushi, slow and deliberate.

His cigarette burned steadily as he pieced it together. 'Which would mean... the person on the other end of this Denden Mushi... is one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea!!?'

The voice continued, cold and steady. "You've been gone a long time. Have you accomplished your mission, Mr. 3?"

Sanji leaned back, resting one leg over his knee, his mind working fast. 'Mr.3?! So this is his Denden Mushi... Now I get it. This is the enemy's camp. The guy who wants to kill Vivi, Mr.3, is on this island!' A bead of sweat rolled down his temple as he considered his next move. 'What a spot. We're still being hunted. I hope the others are okay!!' Sanji lightly whispers " Shit." As he think about how the other could be in danger.

"Why the silent treatment? When I ask you a question I expect an answer. Have you eliminated Princess Vivi and the Strawhat?! As you were ordered?" The voice pressed, its tone growing colder.

Sanji took a slow drag from his cigarette, then smoothly exhaled. He knew better than to hesitate. "Oh yeah... mission accomplished. I eliminated all those pesky brat like you said too. Everyone who knew your secret... has been eliminated. So you can call off the hunt."

"I see. Good work. The Unluckies are on their way there now... to confirm that the job is done... and deliver a certain package." On the other end, Mr. Zero placed a lily in a short glass of water, the ice clinking as he held the flower’s delicate stem.

Sanji’s relaxed posture barely wavered, though his mind calculated his next steps. "The Unluckies of course? And the package?"

"The eternal pose that will point you to Alabasta Kingdom. once it has arrive I want you and Miss Goldenweek to head to Alabasta. The time has come to begin the most crucial part of our plan. Go to Alabasta... and await further orders."

Just then, two figures appeared in the round windows of the building. One was an otter in a polka-dotted jumpsuit, the other a vulture donning dark sunglasses, both exuding an unsettling presence. Their sudden arrival sent a chill through the air.

Sanji's smirk faltered, his sharp blue eyes narrowing. "What the? Who are these guys?" he muttered, his usual confidence wavering.

The cold voice crackled through the Denden Mushi. "Mr.3 What's the matter?" Mr. Zero inquired, his tone carrying an edge of suspicion.

Sanji quickly forced himself to relax, sweat breaking out on his face as his usual sarcasm creeping back into his voice. "Uh... it's nothing really," he bluffed, attempting to sound disinterested.

But the creatures wasted no time. The vulture spread its wings wide, and the miniguns attached to its back began spinning with a high-pitched whir. Within seconds, an onslaught of bullets tore through the room, shattering white furniture and sending debris flying. "Wah! What the hell is that?!" Sanji yelped, leaping back just in time to avoid being shredded.

The otter followed up with its own attack, revealing a deadly shell adorned with razor-sharp blades. It lunged at Sanji with frightening speed. With a fluid motion, Sanji lifted his leg high, allowing the otter to miss and crash into the wall with a loud thud. "Whoa!!!" Sanji's heart pounded as he assessed the situation.

Scowling, he turned to face his attackers. "You want to kill me? Just try it, you—" he spat before swinging his leg forward in a powerful kick. His foot connected squarely with the otter’s face, sending it flying across the room and straight into the opposite wall. "Four-eyed monkey!!" The otter slid to the floor, a massive lump forming on its head as it fell unconscious.

The vulture, undeterred, clicked its miniguns into place once more, the barrels glowing red-hot from the previous barrage. A sharp ka-chak sounded as the ammunition reloaded, and the bird set its sights on Sanji.

Reacting swiftly, Sanji executed a forward aerial cartwheel, twisting his body mid-air with precision. "Now... Just a..." he muttered as he caught the vulture’s long neck between his feet. "...Darn minute..." With a powerful torque of his legs, he wrenched the bird’s head sideways, producing a sickening pops! The vulture’s eyes rolled back as it collapsed onto the floor, its wings twitching. Sanji landed lightly, brushing imaginary dust from his coat. "...You overgrown chicken," he finished with a smirk.

A beat of silence followed, and then Mr. Zero’s voice broke through the Denden Mushi once more. "Hey! What's going on?! Answer me Mr.3!" he demanded, irritation lacing his words.

Sanji picked up the receiver, still catching his breath. "Oh, um... nothing… huff… really." He wiped a bead of sweat from his brow, thinking quickly. "Turns out that damn Straw Hats were still alive. But it’s okay. I finished them of real good. No need to worry, really."

A long pause stretched between them. Then, Mr. Zero’s voice lowered ominously. "Still alive… you say?" His fingers tightened around the stem of a lily resting in a glass of water. Slowly, the water began to evaporate, the ice melting in an instant. The delicate flower withered, drying out completely before snapping between his fingers. "Didn’t you just tell me… the mission was accomplished?"

Sanji exhaled, leaning back against the table. He took a slow drag of his cigarette, letting the smoke curl lazily into the air. "Er, yes. I thought it was... but they weren’t as dead as I thought."

Mr. Zero's teeth clenched audibly. "So let me see if I understand you gave me a false report."

Sanji raised a hand in mock surrender, waving the other lazily. "Umm, well... you make it sound bad. But I finished them for good this time. So there’s no need to send anyone else after him or the others. Okay?"

A long silence stretched between them before Mr. Zero spoke again. "Very well... take the pose you are to go straight to Alabasta from there now!" His voice left no room for argument. "This will be our last communication. We can’t have the navy catching on to us. From here on out, you’ll receive your orders directly, as in the past. That is all. I wish you success, Mr. 3."

A click signaled the end of the transmission.

Mr. Zero turned to the woman relaxing in a chair behind him. "Ms. Allsunday."

Ms. Allsunday, who had been idly patting a massive crocodile by her side, paused. "Yes?"

"Dispatch Mr. 2 to Little Garden." Mr. Zero ordered.

Sanji eyed the now-silent Denden Mushi, muttering, "He hung up."

Back in his lavish hideout, Mr. Zero spoke coldly. "Somewhere between Little Garden and Alabasta… have Mr. 3 disposed of."

Ms. Allsunday resumed stroking the crocodile under its chin, a faint smirk on her lips. "You’re so ruthless… Sir Crocodile."

Mr. Zero—now revealed as Sir Crocodile—turned away, his coat billowing as he walked. "Minions are replaceable. Are you talking back to me?"

Ms. Allsunday stood, her heels clicking against the marble floor as she ascended the grand staircase. She shrugged lightly. "No, no… I’ll do as you say. No problem."

Meanwhile, Sanji glanced at the unconscious otter and vulture sprawled out on the floor. "Just who were these guys?" He scratched his head when something caught his eye. A small object tumbled from the otter’s limp grasp, landing with a soft clink.

"Hmm..." Sanji bent down, picking up the mysterious item. His eyes flickered with interest. "This is..."