Buggy stood on his ship, watching through his spyglass as his Chief of Staff was rendered a useless lump. He was enjoying the show for a while. Especially when he set off those fireworks.

Now that was flashy!

But he was defeated, just like Mohji. He swiveled his head to look at the beast tamer, scowling as he lay there, unconscious next to that scaredy cat lion of his and covered in dog piss. How could he have been beaten by that half dead half wit from earlier? It was pathetic.

And it wasn't just them, most of his crew was wiped out. The worthless lot getting themselves killed when that little shit turned their own cannon against them. The ones that weren't dead were laying down somewhere in the ship, trying not to join their comrades.

Useless lumps!

The only ones left who were able bodied were those numbskulls he sent to raid a settlement, and even then there was only two of them left. And they even had the nerve to return empty handed, complaining about a booby trap. If he didn't do something, he would be the laughing stock of the pirate world.

Did he have to do everything himself? What was the point of having a crew if they couldn't do their job? Gah, whatever. He would just have to get his hands dirty.

Looking through the spyglass as they celebrated their victory over his men, Buggy thought this would be the perfect time to send them a message. He would make sure it was a crystal clear one tool. It would be terrible if there was some kind of misunderstanding after all.

But there was something familiar about that straw hat guy. Something on the tip of his tongue. He was certain he'd never met him before, and yet…

It didn't matter. He made himself into Buggy's enemy, so he would meet a flashy death. His expression turned absolutely murderous as he gave his remaining men their orders. Hopefully they wouldn't screw this one up too.

"Fire the Buggy Ball!"

(It should be noted that Buggy did not in fact get his own hands dirty, and made his remaining crew do it instead.)

***Line Break***

Nami moaned in pain as she came to her senses. Her hand went to her throbbing head, wincing as she found a knot. She looked around through bleary eyes, the ringing in her ears deafening her to all else.

What happened? The last thing she remembered was Zoro beating that acrobat guy. And then… nothing. Her memory was blank. But something must have happened. Why else would she be in pain?

"-mi!"

What was that? Was someone shouting?

"-ami!"

There it is again. Who the hell is Ami?

"Nami!"

Everything seemed to snap into focus. The blurry image in front of her cleared, and she could see the utter devastation around her. Not only that, but Luffy was staring at her with worry, his clothes torn, and blood leaked from small scratches that littered his body.

His hat was fine though.

"Luffy?" she asked, still in a bit of a daze. He seemed relieved when she finally answered him. He was worried she was hurt in the explosion. Besides the lump on her head that is.

"You're ok! I'm so glad. Stay here, I'm going to go find Zoro."

"Wait! Luffy!" she called, but it was no use. Luffy set himself on a mission, and he was nearly deaf to everything else. She tried to stand up, but her body protested, and her head swam at the attempt.

She looked around again as the dizziness finally went away. Everything was destroyed. It was like a tornado went through the area. And it wasn't just here either. Half the town was gone. Just like that.

Luffy was digging in a pile of rubble, looking for his crew. She didn't have the heart to tell him he was most likely dead. His face was so earnest, so desperate as he searched for his missing friend. He may have been a pirate, but even Nami felt sorry for him.

What kind of weapon could do this? Was it Buggy? It had to be. Who else would be so petty and cruel?

"Arlong," she thought, but he wasn't here. Or at least, she desperately hoped not. That was the last thing she needed.

Thankfully, the destruction didn't go back the way they came, so at least Nick should be safe. Maybe. There really was no guarantee. All she could do now was hope.

"There you are!" a voice shouted, but it wasn't Luffy, who was still digging through the rubble looking for Zoro. Turning to see who it was, she was happy to see the mayor, Boodle. And with him was an old woman, huffing and puffing as she tried to keep pace with him.

"Slow down you old fool! My bones can't take all this running," she complained loudly. Nami almost giggled at the sheepish expression Boodle wore as he was chastised. But now wasn't the time for that

"I'm sorry Michi, but that young man is on death's door. There's no time to wait!" he explained, as the old woman, Michi, grumbled something about halfwits.

"Yes, yes, now step aside. Let me see to the girl," she grouched, pushing Boodle out of the way. She placed a bag on the ground, one that looked far too heavy for an old woman like Michi to carry.

"Listen, I'm fine but-"

"I'll be the judge of that. Kids these days, always thinking they know best. Why, back in my day-" rambled Michi, as she began to perform some tests on Nami, checking for signs of a concussion.

"I think I'll just go help that young man over there," Boodle said, looking apologetic as he abandoned her with the old doctor. Damn him.

"Eyes front girl!" snapped Michi, grabbing Nami's face and turning it. Nami sighed, she hated going to the doctor's.

"Now I'm going to ask you a few questions. First, are you pregnant?"

"Do I look pregnant to you!?" Nami snarled.

"Well, you do seem a bit puffy in the face dear."

"That's because I was just caught in an explosion!"

"There's no need to shout!"

After a few minutes, she was cleared with only a mild concussion. Her head was bandaged, and she was given a few painkillers.

"Now I want you to take it easy for the next few days, do you understand? That's quite the nasty bump you got."

Nami nodded in agreement. Though she doubted she would be able to keep her word. They still had to deal with Buggy after all.

The old woman sighed as she looked around her, a few tears falling from her eyes.

"It was just about forty years ago now we started this little village. It was a whole lot of nothin' back then. Just a bunch of rocks and empty fields. But slowly over time, it turned into this wonderful town. It was a lot of work, and there was plenty of doubt along the way. But we didn't give up. And now just look at it. What kind of…"

She paused in her speech as she tried to hold back a sob. She wasn't successful, but Nami pretended she was.

"Sorry about that dear. Got some dust in my eyes," she said, wiping her eyes.

Nami knew her pain all too well. Every time she returns home, there's someone else who isn't there. There's another home in ruins. She was afraid that everytime she left, she would have nothing to return to. That all her suffering would be for nothing.

Pirates destroy everything.

"Zoro! Where are you! Come on, stop hiding already!"

Well maybe not all pirates. Luffy seems ok, but he was the exception, not the rule. It was clear he cared for his friend and crewmate, considering how torn up his hands are from searching for him.

The orange haired navigator stood up. It was a small struggle, but the pain had mostly vanished by this point, the painkillers doing their job. She took a step forward, intending to support the rubber man as well as she could, but stopped and turned to Michi.

"You know, the buildings may be gone, but as long as the people are alive, you can always rebuild. Things can be replaced, our loved ones aren't so easy."

She gave the old woman a radiant smile, which seemed to perk her up. She wiped away the rest of her tears, and stood up with a fire in her eyes.

"You're absolutely right. Now's not the time to get all weepy. Thank you, young lady."

"My name's Nami."

"Thank you Nami. You know, I have a grandson about your age."

Nami groaned as the duo approached Luffy and the mayor, listening as the elderly doctor tried to set her up with her grandson, who was just the sweetest and cutest boy ever.

She didn't have time for romance, at least not at the moment. She had things she needed to do. People who were counting on her. She couldn't allow herself to be distracted by someone. But she didn't have the heart to tell Michi she wasn't interested, not with how cheerful and excited she was. She didn't want to see her depressed again.

But maybe someday she'd find someone. Someone tall and brave, with brown hair and crystal clear blue eyes, big arms and a big-

Her mind conjured up images of Nick in that moment, when they were in the tunnels below Shells Town. When he stripped naked to change clothes, and swaying between his legs was-

"No! Stop thinking about it. Now's not the time. Focus Nami!" She chastised herself, even as her face turned red. And she could swear she could hear the sound of an elephant trumpeting in the background.

"Zoro!"

Nami was broken from her perverse thoughts as she heard Luffy shout, and rubble tumbled down the pile, Boodle hopping around, trying to get out of the way..

"Oh sweet merciful distraction." she thought.

To her immense shock, they managed to find Zoro. And he was still alive! How? Just what was he made of? Was he even human, because she was having serious doubts at this point.

Said swordsman coughed violently as they dragged him out. "Gah! What the hell happened?"

"I can't believe you're alive young man. You're made of sterner stuff than I am," commented Boodle, just as mesmerized as Nami by that fact.

Luffy was crying rivers of joy after finding him, "Wah, Zoro! You're alive!"

"Ow Luffy, quit it, that hurts!" he complained, as his Captain latched onto him, squeezing him for all he's worth. "Stop crying will you. Wait, is that snot? Gross, Luffy get off me!"

Nami and the others laughed as they watched on, Luffy trying to hug Zoro, and Zoro holding Luffy at bay.

It was all fun and games until Zoro collapsed from blood loss.

***Line Break***

"Is he going to be ok old lady?" asked Luffy, poking the swordsman in the face.

"He'll be just fine-WOULD YOU STOP THAT ALREADY!" she screamed at the rubber man, making him jump back in fright. Michi huffed as she got her breathing and blood pressure back under control.

"He's not in immediate danger, but I can't treat him here."

They decided it would be best to move him, get him out of the battlefield and somewhere a tad more sanitary. As Boodle lifted the barely conscious man to his feet, throwing Zoro's arm over his shoulder to help support him, the swordsman gasped out, "Luffy…"

The rubber man turned to him, a curious expression on his face.

"You better not lose, you hear me."

Luffy's face lit up in a grin, "Of course. There's no way I'd lose."

They smirked at each other before finally completing their male bonding, and fist bumping. That seemed to be the signal, as Luffy threw his hands in the air, screaming, "Alright! I'm coming for you Buggy!"

He then sped off, kicking up a dust cloud as he did. "Hey, wait!" Nami yelled as she chased after him. Zoro watched them leave, before clutching his head as his vision swam once again, "Damn it."

"That's enough. Come along, let's see to those wounds of yours," said Michi. Zoro could do nothing but comply, as the trio slowly hobbled down the street.

Nami finally managed to catch up to her (temporary) Captain, bent over, hands on knees, gasping for breath. The only reason she was able to was that he reached his destination. The harbor.

"Hey Nami," Luffy said, voice surprisingly calm. He wasn't out of breath in the slightest.

"Yeah?" she responded, as she finally got her breathing under control.

"Is that Buggy's ship?" he asked. Nami turned to see where he was indicating, and indeed, there it was, the very ship she and Nick robbed earlier. Except it was no longer moored to the docks, and was floating a ways away from the shoreline.

"That's it alright."

Luffy's eyes narrowed, having his enemy confirmed. It was time to put an end to the circus, once and for all.

Unknown to both of them, Buggy was watching them through his spyglass.

"They're still alive? What a bunch of cockroaches," the clown pirate grumbled. He blew away half the town and they had the nerve to survive. That wasn't very flashy of them. Oh well, one more should do it.

"Is the Buggy Ball loaded yet?" he hollered to his crew.

"Yes sir! It's our last one!"

"Good, then prepare to fire!"

"Aye aye, Captain!"

Buggy gave an evil smirk as he heard them aim the cannon. Soon, all his worries would be blown away. He gave a hearty laugh as the fuse was lit.

The sound of cannon fire drew the attention of the two on the shore. Nami and Luffy watched as a cannonball, bright red with Buggy's Skull and Bones on it, hurled toward them at blistering speeds.

Nami panicked, figuring she was about to die, but Luffy was the opposite. With a determined look, he stepped in the path of the oncoming cannonball.

"What are you doing!? We have to run!" yelled Nami, flabbergasted by his choice. Who in their right mind stood in the direct trajectory of a bomb? It was crazy.

"Just stay back Nami," he responded.

"What are you-"

"Just trust me."

Her eyes widened in disbelief. The look in his eyes was so confident, so reassuring, that she found she had no choice but to trust him. Maybe that made her crazy too. Trusting a pirate was a sure sign of insanity.

"Fine! But you better know what you're doing!"

Lufffy gave her a wide smile, made even wider by the fact that he could stretch his face, "Don't worry, I got this."

With that said he turned to face the threat once more, which was over halfway there by this point. Luffy then began doing something strange. He was getting fat.

Was that it? That was the thing that was going to save them? Obesity? But wait… it wasn't fat, it was air! He was inhaling oxygen at an alarming rate and bloating himself up like a-

"Gum Gum: Balloon!"

Like a that!

Nami watched on in morbid fascination as the cannonball finally reached its destination. It struck Luffy with the force of a thunderclap, the air in his body cushioning the blow, yet still she could see his back stretching with the cannonball for several feet.

But there was no explosion. No fiery inferno of death. It seems like it worked. Nami could hardly believe what she was seeing. Devil Fruits sure are weird.

After holding it for a few seconds, Luffy flung the cannonball back at Buggy like he was a human slingshot. It soared high and fast, and struck the water near the ship. The force of the explosion nearly caused it to capsize.

Grinning at his success, Luffy proceeded to grab onto a couple of the wooden posts on the dock, the ones usually used to tie ships to, and began stepping backwards, his arms becoming taught from the force. "Alright! Nami, grab on!"

Her expression was once more flabbergasted, "Huh? Grab onto what?"

"Shishishi, me of course. Let's go pay Buggy a visit."

Against her better judgment, she did just that. She held onto him like he was about to give her a piggyback ride. "Alright! Here we go, I'm coming for you Buggy!"

"Luffy, what are you?"

"Gum Gum: Rocket!"

Nami held on for dear life, screaming as loud as he lungs would allow. Which was pretty darn loud. As they neared the ship, Luffy stretched his arms out again, grabbed hold of the railing, and launched them onto the ship. It was an experience Nami didn't want to repeat.

Buggy groaned as he made to stand. The force of his own cannonball having knocked him to the ground. That's the second time one of his Buggy Balls had been used against him, and he was getting pretty sick of it.

"Status report!" he demanded, taking stock of the damage they received. He could see his remaining men sprawled out on the floor, useless layabouts.

"Don't worry Captain, we're all good here!"

"I don't give a damn about you! How's my ship!?" he yelled.

"Still floating sir!"

"I can see that much you moron!"

He sighed in irritation. Honestly, good help was so hard to find these days. Perhaps he should raise the standards of his hiring requirements. Yes, that seems like a good idea. Starting with proper hygiene. And the ability to spell one's own name.

"Captain Buggy!"

"What is it now!?"

"Look!"

Buggy turned to where his subordinate was pointing, and saw something approaching. Rather quickly at that.

Was it a bird?

No...

Some kind of weapon?

No...

Just what in the hell is that?

His question would be answered in a fantastically violent manner. Whatever it was slammed into his ship, causing the whole thing to shake and sway once more. It wasn't as bad as earlier, his Buggy Balls packed a far bigger punch, but it was still enough to knock his men on their asses.

Buggy covered his eyes at the impact. When the swaying finally stopped, he furiously uncovered them, "What is it now!?"

Standing on his ship was a man and a woman. The man looked like a goofball and the woman looked like she could give Boa Hancock a run for her money for the title of most beautiful woman.

They also just so happened to be the people he just tried to make explode. Just how in the hell did they get on his ship? He was at least a quarter mile out to sea. Whatever, it didn't matter.

"Damn it Luffy, warn me next time!" Nami yelled, clobbering him on the head. That was easily one of the most terrifying experiences of her life.

"Ow! Nami that hurt. Why'd you hit me?"

"Because you deserved it!"

"Excuse me? I hate to break up this endearing little comedy routine you got going on, but would you mind telling me WHAT THE HELL YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING ON MY SHIP!"

The two of them turned to face Buggy, halting their spat. The clown was fuming at this point.

"Are you Buggy?" asked Luffy, staring down the clown.

"That's right, I'm CAPTAIN Buggy."

"Great, I'm here to kick your ass!" Luffy shouted, punching his palm.

Buggy stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter. Who did this little upstart think he is? Kick his ass? He was Buggy! He was immortal! Nobody kicked his ass!

Buggy eventually calmed down, wiping a tear from his eye, "That's a good one kid. You ever think of doing stand up?"

Luffy just stared back, "Nope, I'm going to be King of the Pirates."

Crickets could be heard at his declaration. After a few tense moments, Buggy burst into laughter once more, his crew following suit. "You? King of the Pirates? Don't make me laugh!"

Luffy didn't seem bothered by it, which surprised Nami. She thought he'd be furious at the mockery, but he just let it roll right off his back. It was shockingly mature for someone like Luffy.

"Laugh all you want. It doesn't matter what you, or anyone else has to say. I will be King of the Pirates someday."

Buggy stopped laughing, looking at Luffy with a critical eye. There was no doubt in his gaze, not a single drop of hesitation in his form. His eyes were hard as steel as he made his declaration.

For the second time that day, for the briefest of moments, he could see the specter of his old Captain behind someone. He was getting tired of it.

"Well, you have some balls at least. Fine, I'll show you the difference between a dream and reality. I hope you're ready for a harsh lesson, kid."

Luffy got into a fighting stance, "Bring it on, Big Nose."

That was the last straw. The camel's back was officially broken. Buggy's eyes went bloodshot, looking like he smoked a bit too much of that good stuff. He grabbed a knife, and pulled his arm back.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

"Take this! Chop Chop: Cannon!"

Buggy sent his fist flying at Luffy. And only his fist. Buggy's hand detached from the rest of his body, shocking both Nami and Luffy. While surprised, Luffy managed to grab his hand before he could be impaled, sliding back a few feet.

"Luffy!" Nami yelled in concern. She released a relieved sigh when Luffy caught the floating hand. Was this what they meant when they said Buggy was immortal? It had to be.

"Nice try Buggy!" Luffy snarked at him, but Buggy grinned back.

"Who said I was done? Chop Chop: Bombardment!"

Buggy thrust his arm forward, and more and more pieces shot off of him. They hammered into his dismembered hand, reattaching themselves, forcing Luffy backwards each time, until he eventually slammed into a wall, and then through it.

Buggy laughed uproariously, even if he was damaging his own ship. It was worth it in his opinion, to teach Luffy a lesson. "How do you like that? I ate the Chop Chop Fruit, and can chop my body into pieces. Gyahaha!"

Luffy dragged himself out of the wreckage and dusted himself off. Besides a few superficial scratches, he was no worse for wear. "Man, that's a real freaky power."

Said the rubber man.

The men watching the fight, Buggy's remaining crew, were enjoying the show. It was nice not to be on the receiving end of their Captain's powers for once. But their attention was inevitably drawn to the beautiful woman accompanying him. A very familiar one at that.

Nami bit her bottom lip nervously. The fight had only just begun and already it seemed like Buggy had the upper hand. She only hoped Luffy had a trick or two up his sleeve, otherwise, they were done for.

"Hey Captain, that woman right there! She's the one what stole our loot!" yelled the smartest of the three. Definitely not the one Nami turned into a eunuch earlier.

Buggy turned to face the now nervous woman, "Oh, is that right. Well, once I'm done with this fool, she's next."

"I won't let you!" shouted Luffy.

"Gum Gum: Pistol!"

Luffy thrust his own arm forward, but unlike Buggy, it didn't separate. It stretched. It flew at Buggy with impressive speed, but he only detached his head and dodged the blow.

"Aw too bad, but you're way too slow to hit me. Gyhahaha!"

Luffy growled at that, and flung his foot back, "Gum Gum: Stamp!"

Luffy tried to Spartan kick Buggy in his chest, but like before, Buggy separated his body parts and dodged.

"Stay still damn it!" Luffy yelled in frustration, as he tried to punch him again and again, to no avail. Everytime he thought he had him, Buggy separated and avoided his attack. He needed to think of something, and fast.

Looking around the ship, Luffy spotted something that gave him an idea. It was a net. With an excited grin, he decided to give his new move a try.

"Alright Buggy! Let's see you dodge this! Gum Gum: Finger Net!"

Luffy stretched his finger, using them to form a net, as the name would suggest. Buggy's eyes widened, seeing the move covering him and leaving no room for escape. All his parts were stuck in the net.

"What the hell?" he yelled, trapped by the technique. Luffy ginned as he began spinning Buggy around and around. It was the same thing Nick did when he took out Mohji. After gaining enough momentum to make Buggy sick, he released his prisoner, jumping in the air and flinging him and his detached parts away.

Several of them hit the mast of the ship, including his head, while others struck his crew, covering them in bruises. It was a very effective test run.

Luffy landed on the ground with a wide smile, "How was that Buggy?"

Said pirate slowly got to his feet, willing the world to stop spinning as his body parts sluggishly reattached themselves. He was breathing heavily, and glaring at his opponent.

"Not bad, kid. That actually hurt. Now try this! Chop Chop: Surprise!"

The surprise was that he didn't use his powers at all. He pretended like he was, and then pulled out a pistol and shot Luffy. It would normally be a pretty good move, but against Luffy, well…

He bounced back the bullet. Buggy barely moved his head in time, getting a small cut along his cheek. His crew behind him weren't as lucky, one of them getting hit in the arm.

"Huh, didn't see that one coming. Guns don't work on you huh? What about knives? Can you bounce those back too?"

"Nope," responded Luffy without hesitation.

"Don't tell him that!" shouted Nami. Why would he reveal that? Just lie, it wasn't that hard!

"Well, aren't you an honest one? How rare in this day and age," Buggy mocked, much to his crew's amusement, even if they were battered and bruised. "I think such honesty deserves a reward. What do you say boys?"

They cheered in agreement, wanting revenge. Luffy didn't seem to mind, in fact he almost looked eager to see what he would get. But Nami looked nervous, knowing that whatever gift Buggy was going to give, wouldn't be a good one.

And she doubted it was one they could return.

Buggy separated himself once again, only this time, his body parts seemed to form some kind of wheel. His torso, arms and legs, all rearranged themselves to look like some kind of hamster wheel. His hands were on opposite ends, each one holding three, razor sharp knives.

Buggy's head floated up, laughing, and placed itself in the center of the wheel. The whole macabre thing was floating in the air. Nami thought it was creepy as hell, but Luffy…

"So cool!"

"Gyahahaha! Glad you think so. This is my Chop Chop: Nightmare Wheel. Get ready, Straw Hat!"

Having said that, the wheel began to spin. Slowly at first, but quickly gaining speed, until it eventually resembled a buzzsaw. And sounded like it too. Plus with those knives spinning at either end, Buggy could easily slice Luffy into pieces.

Something the rubber man seemed to realize, as he went from starry-eyed to steely-eyed.

Buggy charged forward, his head laughing the whole time. He was fast, faster then either Nami or Luffy thought he'd be, but thankfully, Luffy was faster as he jumped out of the way.

But there was something he didn't account for. Buggy could change the wheel's axis. It went from a vertical wheel to a horizontal one. Luffy, not expecting this, didn't jump far enough, and received a painful slash to his side.

"Ah!" he yelled as he tumbled to the ground, clutching his bleeding side. It wasn't deep, thankfully, but it still hurt like hell.

"Luffy!" Nami yelled in concern. She watched as Luffy dodged, ducked, dipped, dived, and dodged to avoid being turned into mincemeat. He was doing ok, but sooner or later, he would make another misstep. She doubted he could take too many more of those.

There had to be something she could do. But what? Looking around the deck for something, anything, that would help, she spotted something rather peculiar. It was a pair of feet, walking along the deck, just as casual as you can be.

Nami watched them for a second, before an evil smile graced her face. They were Buggy's feet, they had to be. That gave her an idea.

Luffy was getting tired of this cat and mouse game. He was also just getting tired. Buggy was relentless. No matter how many times he evaded his attack, he was right there, laughing away, ready to split him in two. Even jumping up on the mast didn't help. And unlike Buggy, he couldn't reattach himself.

He was about 90% sure of that.

"What's wrong Straw Hat, losing steam already? Gyahahaha! Some King of the Pirates you are!"

Luffy growled, even as he yanked his neck out of the way. This stupid clown was really getting on his nerves. He jumped out of the way to avoid another blow, only this time, he found himself slipping, hitting the floor with a painful thump.

Looking to see what he slipped on, he was surprised to find a banana peel. Where had that come from? He knew it wasn't there a second ago. Searching around the deck, he noticed Buggy's crew grinning maliciously at him.

Those jerks, they threw that banana peel in his path. Damn cheaters! He'd punch their lights out!

But before he could exact justice upon them, Buggy was upon him. "This is the end! Now die flashily!" he yelled in jubilation. Luffy's eyes widened in panic, he couldn't dodge.

So he was fairly surprised when Buggy stopped just inches from impaling him. His face contorted in agony. What happened? Luffy looked around again, before his eyes fell on Nami.

She was holding a hammer, that she got from who knows where, and it looked as if she had smashed something on the ground. It was a… foot? But who's-that's when it hit him. It was Buggy's! A happy grin split his face as he laughed.

"That hurt Damn it! Who the hell-you!?" Buggy screamed, spotting the culprit. He had nearly forgotten about her. A mistake he wouldn't make again. But now that she had his full attention, she seemed familiar.

A girl… With orange hair… And a large chest…

It was her! The thief! The one from the ship. She matched the descriptions his men gave to a T. So she was the other one who had the nerve to steal from him.

And she had the gall to do it twice! First from those two morons behind him and then from his very own room. He should have realized it earlier, but he was distracted by the so-called future king.

Well, that wouldn't do. That wouldn't do at all. He would have to teach her a lesson. With all the lessons he had to give out lately, maybe he should become a teacher?

"You! I know who you are. You're the other thief, the one that got away," he growled, floating into the air. He started spinning once again, until he was going even faster than last time, his anger fueling him.

"Who, me?" Nami questioned, with a nervous laugh. Drat, she was hoping he would have forgotten all about that with everything else that happened. No such luck it would seem.

"Yes you. Tell you what, give me back what you stole, and I promise to make your death painless. Do we have a deal?"

That proposition seemed to enrage her, "Hell no! That treasure belongs to me! I stole it so it's mine now!"

"Like hell it is! If you won't give it back willingly, I'll just pilfer it off your corpse!"

Buggy sped off after Nami, who screamed and ran away. Luffy looked bewildered as he was completely forgotten about. But he needed to save Nami. She was his navigator after all.

"Stop running!" Buggy yelled.

"No!" she yelled back.

Even Buggy's crew seemed baffled by the turn of events. And after they set him up perfectly to take out the rubber guy too. Sometimes it was hard to be a goon.

"When I get my hands on you, you'll wish you were never born!" Buggy threatened.

"Go away!" Nami pleaded, hands covering her head.

Her pleas fell on deaf ears as Buggy neared, maniacal smile in full swing, "Now I've got yo-argh!"

Nami didn't know why he made a choking sound, and she didn't care either. She just kept running.

Buggy, meanwhile, found himself in quite the predicament. Luffy, the little twerp who dared proclaim himself as future king, was currently holding onto his head, a mischievous smile on his face.

"I got you," he sang out, as Buggy looked on, worried about the pain he was about to endure.

"Now wait just a moment," he begged, but Luffy wasn't listening. Smile still in full swing, he stretched his head behind him, and Buggy felt his stomach twist in knots. Even if it was on the other end of the ship.

"Gum Gum…"

"No, don't!"

"Bell!"

"Ahh!"

Buggy's screams of anguish rang out across the ship, and even across town, causing a smile to appear on Nick's sleeping face. Recently, only dreaming about Nami could make him smile like that, which unfortunately, wasn't the case at the moment, but exceptions could be made.

The clown's face was a bloody smear, his big red nose even bigger and redder, with several teeth missing from his mouth. His bell truly had been rung.

His body, the one that was still hot on Nami's heels, spun out of control, slamming into the floor with a bang, the force of it sending her flying. She bounced across the hard surface a few times before lying still. It hurt, but it was much better than the alternative.

She looked around, holding her once again throbbing head. The room she was flung into looked familiar. She was sure she'd been here before. Movement caught her attention, very big movement, and Nami suddenly remembered exactly which room she was in.

"Damn you… Straw Hat," slurred Buggy. On a scale of 1-10, Buggy's pain level was about an 8. He knew it was going to hurt, and he wasn't disappointed, even though he wished for once he was.

Luffy chuckled as he picked up his hat, his last technique having sent it flying, "Well Buggy, have you had enough?"

"Screw… you…"

"Alright, one more oughta do it."

That made Buggy's eyes snap wide open. He couldn't take another hit like that. If he did, he'd be toast for sure. So as Luffy was about to launch his head backwards, Buggy spit a wad of blood in his face.

"Ahh! Gross!" Luffy complained. His grip on Buggy's head loosened, which is exactly what he was waiting for. Buggy's head went flying across the ship, meeting in the middle with the rest of his body, reassembling itself once more.

It felt good to be whole again.

"Hey! Spitting's against the rules!" Luffy yelled, steaming mad at having been spit on.

"Oh shut up! I'm a pirate! I don't give a damn about your rules!" Buggy seethed right back. Both of them were looking angrily at each other, before they charged into battle once more.

They both unleashed a flurry of attacks, using their Devil Fruits to evade and surprise each other. Luffy was actually able to get a few hits in this time, much to Buggy's chagrin. That hit to the head affected him more than he realized.

After about a minute of this furious exchange, it was becoming clear that Luffy had the upper hand. His punches, the ones he managed to land, didn't seem to have much effect. It had to be his rubber body. It frustrated the older pirate. He needed to do something, and fast.

"What's that!?" Buggy yelled, pointing behind Luffy and pretending to be shocked.

"Huh?" Luffy questioned, turning around in a hurry.

That's right, Buggy used the oldest trick in the book. But if it works, it works.

"Gyahahaha! You dumbass! Chop Chop: Canon!"

Luffy turned back around, seeing Buggy's hand coming toward him again, he barely managed to dodge, getting a cut across his cheek, one that matched the one he gave Buggy.

"Ah! That was a dirty tri-woah!" Luffy yelled, as he was suddenly yanked off the ground, dangling upside down. "Hey, what's going on?"

Looking at his foot, he saw a hand grabbing onto his ankle. That's when he realized Buggy's plan. That first attack was only a distraction. His true goal was to get a hold of him.

Which he did.

"Ah, damnit! Hey let me go!" Luffy yelled, much to Buggy's amusement. He laughed as he approached his hapless victim, "And why would I do that? I got you right where I want you."

Luffy tried to get out of his grip, squirming like a worm hopped up on cocaine, but it was no use. Buggy wouldn't let him. Everytime Luffy reached for the hand holding him hostage, Buggy would shake him like a dog.

He was trapped, at the mercy of a sadistic clown. He had a dream like that once, only the clown was thirty feet tall. He ended up punching Ace in the face as he slept, which resulted in a brawl.

Good times.

But all that squirming did do one thing. It knocked his hat loose. He tried to grab it, but the wind chose that moment to slap it away. "No, my hat!"

It slowly floated down into Buggy's waiting hand.

"Let go Buggy! Don't touch my hat!"

The other pirate seemed amused by his demands, "Oh, and what are you going to do about it?" he mocked, raising Luffy's anger to new heights.

He inspected the hat in his hands. He didn't know what the big deal was, it was just a straw hat. You could get one just about anywhere. They were cheap, a Beri a bundle.

"This hat seems awfully important to you. I can't imagine why. It's filthy. Maybe I should give it a good wash in the ocean? Clean it up for you. Gyahahaha!"

Luffy resumed his squirming, trying to break Buggy's hold, "That hat is my treasure! It's a promise I made with someone important, so don't make fun of it!"

Buggy merely scoffed, "Hate to break it to you kid, but this hat ain't worth a single Beri. Treasure! Don't make me laugh. Treasure is all things shiny and valuable, not dirty old hats. You sound just like him. He never understood it either, that red-haired bastard."

Luffy stopped squirming at that, "Red hair? Wait, do you know Shanks, Big Nose?"

Buggy's mind seemed to come to a halt at the question, with no small amount of anger at the nose comment. "Do I know-yes, I know that bastard! We were on the same crew together years ago. But wait, don't tell me…" his voice trailed off as he inspected the hat in his hands. It suddenly seemed very familiar. Yes, there's even that same stain from when they had a food fight. There was little doubt in Buggy's mind who the hat belonged to, but just to be sure…

"Tell me, was it Shanks who gave you this hat?"

"Yeah, and I promised to return it to him when I became a great pirate. So get your hands off it!"

So it was true, that idiot really did give his hat away. How dare he.

"One more question. Did he ever tell you who gave him this hat?"

Luffy paused at that, "No, and I don't care either. It belonged to Shanks, that's all I need to know!"

Buggy was furious that Shanks would give away their Captain's old hat. This little punk wasn't good enough to polish that man's shoes, let alone wear his hat. What was Shanks thinking? Just what did he see in this kid?

He heard a rumor that Shanks had lost an arm as well, and now this kid shows up wearing his hat? It couldn't be a coincidence.

Didn't matter. He was about to die, and the hat would belong to him, the way it should have always been. He'd have to give Shanks a piece of his mind if he ever saw him again.

Buggy walked to the side of the ship, Luffy floating along with him, until he was dangling the rubber man above the sea. "Devil Fruits all have the same weakness you know? Whoever eats one is cursed by the sea, and can never swim again."

"This is the end for you, Straw Hat."

***Line Break***

Nami really hated this ship. Why is it every time she comes here, a stupid bear tries to eat her? Is it because she's pretty? Do bears prefer to eat pretty people? If so, she couldn't blame them. If she were a cannibal, she'd prefer to eat good looking people as well.

Anyway, after being flung into the lounging area again, she ran into her old friend, Beary. Not that she knew that was the bear's name. And he was not happy to see her again, no siree.

Or maybe he was. Afterall, he was given a second chance to maul her to death. That should make him happy, right?

If she got eaten, she hoped he choked.

Her ears twitched as she heard a door creak open. She covered her mouth, and peaked out from behind the clothes that concealed her. She managed to avoid the bear earlier and hid herself in the dressing room, deeper in Buggy's ship.

She could see his shadow, slowly entering the room, and heard him sniff and grunt as he searched for her. Each clawed appendage clacking against the wooden floor as he wondered about the room.

He was in full view now, and to her slight surprise, his fur looked pristine. It was like he was never on fire in the first place. She wondered if maybe they gave him a bath. Well, good for him.

She leaned back deeper into the standing closet, completely obscuring her form in shadows. With any luck, the strong smell of perfume and oils would hide her scent. She hoped it would, she wasn't sure she could escape if it didn't.

After a while, the bear approached her hiding spot, opened the closet and stuck his snout inside. She shut her eyes tight, holding back tears, as she felt his hot breath against her face.

But luck seemed to be on her side as he suddenly vacated the closet. She let out the breath she was holding. A bit too loudly.

Suddenly the bear was right in her face, roaring in anger and victory. Nami screamed back, throwing anything and everything she could at the bear. A bottle of lotion, a can of nuts, a whoopie cushion, a rubber duck… One such thing happened to be a jar of body glitter that smashed against his snout.

Beary flinched back, sneezing bright silver glitter all over the room. He swiped at his nose, trying to get the offending material out, but had no such luck. He rubbed it against the floor and all over the clothes in the room.

Eventually he removed it, and sat back on his hindquarters in relief. The sound of a door slamming caught his attention. Turning to the now closed door, he looked back into the closet and realized his prey had escaped.

Nami sighed in relief, her back resting against the door, eyes closed. That was too close. But she couldn't stop now. Any moment now, that bear would realize she escaped, and start chasing her again. She needed to get away, and fast.

"Hello again sweetheart. Fancy meeting you here."

Nami's eyes opened wide, and a scream of pain left her lips as she felt a hand yank on her hair. Looking up through teary eyes, she discovered it was none other than Mr. Eunuch, giving her a twisted smile. One that promised pain and retribution.

"What do you think you're-ah!" she yelled, as he once more jerked on her hair.

"Ah, ah, ah, I didn't say you could speak. The only thing I want to hear coming from those pretty little lips are screams of pain, and pleas for mercy. Got it?"

Nami glared up at him defiantly, which only caused him to chuckle, "That's a nice look in your eyes. Let's see how long it lasts, shall we?"

He started pulling her deeper into the ship, but Nami refused to cooperate. She wouldn't go with this creep, even if it cost her, her hair. It may have not been a look she could pull off, but it was far better than the alternative.

Her captor was getting frustrated. This bitch just wouldn't do as she was told. Why did she have to make his life difficult? All he wanted to do was torture her until all that spunk and fire she had inside her soul vanished. Was that too much to ask for? After she broke his balls?

He didn't think so.

Just then, a rage filled roar garnered their attention. Looking at the door, the one they hadn't moved away from, they could hear the angry snorts of a bear. They could also hear violent clacking sounds getting closer and closer.

Nami recognized those sounds. They were the sounds the bear's paws made as he wandered about the room. He must have finally figured out she escaped him, and was charging the door, enraged.

Which was bad for multiple reasons, not the least of which was that she was right in front of the door, and would certainly be smashed to pieces. That was something she would like to avoid.

Silver lining though, the dickless wonder was also tight in front of the door, and it looked as if his pea sized brain was trying to figure out what the sound was. Which, incidentally, loosed his grip on her hair just enough for her to escape.

Ripping her head away with a painful grunt, several strands of her hair remained clutched in the man's hands. He seemed shocked by the turn of events. You think he'd be used to it by now, this was the third time after all.

But he'd be even more shocked when an angry bear burst the door open and flattened him against the wall. The bear was in a similar state of disbelief, as he watched one of his comrades slowly slide down the wall into the blissful realm of unconsciousness.

"Thanks a ton Mr. Bear," Nami said, blowing him a kiss and running away, back up the stairs and out of the ship. Beary looked at Nami, then at the man on the floor, then back to Nami, then back to the man…

He did this for several seconds, before everything clicked in his mind. Now seeing red, he stormed up the stairs after the girl. He was definitely going to eat her when he caught her, even if it would ruin his diet.

He would just count it as his cheat day.

Making it up the stairs, he looked around the lounge area for his prey, but saw nothing. It was another game of cat and mouse. How annoying.

He once more began sniffing for her, but the smell of booze and tobacco hampered his ability. He cursed those idiots for indulging in such things, making his job harder. They were lucky they gave such good belly rubs, or he'd have no use for them.

Nami was once again holding her breath, hiding behind the counter of the bar. It was the same place Nick fled too when he fought the bear, and doused him in alcohol. A strategy Nami would not be employing, as it already turned out to be ineffective.

But maybe there was something else. The glitter earlier was surprisingly effective, maybe there was something similar she could use? Targeting his olfactory senses seemed like a good idea. Better than setting him on fire at any rate.

Maybe something that got rid of his sight as well. Looking around the bar, all she saw was booze, booze, and more booze. She liked to drink as much as anybody, and if she and the bear got into a drinking contest she would win, hands down. But somehow, she didn't think that was a viable plan.

Crawling around on the sticky floor, Nami quietly kept up the search, pausing occasionally as the bear got too close. Then, something caught her eye.

An open cabinet, with a jar of something barely visible through the crack. Taking a chance and slowly opening the door, wincing at the slight squeak it made, revealed a jar of some bright red powder. She took it from the bottom shelf and read the label.

Desert Reaper Powder. Warning: Extremely HOT. Use with caution.

That was perfect. She would burn that sucker face right off. Hopefully, it would burn better than the fire. Fingers crossed.

Now all she needed to do was get his attention. She only had one shot at this, and needed to make it count.

"Hey there Mr. Bear. Long time no see. A bit early to be hitting the sauce don't you think? But who am I to judge?"

The bear paused his search and turned to the voice, finding it to be the person he was searching for. In retrospect, the bar should have been the first place he looked. He would be sure to remember that for the next intruder.

Beary approached the bar, slowly, with his head down and giving a low growl. Nami seemed to be nervous at his posture, but continued with the bit anyway. She needed him close, and hopefully, confused.

"So what'll be? A Martini? No, you don't seem the type. How about a Margarita?"

With each suggestion, Nami pulled out different bottles of booze, but Beary didn't seem interested, and kept up his slow, menacing gait, making Nami more and more nervous with every step he took. But she needed him just a little bit closer.

"Not a fan of that either, huh? I get it. Let's see, how about a Mimosa then, it's about the right time for one."

Beary didn't understand why she was offering him drinks, and he didn't care either. Even if that last suggestion sounded pretty good, Mimosa's happened to be his favorite. But unlike those human fools, he had some self control. He wouldn't indulge himself until his job was complete.

Though, if he could speak English, he would tell her he liked his drink with a bit of ginger in it.

(Get it? Cause Nami's a ginger and he wants to eat her.)

Nami was sweating heavily at this point. The bear was leaning on the counter now, both deadly claws propped up on the wooden surface and making deep grooves.

"I see you're a bear of refined taste. In that case I have just the thing. It just arrived this morning, and it's got a real kick to it."

Nami dove behind the counter once more, her form disappearing from view. Beary was confused by her behavior. Did she go mad? It didn't matter, once she popped her head back up, he would take a bite out of her little orange head.

And pop up she did. With a dazzling smile that hid her nervousness, "Alright, here it is. Enjoy!"

Nami then popped off the lid, or at least she tried to. But the damn thing was stuck. She screamed bloody murder in her mind, but on the outside, she kept up her beaming smile. "It'll be just another minute. Come on you stupid thing, open."

Nami whispered the last part as she turned away from the bear and pulled with all her might, face turning red from the exertion. Beary tilted his head confused, but decided it didn't matter. It was lunch time.

Leaning over the bar counter, he opened his mouth wide, tongue flopping out and dripping drool. He was just about to take a bite, when suddenly-

"Gah!"

Nami managed to get the lid off, but she wasn't expecting the jar to go flying out of her hands…

And smash directly into Beary.

That might not have gone exactly to plan, but the end result was the same.

Beary stood there for a moment, and Nami could swear she saw smoke coming off of him, before he let loose a bellow of agony. He flung himself back, giving no heed to the chairs and tables he smashed to pieces. All that mattered was the all encompassing pain he was in.

His eyes, his nose, his mouth, all felt like someone dumped lava into them. Flames erupted from his mouth as he rolled on the ground, trying to ease his suffering. But nothing seemed to help.

Nami almost felt bad for him until she remembered he was trying to eat her not even a minute ago. With that thought came the loss of any sympathy.

But it was time to go. Alas, partings could be such sweet sorrow. Or no sorrow at all. Sometimes, it was just sweet.

Nami quickly raced out of the lounge, eager to be out in the open air once more. Beary could hear her footsteps as she raced ahead, his ears being the only thing not affected by the powder.

Did she really think he was just going to let her go? Not a snowball's chance in hell. Pushing through the agony, he forced his eyes open, barely making out her form. Everything was blurry, but he wouldn't let that stop him. She wouldn't escape.

He was the fastest bear alive after all.

With a flame expelling roar, he rushed after her, barreling through anything in his path. Nami heard him, and turned around, only to release a scream of fright.

"Are you kidding me!? Give it a rest already!"

Why did he have to be so persistent? That wasn't an attractive quality in a man, and most certainly not in a bear. Sometimes, you just have to give up.

But Beary obviously didn't get that memo. Tears streaked out of his eyes as he thundered after her.

Nami made it out of the ship, finally, and charged out on the deck. She barely even noticed the other goon as she passed him. He wasn't important anyway.

"Huh?" he said stupidly as she passed. "Hey isn't she-ah!"

But he was interrupted by a 900 pound bear smashing through him, sending him flying with a painful scream. This had to have been the worst couple of days of his entire life. Maybe it was time to rethink his career choices?

Buggy and Luffy turned their heads to see what all the fuss was about. "Now what?" Buggy questioned, irritated. He didn't need any interruptions now, not when he was about to end this nuisance once and for all.

Running towards them was the beautiful Nami, hands flailing in the air and panicked tears running down her face as she was chased by a fire breathing bear.

"It's that woman… and is that Beary?" asked Buggy. What was he doing here? Just what was that woman up to? Well, it didn't matter, it was too late for her to do anything. Straw Hat was going for a swim, and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it.

"Nami, is that you!?" he yelled, not able to see her very clearly from his current angle. The tears stopped falling from her eyes as she heard his voice. "Huh, Luffy?"

She looked around for him before she spotted him dangling in the air, directly over the sea. "What are you doing up there?" she yelled, watching him struggle in Buggy's grasp.

"He tricked me and now I'm stuck! You have to get me down!"

"And how the hell am I supposed to do that!?" Did he think she could fight him? If Luffy couldn't beat him, then she sure as hell couldn't.

"I don't know! But do something, hurry! I can't swim!"

"What do you mean you can't swim!"

That's when she remembered that rumor about Devil Fruit users. They were granted amazing powers, but they came at a cost. So they were true then?

If only she had known that sooner, she would have dumped Buggy's disgusting feet into the water. Oh well, too late for regrets now.

But what was she supposed to do? The image of Nick and Bell-mère flashed through her mind, and a new resolve coursed through her. It didn't matter how, all that mattered was she did it.

"Got it! You can count on me!"

Buggy seemed to think that was hilarious, laughing loudly, "Gyahaha! And just how do you intend to do that?"

That was a good question. Angry bear behind her, sadistic clown in front. Her options were limited. But there had to be something…

Maybe she could use said bear? He was charging her with reckless abandon after all, so perhaps she could use that to knock Buggy off the ship. It was worth a shot.

That's when she noticed something in her path. Something bright and yellow. It was a banana peel, the same one used to trip Luffy earlier.

That could work.

Nami altered her course, leading the angry bear directly in its path, the banana nestled between Buggy and the bear. Perfect. Now, as long as he stepped on it…

Beary, eyes blinded with extreme chili powder, wasn't able to see the bright yellow banana peel, laying in his path. Luck seemed to be on Nami's side as his front paw landed right on it, sending him tumbling head over heels past Nami, who jumped out of the way.

"No, wait! Beary stop!" yelled Buggy in a panic, watching the bear tolling toward him with increasing speed. But it was no use. Beary couldn't stop even if he wanted to.

"Ouch!" The clown pirate yelled in pain. He flinched and yanked his hand back toward him, sending the rubber man flopping onto the ship. Looking at his hand, he noticed clear and distinct bite marks. That little monkey boy bit him!

"You'll pay for that," Buggy started, but was interrupted by the sight of Beary almost upon him. The pain and shock of being bitten made him forget all about that. With a panicked shout, Beary slammed into him.

As Buggy was struck, he loosened his grip on Luffy's hat. He gave a last, hateful look at them both, as he and Beary smashed through the railing of the ship and tumbled toward the sea below.

"Alright!" Nami cheered, pumping her fist in victory, looking relieved as Luffy's arm snapped back, his hat in his hand.

"Is it over? Did we win?" she questioned tentatively. Luffy inspected his hat for damages, and when he was satisfied there was none, he placed it back in his head.

"I don't think so," he said. Both of them stared at the spot Buggy disappeared, half expecting another surprise attack. But nothing came. It was quiet. Too quiet.

Nami noticed movement from the corner of her eye. It was Buggy's feet. That's when she realized he must have detached them before he went over the never did hear a splash. So that means…

Her eyes widened, "Luffy…"

He turned to see what had her so freaked out, only to see the image of Buggy floating in the sky, his body separated into dozens of parts, making him look three times his normal size. But the most worrying part of all, was the palpable red aura that surrounded him.

"Nami, get back," Luffy told her without a hint of his usual mirth. Nami nodded and did as she was told without complaint. It wasn't the time.

Buggy watched them both, seething in anger. He was tired of his plans ending in failure. Every time he started to enjoy himself, something came along and ruined his fun. No more! He would put an end to this right now.

"Playtime is over, Straw Hat. It's time for you to die," he said, evenly and calmly. It would have been far less frightening if he was ranting and raving. But it seems he was finally taking this seriously.

He floated higher in the sky, his body parts swirling around him in a violent vortex. Luffy raised his fists, ready to defend himself.

It was time for round two.