It had been a month since Buggy and Devlin had made their escape from Loguetown's private docks. And during that time, many changes had taken place for them.

Buggy had gone through more changes in one night than he'd ever expected. In the course of a single night, he'd gotten ahold of a powerful ship, understood the might of the Buggy Ball and through it the potential he himself had, and finally launched himself into the new era his captain had created.

But most importantly, how he finally began to live outside of the shadows of other people. And it was only as he looked back at the burning docks, at the reflection of who he now was, that he realized he'd already begun to cast a shadow of his own.

Devlin too had been through heavy changes. And after serious consideration decided to stay with Buggy as his first mate. It had only taken one night for him, a complete stranger, to show her that she wasn't ready to take on the seas alone.  At least, not like he was. What he did to the private docks was something far beyond what she was capable of.

So much so, she had considered not leaving the island at all. She'd considered just swimming back to shore before too many marines surrounded the island, but changed her mind at the last minute.

She was about to say goodbye to Buggy but stopped short. The look on his face as he watched the docks burn and the soldiers scramble had her in silent awe. He looked proud of what he had done like it was an achievement to have done what he did. But that wasn't what she found upsetting. It was the fact that she had never felt that way before.

Seeing the look of pure joy and satisfaction on his face, whether it came from being as destructive as possible or from just giving law enforcement hell, left her wanting. 'What would I have to do to feel like that one day?' But the more pertinent question on her mind was if she could ever feel like that if she decided to stay in Loguetown.

That was the moment she decided to take a chance and join forces with someone she'd known for less than a day. But it would also be the day she'd look back on as the one that changed her life in ways she would have never thought possible.

Devlin had been surprised by the kind of person Buggy had turned out to be. She hadn't managed to get a straight answer from him, only a lecture in how the world worked and a tiny hint at how he worked. He said he could've left them both of the people from the cages to die but didn't, but that could be for any number of reasons.

She tried her best to make sense of what category of pirate he was but found every trait had another that countered it. Obviously, he had no qualms with destroying property or stealing, but when they first met, he'd shown no real interest in taking her treasure. When she thought about it, he probably could've taken what she had without a second thought or any real resistance from her.

And as far as Devlin could tell, he hadn't shown even the tiniest bit of haughtiness that other pirates had shown. It was a common trait in most of the pirates who passed through Loguetown to reach Reverse Mountain. Most were pirates who deemed themselves above staying in the East Blue and wished to traverse the Grand Line. And the rest was a bunch of nobody assholes who found pleasure in harassing those below them.Buggy was neither of these. 

Buggy was neither of these. Instead of being arrogant or hotheaded, he seemed to be reserved. As if he knew exactly where he stood in the world and was simply waiting for the moment he could rise to new heights.

As the days went on, Devlin came to know Buggy as someone who thinks before he acts. From the way he spoke, stood, and even ate, it was as if he was ready for anything that could happen to happen. When he took care of his two patients, he did so carefully and with consideration to their condition. Even when he was met with fierce resistance from the delirious Fishman, he'd waited until he tired himself out before feeding him his gruel. But she was pretty sure even Buggy had his limits, as she noticed how Lilith began to enjoy semi-solid foods long before he did.

At the end of the day, she didn't know what kind of person Buggy truly was. But that wouldn't stop her from finding out. As for what she would do the day she does find out, she'd cross that bridge when she got there.

A serious topic the two had been debating for several days was whether or not to head into the Calm Belt. Buggy was under the impression that they'd be safe there as long as they laid low and avoided pissing off any passing Government or Navy ships. He may have also had an underlying aim to visit a certain island Rayleigh had told him about. An island perfect for preparing himself for his crew's eventual arrival in the Grand Line.

But a certain first mate of his had no desire to head into what was known around the world as the nesting grounds of the Sea Kings. But even after days of pleading with him to turn them around and head somewhere else, he wouldn't budge. She couldn't understand at all why heading into one of the most dangerous parts of the sea was a 'necessary measure.' She'd understood the fact that the marines would be after them for what happened back in Loguetown, but was seeking refuge in the Calm Belt necessary? Couldn't they just hide near the Conomi Islands?

Pretty soon all of her complaints and pleading had worn away at his patience and gotten to him. And one day, unable to tolerate anymore nagging about the subject, he'd snapped at her. They had been sitting in the kitchen, Lilith was usually still in bed at this hour, eating breakfast when Devlin once again brought up the subject of staying away from the Calm Belt. "Phhhhu~ Would you stop being so damn unreasonable about this! Going there is a stupid idea! There's an entire Blue we could hide out in rather than-"

CRASH! Buggy had thrown his cup of coffee across the room. "We are going to the Calm Belt. Period." She flinched at his cold tone. "We are on a ship we stole from the Nobles. Do you know what that means? Do you understand just how severe the repercussions will be if they catch us?" She was quiet. "The Nobles won't rest until they find whoever took this ship. If they catch us, we'll be getting off easy if they kill us. Going to the Calm Belt is our best chance at staying alive long enough to come up with a solid plan. I don't get what is so hard to understand about that!"

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Buggy walked towards the cabinets to get another cup for his coffee. As he moved around the kitchen, his voice grew softer, with an almost pleading tone. "I understand that you have no desire to go to the Calm Belt. I get it. There are Sea Kings everywhere, yes. But you have to understand three things. First: I'm the captain. I make the decisions on where we go and what we do when we get there. Second: What I do, I do for the good of my Nakama. Every decision I make, every word I speak, and every ass I kick is a calculated move that brings us one step closer to wherever the hell it is we're going."

Devlin felt like a child who was in the middle of being scolded by her parents as she felt a hot wash of shame and embarrassment cover her entire body. "Third: I appreciate you trying to steer us away from danger, but right now isn't the time or the place for you to try." He paused. "However, It may save our lives one day. So if you have something to say that you really think I should take into consideration... next time just, uh... say something...got it?" Buggy hoped he'd made his point. These little heart to hearts weren't his forte. Something he might have to work on if he wanted to be a good captain.

After that, Devlin didn't say a word about anything related to the Calm Belt. She wanted to avoid ever being talked to like that, by Buggy especially.

In the aftermath their argument, Buggy had decided that Devlin was in need of training. He thought that if she had the means to defend herself, she wouldn't have as many reservations about where he took them. The following day when he offered to train her, he was met with immediate acceptance.

Devlin was overjoyed that she would no longer be a liability. They hadn't run into any actual danger so far, but she was afraid that she'd only become a burden if they did. Her fighting skills were practically non-existent. If Buggy hadn't offered to train her, she would probably have asked him herself.

Buggy was practically raised in the Grand Line. And as such, he was used to Haki and other concepts that people from the Blues were not. He'd forgotten that Haki was not something Devlin was familiar with. Thus her reaction was different from the one he had expected.

He sat down on the ground in a meditative position with his legs crossed and his eyes closed. This was the easiest way for Buggy to get his Armament to cover his entire body. It wouldn't last long, but long enough to show Devlin what the result of her training would be like if she worked for it hard enough. He'd been unsure, at first, of how to handle training someone whose physique vastly differed his own. But after having time to think, he'd decided on doing what Ryleigh did to him, as cruelly ironic as it was.

Fighting someone whose strength vastly overpowers your own, albeit very painful and humiliating, allows you to slowly use said strength to guide you. It was how Roger and Rayleigh trained Shanks and Buggy during the three years they spent together. By the time Buggy and Shanks had been able to fend off a fifth of the two older men's attacks, they'd already become strong enough to enter the Grand Line with a crew of their own. A fact that they hadn't even noticed until Shanks put it together in a drunken haze.

Devlin, on the other hand, stood there as something black and shiny began creeping out from his back towards his face and stomach. The more it spread, the more Buggy seemed to tremble in what she could only imagine was pain. She honestly didn't know what to make of it. To Devlin, this thing was no longer Buggy. It made the hairs on her neck stand up, and she wanted to be as far away from it as possible.

As Buggy finished the process, he opened his eyes to find that Devlin was gone. Getting up, he furrowed his brows. "Devlin? Where'd you go?"

He sighed in frustration. 'How am I supposed to teach you if you're just going to leave?'

While Buggy was still in the room, Devlin was already halfway to the ship's infirmary. On her way there, she passed by Lilith's room. Not sure if whatever that thing was would come after the others, she locked the door. And also locked the Fishman's door once she came across his.

From another part of the ship, she heard Buggy calling her name. She needed to hurry.

Walking through the halls, he tried to steady his breathing using the technique Rayleigh had taught them about. Covering his body in Armament took a lot out of him, but was well worth it since it gave him full body armor. He'd just need to shorten the time it takes to do it. So far, he'd managed to get it done in thirty-five seconds.

So far, he'd managed to get it done in fifty-five seconds, which was a far cry from the minute and seventeen seconds it took him the first time he tried it. It was only a matter of time before he'd get it in under ten.

Most people only used Armament for a single limb; an arm, a leg, etc. But Buggy felt it was best, for him especially, to be able to do it all at once. He figured if he could get covering his entire body down, then doing the smaller things would be a lot easier. It was the long road to Haki mastery, even Roger had said so, but it was the one Buggy would take. In the end, he'd be all the more powerful for it.

Buggy was sure that Devlin would be able to learn all that he knew and probably more. Those who carry what she does usually live up to and sometimes beyond the expectations of others. At least, in his experience they did.

As he turned a corner, he heard fists pounding on a door. It was Lilith. ‘Why is she banging on the door?’ He found out why as he tried to turn the door handle but found it locked.

‘Did Devlin do this?’ He wondered why she would lock Lilith in her room, which brought to his attention another cause for concern.

“What kind of sadistic asshole built this ship?” The doors on the ship were designed to be locked and unlocked from the outside only. Which meant that the only way someone was leaving the room was if someone else let them out.

'I'm starting to get tired of all this sick shit the Nobles keep pulling As soon as we're in the Calm Belt, we're going straight to Outcast Island.' It was one of the few places in the world that existed outside of the Navy's control and away from the World Government's influence.

Once there, he could try and have the ship's appearance altered. He could also change the interior as well. By the time the shipwrights were finished with it, he nor anyone else would ever be able to tell that the ship once belonged to a Noble. Of course, that was only if it was able to be done. If not, he'd just take whatever wasn't nailed down and pay for a new ship. He was open to either option.

Impatient with the lock, he decided just to force it open. “Lilith, stand back!” She knocked twice on the door to signal she understood before retreating to the corner of the room. Lifting his foot and thrusting it forward, he kicked the door in and almost off of its hinges. Lilith jumped in surprise as a few splinters of wood flew in her direction

“Are you ok?” She nodded her head. “Stay here until I get back. I need to go find Devlin.” She tried to protest but could already hear his footsteps moving down out of the room and away from her.

"Stay here until I get back." she mocked. 'I'm blind, not an invalid' She stood up in a huff, brushing off any wood chips that might have been stuck on her. If he thought she'd just stay there and wait for him to come back, Buggy had another thing coming.