A small boat drifting through calm waters.
The salty breeze filled the air as Luffy sat cross-legged at the front of the small boat, his straw hat tilted against the sun. Zoro leaned back, arms crossed, while Coby nervously clung to the side, still adjusting to the constant rocking of the waves.
"So, where are we heading?" Zoro asked, breaking the silence.
Luffy grinned, pointing ahead. "To the next adventure, of course! I heard there's a town nearby. Maybe we'll find some food."
"And trouble," Zoro muttered, though there was a hint of amusement in his tone.
Coby hesitated. "Uh... guys? I'm not sure about this. Shouldn't we avoid causing more problems? The Marines might still be after us because of what happened in Shells Town!"
Luffy waved him off. "If they come, I'll just beat them up again."
Coby sighed. "That's... not exactly comforting
Arrival at Orange Town
By late afternoon, they reached a bustling harbor. Orange Town was lively, its cobblestone streets filled with merchants and townsfolk. But as they walked deeper into the town, the atmosphere grew tense. Shops were shuttered, and whispers of fear filled the air.
"What's going on here?" Zoro asked, glancing around.
"I don't know," Coby replied nervously. "But everyone looks scared."
"Let's find out," Luffy said, his curiosity piqued.
Meeting Nami
As they wandered through the eerily quiet streets, a loud crash drew their attention. Turning a corner, they saw a young woman with bright orange hair darting out of a shop, clutching a bag of treasure. Behind her, a group of Buggy Pirates burst out, shouting curses.
"Get back here, you thief!" one pirate yelled, waving a sword.
The woman spotted Luffy and Zoro and made a beeline for them. "Hey, you two! Help me out, will ya?"
Luffy tilted his head. "Why?"
"No time to explain!" she hissed, shoving the bag into Luffy's hands. "Just run!"
Before they could respond, the pirates surrounded them.
"Well, well," the leader sneered, eyeing the group. "Looks like we've got some new victims. Hand over the loot, and maybe we won't gut you."
Luffy's grin widened. "You want it? Come and take it."
The Fight
The pirates lunged, but Luffy was faster. With a burst of speed, he dodged their attacks, weaving effortlessly between them. His Observation Haki flared, allowing him to predict their movements.
One pirate swung his sword, but Luffy ducked and countered with a Haki-infused punch that sent the man flying.
Zoro drew his swords, a sharp grin on his face. "Guess it's my turn."
In a flurry of motion, Zoro cut through the remaining pirates with precision, disarming them without killing anyone.
Within moments, the fight was over. The pirates lay groaning on the ground, their weapons scattered.
The woman, who had been watching from a safe distance, approached cautiously. "Not bad," she admitted. "You two are pretty strong."
Luffy handed her the bag of treasure. "You dropped this."
She blinked, surprised. "You're giving it back? Most people would've kept it."
"I don't need it," Luffy said simply. "I'm just looking for a good crew."
She raised an eyebrow. "A crew? You're pirates?"
"Yep! I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!"
The woman stared at him for a moment before laughing. "You're serious, aren't you?"
"Of course!" Luffy replied, his grin never faltering.
"Well, good luck with that," she said, turning to leave. "But if you're planning to stick around, you'd better watch out for Buggy. He doesn't take kindly to strangers."
"Who's Buggy?" Luffy asked.
She paused, glancing back. "The guy who runs this town-and trust me, you don't want to mess with him."
Buggy's Arrival
As if on cue, a deafening explosion rocked the town. Smoke rose from the center square, and the sound of maniacal laughter echoed through the streets.
"Looks like he found us," the woman muttered.
"What do you mean?" Coby asked, his voice trembling.
"I mean Buggy doesn't let anyone get away with stealing from him," she replied, gripping the bag tighter. "If you're smart, you'll run."
Luffy's grin only grew wider. "Sounds like fun. Let's go meet him."
"You're insane," she said, shaking her head. "But if you're really that eager to die, don't say I didn't warn you."
Setting the Stage for Battle
The group followed the smoke to the town square, where Buggy the Clown stood surrounded by his crew. His wild blue hair and red nose gave him a comical appearance, but the menace in his eyes was unmistakable.
"So, you're the thieves who think they can outsmart me," Buggy sneered, his voice dripping with venom.
Luffy stepped forward, his straw hat casting a shadow over his face. "You're Buggy, huh? I heard you're strong. Let's see if it's true."
Buggy's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with madness. "You're going to regret challenging me, brat. I'll show you why they call me Buggy the Clown!"
End of Chapter.