**Chapter 7: Pirate King Buggy**
The sea stretched endlessly under the afternoon sun, their small(Medium?)boat cutting through gentle waves. Luffy lounged at the bow, straw hat tilted low over his eyes, while Ace leaned against the mast, absently flipping a knife between his fingers. Zoro was mid-kata nearby, his swords flashing in practiced arcs, completely focused on his training.
Ace waited until Zoro was fully engrossed in his drills before speaking in a low voice.
"Orange Town next."
Luffy's lips curled into a grin beneath his hat. "Shishishi. Yeah let's go crew."
Ace's eyes flicked toward Zoro, making sure he was out of earshot. "We need to be careful about what we say around the others."
Luffy stretched his arms lazily. "I know, I know. No future talk."
"Not just that," Ace muttered. "If we slip up too much, they'll start asking questions we can't answer and i know i won't slip up but you are let's say a bit....Challenged."
Luffy finally lifted his hat to look at Ace. "What is that supposed to mean? I don't know about others But we *have* to get Nami."
Ace exhaled through his nose. "I know her navigation skills are the best in these seas But we can't just walk up to her and say, *'Hey, we know you're working for Arlong, wanna join us anyway and we will take care of Arlong for you?'*"
Luffy pouted. "Why not?"
"Because," Ace hissed, "Normal people don't know that. At all.I understand maybe doing this will be better but we have to maintain our secrecy and even then in the orginal the only thing that greatly affected Nami was her stab in her own shoulder so we can just avoid that."
Luffy scratched his head. "Huh. Yeah, that makes sense."
Ace pinched the bridge of his nose. "We have to play this smart. Let things happen like they're supposed to—just... nudge them in the right direction."
Luffy's grin returned. "So, we beat up Buggy, save the town, and Nami *has* to join us!"
Ace rolled his eyes. "It's not that simple. She's going to try to screw us over the first chance she gets."
Luffy shrugged. "Then we don't give her the chance."
Ace opened his mouth and said "...That's actually not the worst idea and all these won't affect us."
Luffy beamed. "See? I *can* be smart!"
Ace snorted. "Don't push it."
Nearby, Zoro finished his kata, sheathing his swords with a sharp *click*. He turned toward them, wiping sweat from his brow. "You two planning something?"
Ace immediately shifted, his expression smoothing into something more casual. "Just talking about supplies. This boat's too small for three people, let alone more."
Zoro frowned. "More?"
Luffy jumped in. "Yeah! We're gonna get a bigger crew!"
Zoro's eyes narrowed slightly. "You say that like you already know who's joining."
Ace and Luffy exchanged a glance.
Luffy laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "Nah, just hoping!"
Zoro didn't look convinced, but he let it drop.
---
### **Orange Town – A Clown's Worst Day**
Befor arriving to the town,
"Buggy huh. Just few days into our journey and we are dealing with a Future Yonko. We have to be Careful Ace or else we might die."said Luffy in a not-trying-to-laugh-out-loud face.
"Ah, yes the man who will be the Pirate King by just BS and pure luck."said Ace with a smile
Yes both of them Jason and Daniel believe that one way or another for just even a day the world of One Piece would take Buggy as the Pirate King and seeing how the story is going it seems.....plausible.
"Anyways this is gonna be fun"
"Sure it is"
The town was in ruins when they arrived. Smoke curled from collapsed buildings, and the distant sound of laughter—*manic, grating laughter*—echoed through the streets.
They moved through the wreckage, following the sound of chaos until they reached the town square. There, perched atop a pile of rubble, was Buggy the Clown, his blue hair wild, his grin wider than his face.
"Fools! This town now belongs to the GREAT CAPTAIN BUGGY!"
Ace sighed. "Ahh he is already annoying me his mouth is moving too much ."
Luffy cracked his knuckles. "Let's fix that."
Before Zoro could ask what they meant, Luffy *moved*.
**"Gomu Gomu no... PISTOL!"**
His fist rocketed forward, slamming into Buggy's chest—
—and passing *straight through*.
Buggy's torso separated, his upper half floating in midair as his legs stumbled back.
Zoro's eyes widened. "What the—?!"
Buggy cackled. "Fool! My Chop-Chop Fruit makes me invincible!"
Ace sighed. "Oh no. Whatever will we do." Very 'scared'
Luffy pouted. "Ace, you're not helping."
Buggy's grin faltered. "You—you're not scared?!"
Ace rolled his shoulders. "Nah. We've seen worse and will definitely do worse."
Luffy nodded. "Yeah! Like that one guy with the—"
Ace *kicked* him in the shin.
"OW! What was that for?!"
"Shut *up*," Ace hissed.
Buggy, now thoroughly offended, snapped his fingers. "KILL THEM!"
His crew surged forward.
What followed wasn't a fight.
It was a *massacre.*
Ace moved like fire, his fists and sword a blur, dropping pirates left and right. Luffy bounced between enemies, laughing as he sent them flying. Zoro, though caught off guard, adapted quickly, his blades cutting through the rabble with ease.
Buggy, watching his crew get dismantled, started sweating. "H-Hey now, let's talk about this—"
Ace grabbed him by the collar. "Nah. We're done talking."
Luffy stretched his arms around Buggy's limbs. "Clown toss?"
Ace grinned. "Clown toss."
They spun him like a top before launching him into the horizon.
"WAAAAAAAAH—!"
**SPLASH.** (On a place far away)
Silence.
(May the future Pirate King Survive)
---
### **The Reluctant Navigator**
Nami had watched the entire thing from the shadows, her fingers tightening around her stolen map. These pirates... they were *strong*. Too strong. She had to be careful or else they could just kill her.
And now they were walking *right toward her.*
She ducked behind a wall, heart pounding. *Just let them pass, just let them—*
"Hey, orange-hair!"
She stiffened. *How did he—?!*
Luffy popped his head around the corner, grinning. "Hi!"
Nami forced a smile. "H-Hi...?"
Ace leaned against the wall beside her. "You're a navigator, right?You must be,you are alone and you are definitely not from here and you have a map and a compass in that bag of yours"
Her blood ran cold. "W-What? No! I'm just and how did you know about the things insidemy bag-"
"You stole from Buggy," Ace said flatly. "We saw you.You Stole a Map so you steal from Pirates. You are a theif"
Nami's mind raced. *Play dumb. Play dumb.* "I don't know what you're talking about!"
Luffy tilted his head. "But we *saw* you."
Nami's eye twitched. *These idiots...*
Ace crossed his arms. "Call us that again and you will be on Buggy's Place and unlike him your body can be ripped apart quite humanly.Look, we need a navigator. You're good at maps. Join us."
Luffy slapped him in the back.
"Hey-"
"What my brother meant was. Let's be respectful and join our crew."
Nami blinked(scared af). "...What?"
Luffy nodded. "Yeah! Join our crew !"
Nami stared. This... wasn't how pirate recruitment usually went. "I—I can't just—"
Ace cut her off. "We'll pay you."
Nami's protest died in her throat. "...How much?"
Ace smirked. "Enough."
Nami hesitated. This was *too* easy. But... if they were strong enough to take down Buggy that easily, maybe she could use them.
"...Fine. But I'm *not* a pirate."
Luffy beamed. "Great! Welcome aboard!"
Ace muttered under his breath, "Great this time we have to make sure to get Sanji and help her and her villagewithout hurting anyone else."
---
### **Setting Sail – To Usopp**
As the boat left Orange Town behind, Nami sat as far from the others as possible, her mind racing. These pirates were *weird*. They fought like monsters, talked like they knew things they shouldn't, and now they'd just... *recruited* her?
Something wasn't right.
Meanwhile, Ace and Luffy huddled at the bow, speaking in hushed tones.
"Zoro and other crew member will be suspicious in the future if we act like this," Ace muttered.
Luffy shrugged. "I don't think so. We just have to keep a Facade of all knowing beings."
Ace shot him a look. "We can't keep this up forever. Eventually, someone's gonna *notice*."
Luffy grinned. "Then we'll cross that bridge when we get to it!"
Ace groaned. "That's *not* a plan."
Luffy stretched, yawning. "It's worked so far!"
Ace didn't respond, his eyes drifting to the horizon.
*Yeah. For now.*
But how long until their secrets caught up to them?
**(Chapter 7 End – Word Count: 1,453)**