The Going Merry sailed through calm waters under the blazing sun, leaving Drum Island far behind them. Chopper sat on the deck, still getting used to his new crewmates, while the others tried their luck at fishing.
"Come on, bite already!" Luffy groaned, dangling his fishing rod over the side.
Usopp adjusted his line nearby. "Patience, Luffy. Good things come to those who wait."
Vivi stood at the bow, watching the horizon with a troubled expression. "We should reach Alabasta soon," she said quietly. "But I'm worried about what we'll find there."
Rouge glanced up from where he was lounging in the shade. "Still thinking about Crocodile?"
"The people see him as a hero," Vivi explained, her voice heavy with concern. "He's built up this image of protecting Alabasta from pirates. No one suspects he's actually planning to destroy the kingdom from within."
Nami frowned. "That makes things harder. If the people trust him..."
"We'll figure it out," Luffy said confidently, not taking his eyes off his fishing line.
Suddenly, the sea around them began to steam and bubble. The temperature spiked dramatically.
"What the hell?!" Sanji shouted from the kitchen door, feeling the heat wave hit him.
"It's a hot spot!" Vivi called out. "An underwater volcano!"
The water grew so hot it looked like a giant hot spring. Steam rose in thick clouds around the ship.
"This is so weird!" Chopper exclaimed, backing away from the railing.
That's when Usopp and Luffy's fishing lines went taut simultaneously.
"I got something big!" Luffy yelled.
"Me too!" Usopp added, struggling with his rod.
They pulled together, and something large broke the surface of the steaming water. It was a person - a tall, lanky figure in a pink coat and ballet outfit.
Luffy and Usopp's eyes bulged out at the same time as realization hit them.
"IIIIIIIT'S OKAMAAAAA!!!" they screamed in unison, pointing dramatically at Bon Clay like they'd just seen a ghost.
"What the—" Zoro started, but the stranger landed gracefully on their deck.
Bon Clay dropped to his knees, panting heavily and fanning himself with one elegant hand. "Ohh, thank you, my darlings, for rescuing me from that dreadful hot pot of doom! As a token of my gratitude…" —he clasped his hands together dramatically— "please, someone fetch me a hot bowl of soup!"
"We're starving too, you idiot!" Zoro roared from the side, veins popping on his forehead.
Luffy tilted his head curiously. "Wait, you can't swim, huh?"
Bon Clay gasped, clutching his chest in mock offense. "How dare you underestimate me! Allow me to demonstrate something far more impressive!" He reached out, tapping Luffy's cheek with his right hand. "Watch closely, mon ami!"
A shimmer rippled across his face—and suddenly, another Luffy stood before them, grinning with the exact same wide-eyed expression.
"Whaaaat?! It's me!" Luffy shouted, pointing at his doppelgänger in pure disbelief.
Bon Clay spun on one toe, striking a pose. "Indeed! I am the magnificent Bon Clay, user of the Mane Mane no Mi! With just one touch, I can become anyone I please!"
Usopp's jaw hit the floor. "So you're a shapeshifting Okama who can't swim?"
Bon Clay winked. "Fabulous, isn't it?"
The crew stared at him in bewilderment. He had an odd face with heavy makeup and moved with exaggerated ballet gestures.
"I am the beautiful swan!" he announced with a flourish. "But you can call me Bon Clay!"
"A talking swan!" Luffy's eyes lit up with excitement.
Bon Clay began dancing around the deck, entertaining the crew with his flamboyant movements. Despite his strange appearance, his cheerful personality was infectious.
"SUGOI!" Luffy shouted.
"That's incredible!" Usopp gasped.
Bon Clay laughed and shifted again, this time copying Zoro's scarred face. "I can become anyone I've touched with my right hand!"
He continued his demonstration, morphing between Nami, and Usopp. The crew watched in amazement as he perfectly mimicked not just their faces but their voices too.
"How does that even work?" Chopper whispered.
"Devil Fruit power," Rouge said quietly, but his expression had grown serious.
Bon Clay spun toward Rouge with his arms outstretched. "Now let me try you, red-hair!"
Before he could make contact, Rouge's foot shot out, connecting with Bon Clay's stomach and sending him crashing into the ship's railing.
"ROUGE!" Nami shouted in shock.
"What the hell, freak?" Sanji demanded.
Bon Clay groaned from where he'd landed. "That... hurt..."
Luffy and Usopp stared at their red-haired crewmate. "Huh? What happened?" they said in unison.
Rouge stood calmly, his expression serious for once. "Luffy-san, take a good look at him. He's weird and touchy with you guys. Think about what he could do with your appearance."
Nami's face paled as the implications hit her. Dark lines appeared around her eyes as she imagined the possibilities.
"What do you mean?" Luffy asked, still confused.
"Ohhh... ahhh..." Usopp's mouth fell open as understanding dawned.
Chopper looked between them nervously. "What do you mean, Rouge-san?"
Rouge sighed. "Luffy, what if he becomes a Marine using your body? Your bounty could disappear, or worse - they could frame you for crimes you didn't commit."
Luffy's head tilted as he processed this. "Ahhh..." Then his expression darkened and he punched his palm. "That's not good at all!"
Before anyone could react, Luffy's fist connected with the recovering Bon Clay, sending him sliding across the deck again.
"Ow! Why is everyone hitting me?" Bon Clay whined.
Rouge glanced toward the horizon and spotted something that made his expression grow grim. "Well, this complicates things. Look there."
A ship was approaching rapidly, flying a flag with a swan design.
Vivi's eyes widened in sudden realization. Her voice carried a sharp edge of recognition.
"Wait—that face…! He's Mr. 2… from Baroque Works!"
Nami instantly turned toward her, shock flashing across her face.
"WHAT?!" she yelled, eyes darting between Vivi and Bon Clay.
Luffy just tilted his head. "Eh? But he dances funny."
Rouge chuckled darkly. "It must have been rough living with this kind of memory, runaway princess."
A tick mark appeared on Vivi's forehead. "You know, you're really annoying."
Rouge smiled innocently. "Oh, that's true."
Usopp looked nervously between the approaching ship and Bon Clay. "Um, guys, what should we do? His ship is coming."
Rouge raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? Just fire cannons. You are a pirate, Long Nose."
"Yeah, come on!" Luffy agreed enthusiastically.
That's when Sanji emerged from the kitchen, wiping his hands on his apron. "Just come eat, lunch is ready. Now come... huh? What's going on?"
"Oh, Mosshead, look! Your sleeping princess woke up," Rouge commented.
Rouge ducked smoothly as both a kick from Sanji and a sword swing from Zoro came his way.
"Okay, okay, you guys! Jeez, get a room already," he said with a grin.
Nami, Vivi, and Usopp burst into laughter at the comment.
Meanwhile, Luffy had already run to one of the cannons and grabbed a cannonball. "Hehe, fire!" He launched it with enthusiasm, though the ball sailed harmlessly past the approaching ship's front deck.
"Huh? I missed?" Luffy said, tilting his head.
Usopp watched with his jaw dropped. "Did Luffy just fire a perfect warning shot?"
"He did," Nami observed. "He's really growing, look at that."
Luffy suddenly cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted toward the other ship: "Give me meat, you bastards!"
Rouge glanced at Nami. "Are you saying something, Nami-san?"
"Nope, forget I said anything," she replied quickly.
"What are you guys waiting for? Just go, or should I blast the ship myself?" Rouge asked casually.
"Just blast it, freak," Zoro said without hesitation.
Rouge's eyes lit up with excitement. "Oh, Luffy-san, do you want fireworks?"
"Fireworks? Yes! Where?" Luffy spun around with stars in his eyes.
Rouge pulled out his bow and began forming an arrow of pure fire magic in his hand. The spell crackled with energy as he notched it.
"Wait, it's only one ship, Rouge!" Usopp scrambled backward, watching the arrow grow brighter and brighter.
Zoro observed the magical energy building. "This guy's gone crazy."
"Did he finally lose his head?" Sanji muttered.
Nami was already hiding behind Usopp. "Ahhh, that looks dangerous!"
Luffy watched with complete fascination, stars practically shooting from his eyes. "OHHHH!"
Rouge drew the bowstring back further, pouring more magical power into the arrow until it shone like a miniature sun. The very air around it seemed to warp from the heat and energy.
"Um, Rouge? That seems like overkill..." Chopper squeaked.
But Rouge had already released the string.
The fire arrow screamed across the water like a comet, leaving a trail of flames in its wake. It struck the approaching ship dead center.
For a moment, the sea went completely silent.
Then - BOOOOOOMMMMM!
The explosion was tremendous. A massive fireball erupted where the ship had been, sending debris flying in all directions. The shockwave hit the Going Merry, causing it to rock violently in the suddenly churning waters.
When the smoke cleared, nothing remained but floating wooden splinters. Not a single person could be seen in the water.
The crew stood in stunned silence, staring at the destruction.
"Oops," Rouge said casually, lowering his bow. "My bad."
"MY BAD?!" Nami shrieked.
☆☆☆☆☆
AUTHOR NOTES:
So about the chapter releases—yeah, they might be a bit slow, like one every 2–3 days. I'm kinda busy these days, and this story is just a fun little escape for me. Hope you guys don't mind the pace.