Chapter 20: The Clown's Challenge

  Luffy and Zoro walked through the ruined streets of Orange Town without a single gnce back. Nami had found a pce to hide, tucked away in the shadows of a colpsed building, her eyes watching them go with an expression that mixed hope and doubt in equal measure. She'd argued at first, insisted on coming, but Luffy had been firm. This part was for him and Zoro. She'd done enough.

  The Drinker's Pub rose ahead of them, a two-story structure that had somehow survived the bombardment that fttened half the town. Its windows were dark, its doors closed, but movement flickered behind the gss. Shadows of men. Sounds of ughter and shouting.

  Luffy stopped in the middle of the street, maybe fifty yards from the building, and pnted his feet.

  Zoro stood beside him, hands resting on his swords, scanning the windows and rooftops with practiced eyes. "This is it?"

  "This is it." Luffy grinned. "Our official start as pirates."

  "How's that different from everything else we've done?"

  "Everything else was survival. This is piracy." Luffy spread his arms wide, taking in the ruined town, the hidden survivors, the building full of enemies. "Going up against fellow pirates for treasure and women. This is what it's all about."

  Zoro sighed. "You're gonna bring up women in every conversation, aren't you?"

  "Only the important ones."

  "That's all of them."

  "Exactly."

  Zoro shook his head, but there was no real irritation in it. Just the resigned acceptance of a man who'd already accepted his fate.

  Luffy cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted toward the pub.

  "OI! BUGGY! COME OUT HERE, YOU BIG-NOSED CLOWN!"

  Silence.

  The building went still. The shadows behind the windows stopped moving.

  Luffy tried again. "HEY! RED NOSE! I'M TALKING TO YOU! THE ONE WITH THE FUNNY HAIR AND THE STUPID FACE!"

  Zoro raised an eyebrow. "That's your strategy?"

  "Insults work on guys like this. You'll see."

  Movement exploded inside the pub. Shouting. Furniture crashing. The sound of multiple bodies scrambling for position.

  The front door burst open.

  Buggy the Clown stormed out with the fury of a man who'd heard the one thing he couldn't ignore. His blue and white striped pants fshed in the sunlight. His bare chest caught the glint of afternoon. His face, painted in red and white, twisted with rage that would have been terrifying if not for the bulbous red nose sitting square in the middle of it.

  "WHO SAID THAT? WHO CALLED ME…" He stopped dead when he saw Luffy and Zoro standing in the street. His eyes narrowed. "You. You're the ones who beat up my men earlier. The ones with the girl."

  "That's right!" Luffy waved cheerfully. "Hi, big nose!"

  Buggy's face went through several shades of purple. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!"

  Behind him, his crew poured out of the pub like clowns from a circus car. Mohji the Beast Tamer emerged first, whip in hand, his massive lion Richie padding along beside him with teeth bared and eyes gleaming. Cabaji the Acrobat followed, unicycle already in position, scarves flowing, daggers glinting at his belt. Then came the rest… dozens of them, pouring out to fill the street. The Tightrope Walking Funan Brothers with their mismatched appearances and cocky grins. The Superhuman Domingos with their bulging muscles and loyal scowls. The Acrobatic Fuwas in their jester hats and bright colors. And behind them, rank after rank of unnamed pirates, armed with swords and clubs and pistols, all of them wearing the same murderous expressions.

  Zoro counted quickly. "That's a lot."

  Luffy's grin widened. "Good."

  Buggy strode forward, his crew parting to let him through. He stopped at the front, hands on his hips, red nose gleaming in the sun.

  "I don't know who you think you are, you little brat, but you've made a serious mistake. This is MY town. MY territory. Those idiots you beat up were MY crew." He jabbed a finger at Luffy. "And that map you stole from us? That belongs to ME!"

  Luffy tilted his head. "Map? Oh, you mean the one the girl has?"

  "Give it back, and maybe… MAYBE… I'll only kill you slowly."

  Zoro's hand tightened on his sword.

  Luffy ughed. Actually ughed, loud and carefree, the sound echoing off the ruined buildings.

  "You think this is funny?" Buggy's voice rose. "I'll show you funny! I'll detach every part of my body and beat you to death with my own severed limbs! I'll…"

  "Hey, red nose."

  Buggy's eye twitched. "What did you call me?"

  "Red nose. Big red nose. Huge red nose. Did you lose a fight with a tomato and it stuck to your face? Is that why you're so angry all the time? Because you look ridiculous?"

  The crew went dead silent.

  Buggy's face cycled through colors that shouldn't exist on a human. His fists clenched. His whole body shook.

  "KILL THEM!" he screamed. "KILL THEM BOTH! RIP THEM APART AND FEED THE PIECES TO RICHIE!"

  Mohji cracked his whip. "Come on, Richie! Dinner time!"

  The lion roared, a sound that shook windows and sent birds fleeing from distant rooftops.

  Cabaji spun his unicycle, daggers appearing in both hands. "I'll take the swordsman. He looks like he might actually be fun."

  The rest of the crew surged forward, weapons raised, battle cries tearing from dozens of throats.

  Zoro drew his swords, one in each hand, the third in his mouth. "You ready for this?"

  Luffy stretched his arms wide, rubber muscles coiling like springs.

  "Born ready."

  The first wave of pirates reached them.

  Luffy's fists shot out like cannonballs, sending three men flying into the side of a building. Zoro's bdes fshed in the sun, and four more crumpled, cut but not killed, Luffy's orders echoing in his strikes.

  The real fight had begun.