Chapter 103: His Name is Bon Clay
The Going Merry sailed smoothly across the vast blue sea, its sails catching the afternoon breeze as the sun cast golden reflections on the rippling waves. The Grand Line, unpredictable as always, seemed unusually calm for the moment. Seagulls cawed in the distance, and the rhythmic creak of the ship's wood added to the peaceful atmosphere.
Goku sat cross-legged on the deck, absorbed in a book that, to everyone's surprise, he was actually reading instead of just using as a pillow. His spiky black hair swayed slightly with the wind as his tail flicked lazily beside him. The sight of him reading was almost as rare as finding a calm day on the Grand Line, but there he was, flipping through the pages with quiet curiosity.
A few feet away, Usopp grunted as he lifted dumbbells, sweat dripping down his face. "C'mon… just a few more reps!" he encouraged himself. Zoro stood beside him, effortlessly lifting his own set of weights, barely breaking a sweat. "You should try lifting something heavier," Zoro commented, his usual smugness present. Usopp shot him a glare. "Easy for you to say, muscle freak!"
In the kitchen, Sanji was hard at work, the clatter of pots and pans filling the air. The rich aroma of spices, grilled fish, and fresh bread wafted through the ship, making stomachs grumble. He hummed to himself as he added the final touches to their lunch.
Inside her cabin, Nami leaned over her desk, carefully sketching new maps and charts. Her brow furrowed as she concentrated, the tip of her pen gliding over the parchment. With the seas constantly shifting, keeping accurate maps was a never-ending task.
On the deck, Vivi sat beside Chopper, helping him dry freshly picked herbs under the sun. Karoo, ever the faithful companion, flapped his wings frantically to keep the lighter leaves from flying away. "Hold still, Karoo!" Vivi giggled as she secured a few leaves that had escaped.
Suddenly, a voice called out from above.
"Oi! There's something in the ocean!"
Gin, standing atop the crow's nest, squinted into the distance, his hands shielding his eyes. The crew immediately turned their attention upward.
"What is it?" Zoro called out, standing up and resting his swords against his hip.
Gin frowned. "It's weird… there's fog rising from the ocean."
A heavy silence fell over the crew. Then—
Vivi paled. "It's them. Baroque Works! They've found us!" Her panic was immediate, her hands clenching the fabric of her dress.
"Calm down, Princess," Zoro said, gripping one of his swords instinctively.
The crew gathered at the front of the ship, peering into the horizon. A thick, white mist curled from the surface of the water, rising eerily into the sky. The sea around it bubbled, steaming as if it were boiling.
"W-What is that?!" Chopper stammered, his small hooves clutching the railing. His wide eyes turned to Nami for an answer.
Before she could respond, Goku casually flipped a page in his book and muttered, "It's just an underwater volcano."
The simple explanation caught everyone off guard.
Chopper blinked. "A volcano? Underwater?"
Nami took a deep breath, steadying herself before launching into an explanation. "Yes, underwater volcanoes form along tectonic plate boundaries. When magma escapes from cracks in the ocean floor, it cools and solidifies, slowly building up over time. The heat from the lava causes the surrounding water to boil and produce steam, which is what we're seeing now."
Chopper's eyes widened with fascination."So you must know a lot of things don't you Nami?"
Nami's had a slight blush to her face at his words."So there are more volcanoes under the ocean than on land." She said. "In fact, most of the Earth's volcanic activity happens underwater. The lava usually cools before it reaches the surface, but if enough builds up over time…"
Goku, still reading, chimed in nonchalantly, "In a few thousand years, there'll be an island here."
The crew stared at him.
Nami smirked. "For once, you're not wrong."
The Going Merry continued sailing through the thick steam, the mist curling around its hull like ghostly tendrils. The temperature rose slightly, and the wooden planks felt warmer beneath their feet. But after a few minutes, they finally emerged from the other side, the air clearing to reveal the bright blue sky once more.
"Whew, that was weird," Usopp muttered, wiping sweat from his brow.
Zoro frowned. "Wait. Does anyone else feel like… we're not alone?"
The crew turned—and their eyes widened.
Standing in the middle of the deck was a man—tall, oddly dressed, and looking just as confused as they were.
He had somehow appeared on the ship.
His attire was nothing like anything they had seen before, a mix of unfamiliar colors and patterns. His expression was just as baffled as theirs, his stance unsure, as if he had no idea how he had gotten there.
"Who the hell is that?!" Sanji exclaimed, pointing a spatula at him.
The crew took defensive positions, ready for anything.
The strange man looked around, blinking at their confused and wary expressions.
"…Uh," he finally spoke. "Where am I?"
The ship rocked gently on the ocean as the crew stood frozen, staring at the bizarre man who had somehow appeared on deck.
He was tall and slender, wearing an extravagant pink fur coat draped over his shoulders. His curled black eyebrows and long, exaggerated eyelashes framed his dramatic face, and his blue ruffled shirt clashed wildly with the white tights that clung to his legs. With a flourish, he struck a flamboyant pose, one hand on his hip, the other raised high.
"Fufufu~! Fear not, my dear sailors! For I am Bon Clay!"
His voice was theatrical, loud, and full of confidence. Usopp and Nami blinked at each other, already sensing that this man was… different.
Bon Clay dusted off his coat with exaggerated grace. "I was on a nearby ship, passing through the same waters, when I saw the fog rising! Naturally, I *had* to investigate! But alas! In my excitement, I got a bit lost in the steam and—" he waved his hands dramatically "—I ended up here! A most *tragic* mistake, but fear not! I shan't be a bother!"
He laughed it off, twirling in place like a stage performer.
Usopp sweatdropped. "That's a pretty big mistake, don't you think?"
"Who the hell is this weirdo?" Zoro muttered.
Nami sighed, already massaging her temples. "Why do we always attract the *strangest* people?"
Bon Clay turned toward them, flashing a charming smile. "But tell me, my dear friends! Where are you all headed?"
Sanji, stepping out from the kitchen briefly, casually answered, "Alabasta."
Bon Clay gasped, pressing a hand to his chest. "What a coincidence! I too am on my way to Alabasta! Oh, how *fabulous* the world is, to bring strangers together like this!"
He clapped his hands together, twirling in place before dramatically pointing at them. "Worry not! Just call for my crew and they shall come to retrieve me! I would hate to be an *inconvenience* to such a lovely group!"
The crew collectively sighed in relief at his willingness to leave so easily.
"Alright, fine," Nami agreed, rolling her eyes. "We'll call your ship."
Throughout this entire encounter, Goku had not reacted much at all. He had merely glanced up at Bon Clay, given him a brief once-over, then turned back to his book. His tail flicked idly behind him as he continued reading about the infamous liar from the North Blue.
Bon Clay, meanwhile, was already laughing and playing around with Usopp and Chopper. The childish nature of the man fit in surprisingly well with their usual antics. He leaped from one foot to the other in an exaggerated dance, making Usopp and Chopper mimic his movements while laughing.
"Fufufu~! You two are quite fun!" Bon Clay praised. "But! Let me show you *something amazing!*"
Before anyone could react—
**SMACK!**
Bon Clay slapped Usopp *hard* across the face, sending him crashing into the mast.
The crew immediately tensed, hands going to weapons. "Oi! What the fuck was that for?!" Zoro snapped, hand already on his sword.
Sanji cracked his knuckles. "You wanna start something, huh?"
Bon Clay held up his hands. "Calm yourselves, my handsome friends! That was merely *a demonstration!*"
Everyone stopped as they saw it—Bon Clay's entire face and body shifted. His long eyelashes shortened, his nose stretched out, and his entire appearance morphed until—
He was *Usopp*.
Voice and all.
"W-WHAT THE HELL?!" Usopp screamed, staring at his own doppelgänger.
"Fufufu~! My dear friends, I have the powers of the *Mane Mane no Mi*!" Bon Clay declared, twirling dramatically. "With a single touch, I can copy a person's *face, body, and voice* perfectly!"
Everyone except Goku was absolutely amazed by this ability.
Bon Clay then strutted up to Zoro, placing a hand on his cheek. In an instant, he transformed into Zoro, copying his green hair, scar, and even his muscle tone. "Ugh," he grumbled, suddenly embodying Zoro's personality, "I feel like I should take a nap or something."
Then he transformed into Gin. "Grr, I hate smiling," he said in Gin's gruff tone, mimicking his usual demeanor perfectly.
Next, he placed a hand on Vivi. Within moments, he had transformed into her exact likeness, hair, dress, and all. "Oh no!" he mimicked her voice perfectly.
The crew laughed while Vivi pouted.
Bon Clay then moved to Chopper and touched his cheek, suddenly becoming the small reindeer in a flash. "Doctor! Doctor! I need help!" he shouted in a perfect Chopper impression.
Finally, he placed a hand on Nami's face. Within seconds, he was her mirror image. "Oh no, I think I'm going to *charge* you all for breathing the air on this ship!"
"HEY!" Nami shouted, stomping her foot.
Bon Clay placed a hand on his hip. "But wait! It's not just the face and voice, but also the *body!*"
He grinned and was about to open the front of his shirt to reveal Nami's *ahem* assets—
But before he could, Goku appeared out of thin air and clamped Bon Clay's hands shut.
"Don't even think about it," Goku said, voice firm.
Usopp and Gin groaned. "Awwwww! We wanted to see that!!"
Goku turned to Usopp. "Go see Kaya's tits."
Gin sighed. "I *don't* have a girl like all of you…"
Goku shrugged. "That's not an excuse to see *my* woman's tits."
Nami blushed slightly at that, her lips twitching into a small smirk. "Thanks, Goku." She moved to hug him—
But he dodged.
Before she could react, he had already returned to his chair, reading again.
Bon Clay rubbed his wrists, glancing at Goku with serious contemplation. That speed. That reaction time. That *strength.* This wasn't an ordinary man.
Goku glanced at Gin. "Find some girls."
Gin grumbled.
"Look at the *second* biggest pervert on the ship." Goku gestured toward the kitchen. The sounds of humming and the occasional dreamy sigh about "beautiful women" could be heard. "He's enjoying himself."
Gin turned toward the kitchen. "…Sanji?"
Zoro blinked in confusion. "Wait, if *Sanji* is the second biggest pervert… who's the first?"
Goku grinned widely.
"Me, of course."
Before anyone could react, he jumped at Nami, grabbed her from behind, and fondled her massive oppai.
"GOKU YOU SON OF A—!!"
Before she could punch him, he had already vanished back into his seat.
He smirked at Zoro. "You can bring girls to the crew, but they won't be *mine.*" He paused. "Speaking of which, that Tashigi girl from Logue Town…"
Zoro visibly tensed.
Goku grinned. "You two had a connection."
Zoro's eyes burned with a quiet, pained intensity as Goku's teasing words about Tashigi and their connection echoed in his ears. In that charged moment, his mind involuntarily wandered back to Kuina—the fierce, steadfast woman who had once been so much more than a comrade. The uncanny similarity in Tashigi's determined gaze and Kuina's resolute eyes sent a shudder through him. Every graceful tilt of Tashigi's head, every subtle flash of a smile, was a bittersweet reminder of what he had lost. Beneath his usual stoic façade, Zoro wrestled with a torrent of emotions: longing, regret, and an unspoken promise that the memory of Kuina would never fade. Her presence still haunted the silent spaces of his heart, stirring up feelings he'd long tried to bury, and he could not help but wonder if fate was drawing him closer to that irreplaceable past.
Nami, still fuming grabbed a lounge chair and threw it at Goku's head.
WHACK!
Goku just rubbed the back of his head and kept reading.
Meanwhile, Vivi stood at the railing, watching Goku. Vivi lingered at the railing, watching Goku with a conflicted heart. For the past two nights, their encounters had been intimate yet strangely transactional—a nightly union that left her questioning every whispered touch and silent promise. While Goku had spent those nights with her, he never spoke of her as his woman, reserving such words for Nami, a fact that cut deep. It pained her to think that he might be treating their closeness as nothing more than a temporary arrangement until they reached Alabasta tomorrow—sometime tomorrow, no less. The looming final night before their arrival weighed heavily on her, a bittersweet farewell to what might have been more than just a contractual intimacy. In the quiet of the twilight, Vivi's thoughts churned with doubt and desire: Did she truly want him for herself, or was she clinging to the hope of genuine affection even as her duty to halt the rebels beckoned? Amid the gentle lapping of the waves against the hull, she wondered if the warmth of their stolen moments might ever transform into something real, or if she was destined to remain forever torn between longing and obligation.
Her mind swirled with emotions.
Tomorrow, they'd reach Alabasta.
And after that…
Would he even want her to stay?
[A/N: Can't wait to see what happens next? Get exclusive early access on patreon.com/saiyanprincenovels. If you enjoyed this chapter and want to see more, don't forget to drop a power stone! Your support helps this story reach more readers!]