The rain pelted against the rooftop as Goku and Bulma landed on top of the Loguetown Marine base. The storm had picked up quickly, winds howling through the city, rattling signs and sending loose objects skidding across the wet streets below. Bulma barely had time to brace herself before she leaped off Goku's back, landing with a splash on the rain-slicked roof.
"Alright," she said, shaking the water from her arms. "Let's move fast. If this storm gets worse, our ship is done for."
Goku nodded, his usual carefree expression turning serious. "Got it."
They immediately sprinted across the rooftop, their boots slapping against the wet surface. Bulma's eyes darted around, scanning for any openings. Thankfully, most of the Marines were either out chasing those pirates or taking cover from the storm. That made their job a little easier.
A metal door at the far end of the roof caught her attention. She gestured toward it. "That's our way in."
Goku reached it first, grabbing the handle and giving it a sharp tug. The lock snapped instantly, and the door swung open with a creak.
Bulma gave him a look. "You could try being a little subtle."
Goku scratched his head. "Didn't think about that."
She sighed. "Of course you didn't."
They slipped inside, finding themselves in a dimly lit hallway. The sound of boots echoed in the distance.
"Stay sharp," Bulma whispered, moving forward. "We need maps, supplies, and anything valuable."
Goku grinned. "And food?"
Bulma rolled her eyes. "No, Goku. Not food."
They moved quickly, darting through the corridors, checking rooms as they went. Most of them were empty barracks or storage areas filled with standard Marine gear—nothing they needed.
Then—
"Hey! Who are you?!"
A trio of Marines rounded the corner, rifles in hand.
Goku blinked. "Oh, hey guys."
"Intruders!" one of them shouted.
Goku sighed. "Guess we're doing this."
Before the Marines could react, he disappeared from their sight.
Bulma barely had time to process what happened before the Marines were sent flying—one slammed into the wall, another hit the floor, and the last was knocked out cold with a light tap on the head.
Goku dusted off his hands. "That was easy."
Bulma crossed her arms. "You could've been quieter about it."
Goku chuckled. "Yeah, but this way's faster."
She sighed and shook her head. "Come on, let's go."
They hurried through the hallways until they reached a large wooden door with a golden plate on it.
Captain's Office.
Bingo.
Bulma pushed the door open and stepped inside. The office was neat but filled with all kinds of interesting things—marine insignias, medals, and, most importantly, a large table stacked with maps.
But what caught her attention the most was a display case on the far wall.
Inside were three Log Poses.
Bulma smirked. Jackpot.
She quickly crossed the room, inspecting them. One of the Log Poses had its needle locked in place—meaning it was already set to a specific location.
"Guess the Captain isn't going anywhere anytime soon," she muttered.
She grabbed the two free Log Poses and carefully stored them in one of her Hoi Poi Capsules. No way was she carrying something this important in her hands.
She turned back to the table, eyeing the maps. There were several of them—detailed layouts of islands, routes through the Grand Line, and even military outpost locations. She grabbed the most useful-looking ones and stuffed them into her bag.
Footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Bulma's heart jumped immediately. They couldn't afford to waste time in fights. Not when, mere seconds would result in them losing their ship and supplies to the sea.
"Time to go!" she hissed.
Goku was already by the window. "Want me to carry you?"
Bulma didn't hesitate. She rushed over, throwing her arms around his neck. "Just get us out of here."
Goku grinned. "Hold on tight!"
With a powerful leap, he shot through the window, glass shattering as they burst into the open air. The wind and rain whipped around them as they soared above the Marine base, the storm now raging in full force.
Below, the Marines were scrambling, some shouting and pointing at them. But it was too late. They were already gone.
As they flew toward the harbor, Bulma clutched her bag, a victorious smirk on her face.
"Now that was a successful raid."
_________________________________________
The rain hammered down in thick sheets, drenching the town below as fierce winds howled through the streets. Goku and Bulma soared over the rooftops, the storm whipping at their clothes and hair. The sea beyond the harbor churned violently, waves crashing against the docks with alarming force. It was only a matter of time before the full force of the storm hit.
Bulma, however, wasn't too concerned about that at the moment. She had managed to manipulate her hair into a makeshift umbrella, shielding herself somewhat from the downpour as she scanned the streets below. They were almost at the harbor—just a little further and they could get back to their ship and escape before the storm got worse.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted something.
"Goku! Wait, stop!"
"Huh?" Goku glanced back at her mid-flight, confused but immediately halting in midair, floating above a shop with a slanted rooftop. "What's up?"
Bulma pointed downward. "There! Under that roof."
Goku followed her gaze and spotted them—three figures huddled under the shelter of the storefront, shielding themselves from the rain. One of them, a strikingly tall woman with vibrant pink hair and matching eyes, was easily recognizable. Bulma had seen her earlier at the cooking competition.
Beside her were two boys, both looking about ten or eleven, clinging to their soaked clothes and shivering slightly. Their expressions were a mixture of frustration and concern, but the woman, despite looking drenched, held an air of fierce determination.
"We need to land," Bulma said firmly.
Goku nodded and descended, landing lightly on the wet cobblestone street in front of them. The moment they touched down, the trio snapped to attention. The woman tensed, eyes narrowing, while the two boys instinctively took a step back.
The pink-haired woman was the first to speak. "Who the hell are you?" Her voice was strong, carrying over the wind and rain despite the noise of the storm.
Bulma didn't hesitate. "You were in that cooking competition earlier, right?" She crossed her arms. "You're good—I could tell just from the way you moved. And we need a cook."
The woman blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "…What?"
"We're forming a crew," Bulma continued, completely ignoring the rain soaking through her clothes. "We need a chef, and from what I saw earlier, you've got some serious skills. You in?"
The woman looked at Goku, then back at Bulma, her expression unreadable for a moment. Then, something shifted. A fire lit up in her eyes, fierce and unwavering.
"I'll do it," she said. "No hesitation."
The two boys beside her gaped. "B-Boss?! What are you talking about?!" one of them spluttered.
The other quickly nodded. "Yeah! We can't just leave—what about your dream?"
The woman turned to them, her expression serious. "That is exactly why I'm doing this."
The rain continued to pour as she placed a hand on her hip. "There's only one way I can beat him—Sanji, the sous-chef of Baratie. And that's by finding the All Blue."
Bulma raised an eyebrow. Ambitious. She could respect that.
She glanced at the two boys. "You guys coming or what?"
The two hesitated, looking at each other, then at their boss. The decision was made in an instant.
"…If she's going, we're going."
Bulma smirked. "Smart choice."
Then she wasted no time. Her hair extended, splitting into three thick braids that coiled around the woman and the two boys. The moment they realized what was happening, panic set in.
"H-Hey, what the hell—?!"
"Wha—?! BOSS?!"
Bulma didn't bother explaining. She turned to Goku. "We need to move, now!"
"Got it!" Goku crouched down.
The moment Bulma climbed onto his back, he launched them skyward. The woman and the two boys screamed as they were lifted off the ground, their legs kicking wildly as Bulma's hair dragged them through the air.
"W-WHAT IS THIS?!" the woman shrieked.
"BOSS, WE'RE FLYING—WE'RE ACTUALLY FLYING!" one of the boys cried.
"THIS ISN'T NORMAL! THIS IS NOT NORMAL!" the other wailed.
Bulma who was completely unfazed, casually spoke over the wind. "Relax, it's just my trichokinesis."
"That doesn't make this ANY BETTER!" the woman shouted.
Goku just laughed. "You guys scream more than Bulma does."
Bulma smacked the back of his head. "Shut up and fly faster!"
The rain was heavier now, pelting against them as they soared above Loguetown, the ocean growing rougher by the second. As they neared the harbor, Bulma spotted their ship—and Oolong, who was frantically running around on deck, trying to keep the sails under control.
The ship rocked dangerously in the stormy waters, nearly crashing against the dock. Waves slammed against the hull, and the rain made it difficult to see anything clearly.
But the real problem was standing right at the harbor.
Captain Smoker.
The Marine Captain stood in the rain, his thick coat billowing in the wind. His signature cigars burned despite the downpour, his sharp eyes locking onto them instantly. He looked completely unfazed by the chaos around him. However, Bulma could see the shock on his face as they soared above him in the air. Clearly, it was unusual for people to fly in East Blue.
Bulma felt a shiver run down her spine. Damn it, I don't want to fight him now!
"Goku," she said urgently. "We really need to get going."
"Yep, got it!"
The moment they were over the ship, Goku dropped down, landing smoothly on deck. Bulma followed, releasing the woman and two boys from her hair as they stumbled onto the wooden planks.
The pink-haired woman staggered, holding onto the railing. "I hate you," she muttered.
"No, you don't," Bulma said breezily before turning to Goku. "Anchor, now!"
"On it!"
Goku shot toward the anchor chain, gripping it with both hands. With one effortless pull, he ripped it from the water, sending it clattering onto the deck. The ship immediately lurched forward, pushed by the violent winds.
But it wasn't enough. The storm was keeping them pinned to the harbor, the waves working against them.
Goku made a split-second decision. He floated off the deck, placed both hands against the stern—
And pushed.
With a massive burst of strength, the ship shot forward like a cannonball, tearing through the waves. The force sent Oolong sprawling onto the deck.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" he yelled.
Bulma barely had time to grab onto the railing as the ship surged forward, the harbor shrinking behind them. She turned just in time to see Smoker watching them go, his expression unreadable.
She exhaled. That was too close.
The pink-haired woman finally caught her breath and glared at Bulma. "So… what the hell did I just sign up for?"
Bulma smirked. "An adventure, obviously."
The woman stared at her for a long moment. Then, slowly, she grinned.
"…Alright. Let's do this."