The sound of crashing waves against the hull of the ship filled the dimly lit cabin, but it was barely noticeable over Buggy's furious yelling. The clown captain of the Buggy Pirates was seething, stomping back and forth across the room with his hands clenched into tight fists.
"YOU USELESS BUFFOONS! TWICE! THAT STRAW HAT BRAT HAS HUMILIATED ME TWICE NOW!" Buggy's face was red—not just from the clown makeup but from sheer rage. He pointed an accusatory finger at his trembling crew. "HOW THE HELL DID YOU LET HIM SLIP AWAY AGAIN?! I HAD THE PERFECT EXECUTION SET UP! AND WHAT HAPPENS?! HE GETS AWAY! AGAIN!"
The crew of the Buggy Pirates stood stiffly in place, trying their best not to draw attention to themselves. They had seen their captain angry plenty of times, but this? This was a new level.
Buggy grabbed a nearby barrel and kicked it across the room, sending it crashing into the wall. His teeth clenched together in fury, his oversized nose twitching as he ranted. "I SWEAR, IF I EVER GET MY HANDS ON THAT RUBBER-HEADED IDIOT, I'M GONNA TEAR HIM APART LIMB BY LIMB AND SCATTER HIM ACROSS THE GRAND LINE!"
The pirates flinched.
Then, amidst the storm of his fury, a single sound cut through.
A soft, deliberate cough.
Buggy's eye twitched as he turned toward the source. Sitting calmly in the corner, arms crossed, was the newest addition to his crew—Lazuli, or as she was once known, Android 18.
Her icy blue eyes stared at him, unwavering, unimpressed. If she was intimidated by his temper tantrum, she didn't show it. In fact, she looked like she could care less.
"You're wasting time," she said in a tone so flat it was almost insulting. "We should focus on reaching the Grand Line instead of whining about the past."
The room fell into silence.
Buggy's pirates froze.
They weren't stupid. They knew what happened when someone disrespected their captain. Buggy's temper was notorious. Anyone who dared to speak to him like that usually ended up getting kicked, punched, or at the very least, yelled at until their ears bled.
They waited, fully expecting Buggy to explode again.
But… he didn't.
Buggy's lips twisted for a second, his brow furrowed as if about to snap—then, much to everyone's shock, his expression relaxed. He exhaled loudly, rubbing the bridge of his oversized nose.
"...You're right," he admitted.
The pirates gasped.
Buggy the Clown, agreeing with someone? That had to be a first.
The clown turned to the crew, waving a hand dismissively. "She's got a point. No use crying over spilled rum. The Grand Line is what matters."
The pirates exchanged bewildered looks. Just who was this girl that she could talk to Buggy like that without consequences?
Buggy then smirked. "Besides, it's a good thing we have Seastone lining on the bottom of our ship. That means we don't have to deal with Reverse Mountain. We can just sail straight into the Grand Line through the Calm Belt! Ha! No giant water slide for us!"
Lazuli raised an eyebrow. "No."
Buggy blinked. "No?"
She leaned back against the wall, her arms still crossed. "We should go through Reverse Mountain. The Straw Hats are probably taking that route."
Buggy's eye twitched. His fists clenched at the very mention of Strawhat's crew. "Tch. That brat again. Why do we care where they're going?"
Lazuli's face remained unreadable. "Because if you want your revenge, it makes sense to follow them."
Buggy was clearly ticked off at the suggestion. He wanted nothing more than to avoid anything remotely related to the Straw Hat Pirates. But at the same time… he wasn't stupid. He still vividly remembered what Lazuli had done the first time she demonstrated her power.
With nothing more than a flick of her fingers, she had vaporized trees and huge boulders like they were made of glass.
She wasn't just strong—she was terrifyingly strong. Perhaps, near the levels of rear admirals or vice admirals.
And Buggy? Well, sure, he was a natural enemy to swordsmen thanks to his Chop-Chop Fruit, but Lazuli? If she wanted to kill him, she could. Easily.
He gulped, then turned to his crew. "Alright, new plan! We're going through Reverse Mountain!"
The pirates all nodded obediently, though some of them were still whispering to each other about how the new girl seemed to have their captain wrapped around her finger.
Lazuli, who was clearly uninterested in their reactions, simply turned and walked away.
She returned to her cabin and shut the door behind her. She sighed, leaning against the wall.
As expected, this world was primitive. There were no phones, no televisions, and no real entertainment to speak of. Just wooden ships, swords, and pirates.
When she had gone ashore in Loguetown, she had taken the opportunity to go shopping. Clothes were her first priority, but she had also picked up a pistol, just to test it, and a sword.
The problem was, she wasn't a swordswoman. Holding the weapon in her hands had made her realize just how useless it was to her. She had no skill in swordplay, nor did she care to learn.
Maybe she'd just keep it as decoration.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts.
She looked up as the door swung open and revealed Alvida.
The once-ugly pirate, now a beautiful woman thanks to her Smooth-Smooth Fruit, stepped inside with a smirk. "Well, well. You really know how to scare Buggy, don't you?"
Lazuli stared at her blankly. She could reduce the woman to dust if she wanted. Her body didn't have that ability to counter her blasts. Attacks on her skin may slip up, but how would she face against pure energy and heat. "No. He's the captain. I just gave him advice."
Alvida chuckled. "Oh, come on. You saw his face. You had him sweating."
Lazuli remained silent.
Alvida leaned against the doorframe, eyeing her curiously. "You're interesting, you know that? Most people on this crew are idiots. But you? You've got some real power."
Lazuli shrugged. "Having Buggy as captain works for me. At least I don't have to babysit anyone or deal with anyone's stupidity. Besides, I don't trust him when he talks about the Calm Belt."
Alvida tilted her head. "Oh?"
Lazuli's voice remained as monotone as ever. "He says the ship has Seastone on the bottom. Supposedly, that scares the Sea Kings."
Alvida blinked. "...And you don't believe that?"
Lazuli closed her eyes for a moment before looking back at her. "Do you?"
Alvida thought about it… then laughed. "Hah! Good point."
Lazuli stretched her legs out. "I'd rather be safe than sorry."
Alvida smirked. She flipped her hair flamboyantly. "Smart girl. You might actually survive the Grand Line."
Lazuli didn't react. She just leaned back against the wall.
Outside, the ship was already changing course.
Buggy might have been the captain, but it was clear who really had the power on this crew.
________________________________________________
The sound of cutlery clanging against the wooden table echoed through the ship's dining hall.
"FOOD! FOOD! FOOD!"
Goku and Oolong chanted in unison, slamming their spoons and forks against the surface like a couple of overgrown children throwing a tantrum. Their faces were filled with sheer anticipation, their eyes practically glowing with hunger as they stared toward the kitchen.
Bulma sighed, rubbing her temples. "You two are worse than animals."
She would have been annoyed—really annoyed—if it weren't for one simple fact: for once, she wasn't the one dealing with their bottomless appetites.
Back when it was just the three of them, she had been the one stuck cooking. And cooking for Goku? That was a nightmare. The guy ate like a black hole, and it had been exhausting just trying to keep up with him. But now? Now they had a cook. A real, professional cook.
Bulma smirked, leaning back in her seat. Sucks to be you, Carmen.
She cast a glance toward the kitchen, where their newest crew member was hard at work. Carmen, the fiery pink-haired chef, was moving around with dramatic flair, flipping pans and tossing ingredients into the air with a level of extravagance that was almost comical. Every move she made was graceful and theatrical, like she was performing on stage rather than just cooking a meal.
Bulma had seen a lot of chefs in her life. She had hired a lot of chefs in her life. But none of them—none of them—were anywhere near as flamboyant as Carmen.
The aroma that filled the room was heavenly. A sinful temptation that wrapped around Bulma's senses like a warm embrace. She caught the scent of sizzling meat, rich spices, and freshly baked bread. Her stomach grumbled softly, and she quickly cleared her throat to cover it up.
A much louder growl erupted from Goku's stomach, so loud it actually shook the table.
Everyone turned to stare at him.
Goku grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Heh. Guess I'm really hungry."
Oolong rolled his eyes. "Yeah, we know."
Carmen chuckled, flipping her pan one last time before dramatically pointing toward her two assistants. "Leo! José! It is time!"
"Sí, jefa!" the two odd-looking men shouted in unison.
Bulma still wasn't sure what to make of them. She had seen some weird looking people in this world, but these two? They were on a whole different level.
Leo, the shorter of the two, had a huge head with a large, square chin and tiny facial features that almost looked like they had been shrunken and stuck onto his face. His blue matador suit only made him look even weirder.
José, on the other hand, was round. His nose was so massive that it practically blocked his eyes from view, making it look like he was wearing a pair of built-in sunglasses. His green matador suit somehow added to his strangeness.
But hey, as long as they could cook, she wasn't complaining.
The two assistants moved quickly, placing dish after dish onto the table with dramatic spins and flourishes, as if serving food was an art form in itself. Plates stacked up one after another, each one more delicious-looking than the last.
And then—finally—it was time.
Bulma picked up her fork and took her first bite.
Her eyes widened.
"Holy crap," she muttered.
The food was phenomenal. Every bite was an explosion of flavor, perfectly balanced and seasoned. The meat was tender, the spices were just right, and the sauce? It was divine.
Even Goku paused for a moment after his first bite.
He chewed.
He swallowed.
And then—
"THIS IS AMAZING!"
With that, Goku immediately began shoveling food into his mouth at a speed that defied all logic and reason. His hands blurred as he grabbed dish after dish, inhaling everything like a vacuum cleaner on overdrive. Plates emptied in seconds, entire portions vanished, and yet—somehow—Goku's stomach still growled.
Oolong wasn't far behind, stuffing his face like he hadn't eaten in weeks.
Bulma, meanwhile, took her time. She savored each bite, appreciating just how good it was.
"You know," she said, looking at Carmen. "Even with all the chefs I've hired before, I don't think I've ever had food this good."
Carmen smirked, placing a hand on her hip. "Of course, darling! I am the best!"
José and Leo nodded furiously.
"La jefa's food is legendary!" Leo said proudly.
José pumped his fist. "There is no one better!"
Carmen twirled dramatically, striking a pose. "A true chef puts their passion into every dish! To cook is to express oneself! And I express myself with flair!"
Bulma just shook her head, chuckling. "Whatever works for you, lady."
She leaned back, sipping on a drink as she turned her gaze toward the horizon. The ship rocked gently beneath them, carried by the steady waves.
They were on their way to Reverse Mountain.
The only way into the Grand Line.
Bulma felt a surge of excitement rush through her.
She had seen a lot of crazy things already, but the Grand Line? That was where the real adventure would begin. The dangers, the mysteries, the undiscovered islands—it was all waiting for them.
She grinned.
She couldn't wait.