The wave of carnival lights, hollering crowds, and scattered bursts of vivid color washed over them, blinding both Luffy and Nami.
"MEAT!" Luffy bellowed at the very first stall he saw, slamming both hands onto the counter. Behind it stood a massive butcher wearing a blood-stained apron, thick white clown makeup, and an oversized chef's hat. He was lazily swinging a heavy iron cleaver, hacking off slabs of prime sea-beast ribs.
"HEY! GIVE ME MEAT!" Luffy cheered, mouth instantly watering. The chatter around the stall died down. A half-dozen rough customers—some in clown paint—turned to stare with dumbfounded looks. The butcher stopped swinging, lodging the heavy into the chopping block with a loud THUNK. He wiped his greasy hands, leaning his massive frame over the counter.
"You got nerve barking orders, kid," the butcher grunted raspy. "That rack of ribs? Premium quality. It'll cost you exactly one thousand, one hundred, and forty-nine Berries." Luffy blinked, scowling in confusion. "Gross! I don't want berries on my meat! Just give it to me plain!"
The butcher's eye frowned, "What in the hell are you talking about? A Berry is money, you little brat!" The butcher paused, leaning into the counter. "How the hell did you even get here if you don't know a damn thing about currency?"
"We don't p—" Before Luffy could utter another word, Nami's hand slapped over his mouth. "Sorry! My brother's a little quirky, that's all!" she laughed nervously, dragging him away. Luffy yanked her hand off. "Why are you trying to feed me your hand?!"
Before Nami could snap back, her gaze caught something across the carnival, and her entire body froze. A tall creature stood in the crowd. Its towering body was covered in gray scales, its face far more beast than man, and its webbed fingers twitched with razor-sharp claws. Nami quickly darted behind a large shop display, hiding in the shadows.
"Hey, what's the matter?" Luffy asked, tilting his head at her pale face. She watched through a gap in the crates as the Fish-man strolled toward a massive circus tent. Nearby pirates shrank back, fear plain in their eyes, as the creature disappeared into the back entrance.
"Who's that ugly dude? Do you know him? Luffy asked. Nami didn't look at him. "N-No…"
Inside the tent, a wet thud echoed in the dark. Sunlight filtered weakly through the canvas, illuminating stacked crates, coils of heavy rope, and discarded props. Standing in the center of the staging area was the blue-skinned Fish-man. The gills on his neck flared as his webbed fingers twitched against his thighs. At the far end of the room sat a figure on a high, throne-like chair. He wore a velvet captain's coat that swallowed the shadows around him, resting one leg casually over the armrest. Darkness cloaked his face, save for a glint of white teeth and the unmistakable silhouette of a bright red, bulbous nose.
"The boss needs the rent," the Fish-man growled.
"Rent?" A low, gravelly voice rasped beneath the shadow of his large hat, "What are we, tenants? Do you even know who I am? I helped Arlong build his park, and this is how we're treated?!
He stood up, his oversized cape dragging across the dusty ground. "Tell that fish-faced master of yours that Buggy the Clown pays when he feels like it. Not a second sooner."
The Fish-man snarled, turning to march back out into the blinding daylight. "You'll see," he grunted, disappearing into the glare. Beside the throne, a nervous pirate shuffled forward, sweating profusely. "C-Captain Buggy, Arlong controls the large area of East Blue! If his crew gets mad—"
Buggy slowly turned his head. Without warning, a gloved hand detached from his sleeve, shot across the room, and clamped around the pirate's throat. The man was lifted off his feet, clutching wildly at the floating wrist as his face turned blue.
"You have no right to dictate what I do," Buggy purred from the shadows. The pirate went limp like a rag doll, foam spilling from his lips before Buggy released his grip, letting the empty sleeve retract. Another pirate stumbled into the tent, bowing frantically in the dirt. "C-Captain Buggy! Someone entered our island without paying the fee!"
Buggy shifted on his throne, the heavy gloom clinging to his shoulders. "What are the watchtowers doing?"
"T-Towers One and Two were knocked out! Witnesses saw an orange-haired female near the area!" the pirate gasped, hands on his knees.
"I've got a show to perform tonight," Buggy muttered. He glanced toward the high rafters. "Cabaji. Capture the rascal, will you?" From the shadow of the ceiling beams, a slender figure uncoiled like a snake.
"As you wish, Captain," Cabaji whispered. Sliding down a suspension rope with a glinting saber in hand, he landed effortlessly on the seat of a tall unicycle, pedaling smoothly out into the sunlight.
Outside, two figures walked further into the carnival. Above them is the roller coaster, supported by the collection of timbers and metals. "COOL!" Luffy gasped as the row of carts passed; the sound of the wheels clashing into the rails echoed below despite the noises. On the left, beside one of the games, two men are exchanging punches, and their fight exploded and destroyed the counter of the boot. On each of the houses they pass, there is a large sign named "HOTEL" in them.
"That doesn't look like a hotel!" as Luffy pointed at the house
"Because it isn't," Nami replied, as she kept walking.
"What do you mean?"
"Are you really that oblivious? As she looked at him with a glaring look, "I don't know… I am new here!
Nami breathed "Of course you will… Look, this town known as Orange Town Islands near here knows that this buggy land crap doesn't exist, let alone a PIRATE runs one."
"Where are the people who live here?"
"Nobody knows."
"Then, why'd people not call any marines?" as Luffy's tone and look changed, which Nami observed.
"I don't know. Maybe there's a corruption going on here"
"My gramps said that the Marines are righteous…" as he clenched his hand. He looks around, seeing many pirates laughing, drinking, and harassing other pirates. He looks at them with glaring looks; h is often large, full of nothing behind them, and full of anger. In the distance, he heard a pirate carrying a woman, throwing each of her limbs away, even attacking the man.
"WE ARE FREE! THIS IS FREEDOM!" Luffy then walks into the pirate, clutching his arm, but Nami quickly tackles him to the ground.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Luffy grasped, but Nami then used her weight, pinning on the ground. "Do not do anything stupid!" she whispered. The men then looked into the two, laughing into them.
"THIS IS NOT THE FREEDOM I AM TALKING ABOUT! GET THE ROOM, YOU TWO!" as the group passes, laughing.
"Do not do anything stupid!" she whispered. The men then looked into the two, laughing into them. As Nami pins Luffy, something inside her snaps. Her heart began to race. Her eyes darted into nothingness as a voice began to speak through her. I love you! The whispers bring tears to her cold gaze, that the grip she had loosened. She quickly stood up, wiping her eyes with her arm, as she stretched her hand to Luffy, who held him. Luffy shrugged his vest, still glaring.
"WHAT'S THAT FO—" Luffy was about to explode on Nami, but her red eyes and the small tracks of her tears. The words that he was about to mutter were silenced as he swallowed them.
"Let's go," Nami whispered, darting down the narrow alleyway. Luffy followed without a word. As they walked, the heavy, suffocating silence grew unbearable. Nami peeked at him. His face was still twisted in an unyielding scowl, his hands clenching into tight fists. Her lips trembled; her fingers twitched. She opened her mouth to speak, but a sudden crash shattered the air.
Down an empty street, heavy-set pirates in smeared clown paint cornered an old man in makeshift armor. A hulking thug hoisted the elder by his neck, squeezing his head until he shrieked, even as the old man wildly swung a small knife.
"What's wrong, gramps?!" the thug sneered. Luffy's eyes flared with sudden fury. Unable to hold back, he bolted forward at terrifying speed. Dropping his shoulder, his arm stretched back past three whole houses, coiling like a loaded spring ready to snap.
"GOMU GOMU NO... PISTOL!" His fist snapped forward like a rope's whiplash, breaking the sound barrier with a sharp crack. The punch slammed straight into the brute's jaw, launching him off his feet. The pirate tumbled down the street, skidded across the cobblestones, and splashed headfirst into the sea.
The remaining goons froze in absolute horror. "H-He has a power like Captain Buggy!" one gasped. On the ground, the battered old man wheezed, pulling two butcher knives from his waistband. Driven by pure, frantic rage, he lunged wildly at the nearest thug.
"GET OUT OF MY TOWN!" the old-timer screeched, plunging a blade straight into a pirate's shoulder. A second pirate kicked the old man hard in the chest, sending him crashing onto the stones. "You'll pay for that, geezer!" the thug snarled, aiming his flintlock.
RUFF! A tiny white dog leaped out from the shadows, clamping its jaws fiercely into the gunman's calf.
"GET THIS RAT OFF ME!" the pirate shrieked, kicking wildly, but the dog held on with fury until blood started to seep through his leg. Taking the moment, the old man hurled his second knife. The heavy pommel struck the gunman squarely in the eye. Blinded, the pirate stumbled back, accidentally discharging his flintlock right into his comrade's chest. The remaining goons rushed Luffy, but he dodged effortlessly. He ducked under a cutlass, thrust a palm into one pirate's chest to launch him away, then grabbed a female thug by the face, slamming her into the pavement with enough force to crack the stone.
Dust swirled through the alley. Through the haze, the old mayor scrambled up, clutching his fallen knife. "GET OUT!" he screamed, blindly swinging his blade at the nearest figure.
The steel sliced right into Luffy's calf. Instinct took over him. Luffy whipped his leg around and kicked the old man straight into a brick wall. The mayor slumped onto the ground, stone-cold unconscious. Three terrified locals immediately scrambled out of an alleyway nearby, hands raised. "P-Please! Don't kill the mayor!"
Luffy blinked, his dark fury instantly evaporating as he looked down at the motionless old man. His stretched posture loosened, his hand relaxing like a flytrap opening. Nami sprinted out from behind the corner, slapping her forehead. What an absolute idiot! She grabbed his shoulder, yanking his arm. "I SAID DON'T DO STUPID THINGS!"
Seeing the locals struggling to drag the mayor away, Nami's survival instincts kicked in. She dropped to her knees, forcing a tearful, desperate sob. "I'm so sorry! My brother is out of his mind! Please let us come with you! We have no money, and the pirates are chasing us!"
The locals exchanged hesitant glances, looking at the dirt on Luffy's vest and Nami's tear-stained face. The middle-aged leader nodded. They hauled the mayor toward a large trash bin in the alley, pushing it aside to reveal a hidden wooden trapdoor leading downstairs.
"Hurry, c'mon!" the man waved, beckoning them into the dark. The two then rushed as the man dragged the trash bin back and closed the door.
An hour passed in the dim, damp cellar beneath the ground. Dust motes floated in the stale air, as the grey concrete walls and crates protected them. At the corner of the basement, a bed is stationed where the Old man is lying. Then, the Mayor's eyelids fluttered open. As his vision cleared, his breath hitched. Sitting mere inches from his nose was a rubbery face, stretched into a wide grin. "Hey, the old man's alive!"
"GAH!" Instinct took over. The Mayor's fist flew forward, cracking straight into Luffy's cheek. Luffy tumbled backward, rolling across the dirt floor before flopping onto his back with a confused grunt. "Hey, what's that for?!" Luffy snapped, rubbing his jaw. The old man scrambled to his feet, snatching a heavy glass bottle from a crate and smashing its end against a beam. "Stay back, you scoundrel pirates!" he hissed, holding the jagged glass like a dagger.
"Mayor, stop!" One of the locals stepped between them, raising his hands. "They aren't with Buggy! The girl explained everything while you were out." He gestured toward Nami, who was casually leaning against a support pillar. "They were out fishing, but their boat had damage, and they decided to dock on the island"
Luffy sat up, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Huh? No, me and my buddy Zo—" Nami slammed her palm over Luffy's mouth, cutting him off mid-sentence. "YES! I-I don't know where we are. One pirate said we need a ticket? Then they chase us down!" She let out a high-pitched, nervous laugh, her fingers digging hard into his cheeks.
The tension drained from the Mayor's shoulders. He tossed the bottle to the bed and let out a shuddering sigh.
"I see..." he muttered, leaning heavily against the cellar wall. "Forgive me. These days, everyone looks like pirates to me."
He gestured around the cold, dirt-walled basement. "We've been hiding down here for weeks. When Buggy's ship first dropped anchor, we thought they were just a traveling circus... We even welcomed them with open arms! Oh, we're fools." The Mayor's jaw tightened, his fingers curling into tight fists.
"Then came that night. The whole island woke up to a sound like an explosion. We ran to the plaza, and there was that damn clown, Buggy. Standing on a wrecked fountain, speaking through a loudspeaker." The old man shuddered, the color draining from his face. "He said…he was building a circus in the center of our town. He proposed that we build him his rides and rent our houses like hotels!? I stepped forward and told him we wanted no part in this madness, as we tried to let him get out of this town…but... Buggy just snapped his fingers."
The Mayor closed his eyes, his voice dropping to a harsh and whimpering whisper. "A man on a unicycle darted past us. Before some of my people could even draw their swords, his throat was... goddamn it!" As the mayor then started to clamp his hand to his face, the people started to walk towards him, caressing his back. He then cleared his throat right after and continued.
"Then after that, shit's hit the fan. Fire. Screams. Buggy's men hunted the townspeople like cattle." He looked up at the ceiling, his voice cracking. "We're the only ones who escaped. I don't know where the others are, but... I know they're in that massive circus tent pitched outside."
"That damn devil turned this town into his own resort. All pests from the seas start to come here! They ruined this town!" As the old man slammed his fist into the bed. Luffy, standing near him, fully understanding everything, pulled his straw hat low, hiding his eyes in shadow. His jaw clenched tight. Slowly, his right hand curled into a fist. Rubber stretched and creaked under the force of his knuckles, pressing so hard his palm turned white.
Thump, thump, thump. A soft sound broke the heavy silence. Nami turned her head toward the dark corner of the cellar. There, cowering behind a stack of empty barrels, was the little white dog. Its tail was thumping weakly against the dirt floor, its dark eyes wide as it stared directly at her.
Nami's expression softened. She slowly dropped to her knees, extending a gentle hand into the shadows. "Hey there..." she murmured. The dog cautiously crept forward, sniffing her fingers before leaning its head into her palm, giving her wrist a warm, wet lick. Nami felt a sudden pang in her chest as she caressed its soft fur. "Is this your dog, Mayor?" Nami asked without looking back.
"No," the old man said quietly, gazing down at the animal. "He belonged to the old man who owned the basement we're in… also the pet shop above" as he said, pointing his fingers above. "He's a good man. He passed away right before Buggy arrived." The Mayor turned his eyes back toward the floorboard cracks. "We met him when he was fleeing. At first, he kept barking at us"
Nami stared down at the dog, weighing the harsh truth that the dog's home was gone forever. Dropping her guard for just a second, she knelt and pulled the little dog into a tight, quiet hug, tears welling up in her eyes. Luffy caught the moment, but he didn't say a word. The dim cellar fell quiet, save for the steady thumping of Chou Chou's tail against the dirt and the screams of people above. Nami slowly stood up, brushing the dust off her knees. She grabbed Luffy's vest and yanked him into the pitch-black corner beneath the stairs.
"The Mayor said Buggy's men drag everyone into that giant circus tent," Nami whispered, her voice dropping from her well-rehearsed tone. She looked straight at Luffy. "That's where the real haul is. The map to the Grand Line, Buggy's treasure... and your food." Luffy stood in the shadows, his knuckles pressed so hard his rubber skin turned pale white. "The townspeople are in there too."
"If they're alive," Nami countered pragmatically. She pulled a charcoal sketch from her sash. "Listen to me, straw hat. Buggy's whole crew is garrisoned in the main plaza, not to mention all of those pirates!. We can't walk through the front gate unless you want fifty men shooting at us. But a circus tent that size needs massive support cables. There are supply flaps along the back alleyways."
"So we sneak in through the back?" Luffy asked, tilting his head. "I sneak in," Nami corrected, poking his chest. "You're my distraction if things go sideways. We grab the map, we grab the chest, and you raid their pantry or any food stalls outside. Got it?"
Luffy adjusted his straw hat, a sharp grin breaking across his face. "Sounds good to me!" He turned and headed straight up the cellar stairs. Nami turned back toward the center of the basement, only to freeze. The Mayor and the three fishermen were clustered around an overturned wooden crate. Spread across it were crude maps marked with thick red ink, rusty iron cleavers, and papers with drawings of some sort of crude, made blueprint.
"Our men will arrive here in about thirty minutes for now… what are we going to do next?" The middle-aged man whispers, pointing at the map.
"We need to stock up, and when the town's empty, we strike."
"Is the stolen costume ready?" the middle-aged man looks into the mayor
"Yes… Veronica had handed it to me earlier. We also had makeup, hats, and circus clothing," the mayor then pointed into the large tent drawn into the map of the town. He pointed to the four pillars at each corner of the tent.
"We need to take this, then you, Hamon, will destroy the ships in the east dock. Make sure somebody will see you in that costume. Look out for the incoming backup, also"
"But… What about those kids?" one of the men whispers, pointing into their location.
"That kid… in the red vest," the middle-aged man's voice hitched. "He is something else… another devil. Do you see that kid stretching his arm?! That kid is worth a million men!" Nami adjusted her position, pressing her back into the wall at a distance.
"But, we can't risk that. He's still a kid," The mayor replies.
"But mayor! We have been fighting this goddamn war for months now! Marines don't reply, nor even that revolutionary army Jonah had contacted weeks ago!" his hand etched to the papers "If we want to take this island back… we are going to use whatever heaven brings us"
Upon hearing everything, Nami figured it all out. These idiots are going to get themselves slaughtered, Nami realized, her stomach dropping. Her original stealth plan vanished in an instant. She couldn't just sneak in. Nami realized, her stomach dropping. If the Mayor launched a frontal assault while she was inside, the entire circus tent would turn into a warzone. She needed a play that used their reckless revolution as her backup. Smoothing her hair, Nami instantly flipped the switch. She stumbled out of the shadows, squeezing her eyes until fresh tears brimmed over her lashes.
"M-Mayor..." she whimpered, her voice trembling softly. The four men whipped around, quickly trying to cover their map. "Girl? What are you doing? You two need to rest!"
"We... we can't just sit here," Nami sobbed, clutching her hands to her chest. "My brother and I... we just want our fishing boat back! If we can just sneak near the circus tent while those awful pirates aren't looking, maybe we can find a small boat to get us home!"
"Are you insane, child?!" The Mayor slammed his fist on the crate. "That plaza is a death trap!"
"We have to try!" Nami cried out, grabbing Luffy's arm—who was staring at her in complete, confused silence—and pulling him toward the cellar door. "We just want to go home!" She threw open the cellar door and stormed up into the sunlight, dragging Luffy behind her. As soon as the heavy wooden door slammed shut, Nami's sobbing stopped instantly. She wiped her eyes with the back of her sleeve.
"Why were you crying again?" Luffy asked, scratching his head as he pulled the trash bin back into place
"Shut up and listen," Nami hissed, checking the alleyway for patrols. "The Mayor is planning a suicidal riot. I told them we're storming the circus first. We go in through the back flap as planned. If we get caught, the Mayor's mob will hit the front entrance out of sheer desperation."
Nami paused, glancing over her shoulder. "Is your friend Zoro coming?"
"Yeah!" Luffy grinned brightly.
"Are you sure?" she pressed. Luffy nodded without hesitation. "Do you two have some kind of connection?"
"Yeah! By screaming!"
Nami slapped her forehead. "Look, we wait for him and explain the plan, alright? Then we sneak inside. I let you do what you want, and you let me do what I want."
Luffy's face tightened in anger as he grabbed Nami's shoulder. "Why don't we storm it right now?! We could crush every last one of them!"
"We can't!" Nami cut him off, her voice dropping to an urgent whisper. "If we charge in blindly, Buggy could slaughter the townspeople, or worse—use those massive cannons we heard earlier! You're strong, but you can't punch through a cannon volley, can you?"
Nami's logic fell on deaf ears. Luffy shoved her hand off his shoulder and stepped past her into the open street. "If you're too scared to do it, I'll go alone." His tone was heavy, laced with stubborn resolve.
This idiot! Nami rushed after him. "Hey! Get back here—!" Before Luffy could turn around, a spherical projectile whistled through the air and detonated right against his chest. A cloud of thick, purple dust exploded into his face, making him gasp and cough violently.
"Luffy, wait! Don't breathe it—!" Nami's warning was cut short by a rhythmic clack-clack-clack—the sound of a single rubber tire rolling over the cobblestones. Nami's spine went rigid. From the shadows of the narrow alleyway, a slender figure coasted into view.
"Hello there, silly girl," a cool voice purred. Nami lunged toward Luffy, but a coiled rope shot out like a strike-snake, whipping tightly around her torso. With a single sharp yank, the figure dragged her across the stones. Cabaji, balancing effortlessly atop his tall unicycle, delivered a quick strike to Nami's temple with the pommel of his cutlass, knocking her limp. He swiftly hauled the coughing, paralyzed Luffy over his shoulder beside her, binding them together like a bale of hay. As he turned to pedal toward the main square, a panicked pirate sprinted around the corner, gasping for air.
"C-Chief of Staff Cabaji! Someone is causing havoc at the south docks! He's tearing through our men with three swords!"
Cabaji's eyebrow twitched. "Three swords?!"
"Yes, sir!" With a cold scoff, Cabaji dumped Nami and Luffy onto the cobblestones. He reached down, picked up Luffy's fallen straw hat from the dirt, and placed it atop his own head with a sinister smirk.
"Bring these two to Captain Buggy," Cabaji ordered the pirate. Turning his unicycle, he pedaled smoothly toward the docks into the sunlight.
Across town at the island's wooden docks, a dinghy hit the pier. Zoro stepped onto the creaking wood, his hand resting casually on the white hilt of Wado Ichimonji. Behind him, the three bound pirates bowed frantically, sweat pouring down their faces.
"S-See?! We brought you to the island just like you asked, Master Swordsman!" the leader whimpered. "Please, let us guide you!"
"Fine," Zoro grunted, crossing his arms. "Which way? My idiot captain flew off in that direction."
As they set off, Zoro scanned the harbor. The docks were crammed with giant warships bearing skull flags. Inside the candlelit houses, rough-looking men lounged in the shadows—not a single civilian in sight. Farther down the main thoroughfare, a line of pirates snaked around a wooden sign that read: TICKET BOOTH.
Ahead, the lead pirate's eyes darted toward a nearby alleyway. A figure stood in the gloom, waving a glinting cutlass. The leader's face split into a brief, sinister grin before he quickly looked back at Zoro. "Right this way, sir! Shortcut through this alley!"
They led Zoro into a cramped, maze-like district. Zoro's dark eyes narrowed as he quietly eased a second katana from its scabbard. The second they rounded a sharp corner, the three guides sprinted forward, diving behind a heavy wooden barricade.
"GET HIM!" they shrieked.
Dozens of thugs surged from the alley walls, blades drawn. The three traitors scrambled up to a towering brute who dwarfed the rest of the crew. "CAPTAIN! WE WERE FORCED! THIS GUY IS A BOUNTY HUNTER!"
The captain's eyebrow twitched, his broad face paling slightly. "Heh. I'd never thought the famous bounty hunter of the East Blue was in front of my foot," his deep voice echoed off the narrow brick walls. "Out of all the many places you could go to, you ended up right here in the den of criminals!"
The giant stretched his hand as one of his subordinates handed him a large axe as tall as him. He grabbed it and charged, swinging it above his head. Zoro didn't blink. He drew his second blade in a flash, stepping into the strike. A single, silent blur of steel cut through the gloom. Blood sprayed across the alley wall as the giant's heavy weapon—and his right arm—clattered onto the cobblestones.
Zoro moved like a phantom through the narrow gap. Every flash of his blades shattered cutlasses like twigs, sending bodies crashing into the brickwork. The battle spilled out into the main street, drawing the eyes of dozens of onlookers.
"T-That's Pirate Hunter Zoro!" a thug gasped.
"DIE, BOUNTY HUNTER!" another roared, lunging forward. Zoro sidestepped, unleashing a brutal cross-slash that dropped the attacker cold. As Zoro drove his steel toward another target, a burning fuse flickered in his peripheral vision. A stick of dynamite tumbled through the air, detonating directly at his feet. The blast threw Zoro backward, sending him skidding hard against the cobblestones.
Coughing through the smoke, Zoro pushed himself up—just as a soundless gust of wind cut the air behind him. Before his instincts could trigger, a blinding line of pain ripped across his back. Blood sprayed as a deep, jagged slash tore through his clothes.
"Gah!" Zoro gasped, his vision going white. He spun around, swinging his sword in a wide, desperate arc, but hit only empty air. A figure on a tall unicycle slid smoothly across the slick stones, twirling a saber on his fingertip. Zoro's blurred sight caught the outline of a wide-brimmed hat.
"L-Luffy, you goddamn... traitor..." Zoro grunted, clutching his chest. Fueled by sheer willpower, he charged, blade raised. As he closed the distance, the figure vanished like a ghost. Zoro pivoted to catch his flank, but the heavy pommel of Cabaji's saber slammed squarely into his temple. Zoro's vision went pitch black, and he collapsed face-first onto the stones. Many pirates then began to charge, their weapons raised, but then Cabaji circled through Zoro's body.
"Do not attack the intruder, gentlemen. Tonight, if you want to seek revenge on this guy, please, I invite you to watch a show in the Big Top," Cabaji declared, as he pointed his finger at the giant tent in the distance. "The buggy Pirates will be seeing you there!" He hoisted the swordsman's unconscious body over his shoulder, turned his unicycle, and pedaled smoothly toward the main circus tent as the pirate began to cheer, joining the ever-growing line in the ticket booth.