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The ocean is the source of all life. Its waters nourish the world, home to as many species as there are stars in the sky. The sun has set across its surface for time immemorial, its waves caressing the sand in a never ending and mysterious embrace. Wherever you were, if you could see the sea, you were always home.
To a sailor, it was mother, lover, and sister. A temptress, a safehaven, a widower. The birthplace of all bonds, a true romance as any could exist.
A seagull flew overhead, catching the wind, looking for opportunity. Buggy watched it from the shade at the base of an old cypress tree. Shanks had set sail hours before, leaving Buggy behind. Going their separate ways. The crushed remains of Buggy’s half of their soulshell sat in his pocket still.
A severed bond. A fresh start. Shanks didn’t understand, couldn’t understand. He wanted too much to be like Captain Roger! And for what? The One Piece? To be executed in front of thousands?! He left them all behind and for what?
Stupid. All of it. As pointless as the words of fifteen year olds to always be together. The hurt in Shanks’ eyes when Buggy had crushed his half of the shell made him huff. He wanted to spit, scream, rage.
Anything but cry over it because it was done, and he was glad for it dammit!
Unlike Shanks, Buggy wouldn’t try to recreate the past. He was going to forge a new path for himself. He’d… hell he didn’t know. The seagull drifted in a circle, beady eyes watching Buggy far too closely. He glared at it, making a face. How dare it interrupt his musings, he was on to something here!
He looked away from the stupid bird and back out at the waves. This side of Loguetown was all boring quiet, empty beach. The place could use some life. A party. Something sparked in him. A big party, but more than a party. An event. Loud and colorful with…with jugglers and lions and fire eaters! You know, a-a circus! Couldn’t be lonely and sad at something like that.
Not that he was lonely and sad, of course. How could he be with such broad endless horizons before him?! Buggy nodded to himself.
The seagull chose that moment to divebomb him. Going for his nose like a big juicy berry the stupid feathered bastard! He screeched, whacking at the bird, hopping up and down. But the bird was tougher than he thought. It screeched back, hollering and flapping, pooping and flailing!
“GET AWAY FROM ME YOU UGLY BASTARD! HOW DARE YOU ATTACK THE GREAT BUGGY-SAMA?!” he screamed while batting at it, stumbling in the sand, splitting into pieces to escape its vicous beak and stupid webbed feet.
Eventually, he landed a solid hit and it squawked, taking flight away from him. He breathed heavily, ocean waves brushing at his ankles. He glared at its retreating tailfeathers. Whatever, stupid bird, what had he been thinking about? Oh right, how NOT lonely and sad he was.
He rubbed his chin thinking, walking along the beach. If he was sad and lonely though… he pictured the big top tent off to his right, a cadre of jugglers and acrobats in various positions across the beach. A big banquet of food. Fireworks.
Yeah, that would be pretty cool. Maybe even a few clowns.
A wave came toward him, dragging a large mound of seaweed with it. And driftwood. And wriggling fish. Some sixth sense poked at Buggy from a lifetime of living at sea. He turned to face the wave just as it smashed into him.
This beach was evil. A horrid, shitty, empty, no good, lonely place! He spluttered and flailed at the kelp cursing and spitting as the water washed back out, leaving him entangled and wet. Finally he extricated himself and marched up the beach, flopping down onto it, looking up at the sky and digging his hands into the sand.
This would not be happening if he had a circus! Buggy blinked. If he had a circus… his own merry band that could go everywhere with him. Liven up any beach…liven up anywhere. Sail the seas as a party forever! Never be…
Something touched his palm. Buggy blinked, fingers closing around it. Smooth and warm to the touch. His blue hair stuck to the side of his face as he looked down, sand pouring between his fingers
Dark and pearlescent, polished with tiny golden circles, the most flashy thing he’d ever seen. A soulshell.
A new one. Buggy looked back at the ocean, the birthplace of all soulshells. Somewhere out there was the other half. His… his new soulmate. Wonder and mystery, longing and… something he hadn’t felt since Roger died, since he left Shanks washed over him. Buggy looked away, closing his eyes and clenching his jaw, face too warm, throat too tight as he wrapped his fingers around it.
At that moment, a shadow flew over him. The sudden deeper darkness made him open his eyes and look up.
The seagull had returned. And brought a friend. A very big, very hungry friend.
Buggy screamed in terror as the monstrous bird opened its mouth, ready to swallow him up in one gulp. This couldn’t be the end, it wasn’t nearly flashy enough!
He closed his eyes–
SCHWING!
In a burst of feathers and bird meat, a great slash cut through the beast. Buggy opened his eyes, mouth dropping as a man appeared through the blood and guts, not a single bit falling upon him. The seagull flew away again with a terrified squawk. Buggy stared up at his savior, an enormous black sword on his back.
And raised an eyebrow at his fashion sense. Who the hell wore that much black and roses? And what was with the cross necklace? Weirdo. As bird feathers fluttered down around them, something shiny caught the sun, falling from the raining chunks of meat.
The man held out his palm and caught whatever it was. He held it up in surprise, his weird ass golden eyes going wide. Blue and shiny, polished on the edges but rough in the center. Perfect in every way.
“Oh shit?” Buggy started, slowly bringing up his new soulshell. The edges matched perfectly. A full and complete shell. His new…soulmate stared down at him before raising a delicate eyebrow.
Then he turned and began to walk away.
“Oi! Wait! You wanna be a sword swallower in my circus crew?!” Buggy cried, chasing after him.