At the Coast - The Going Merry
While Luffy's group was off exploring the tall grass and meeting tall people, the rest of the crew were enjoying the quiet lull of the afternoon on the Going Merry.
Zoro was polishing his swords, muttering about how the air on this island felt "too long." Sanji was prepping a light snack, and Nami was sunbathing, keeping a lazy eye on the horizon.
Suddenly, Mini Merry, who had been sitting on the railing swinging her legs, stiffened. Her eyes flashed red.
"Alert," Merry's voice dropped an octave, shifting from 'cute girl' to 'tactical AI'. "Unidentified vessel approaching from the southwest. Class: Pirate. Tonnage: Massive. Intent: Hostile."
"Pirates?" Zoro stood up, sliding Wado Ichimonji into his sash. "Finally, some entertainment."
"Hostile?" Ben put down his tea. He walked to the railing.
Emerging from the fog of the sea was a ship that could only be described as... tacky. It was gigantic, painted in loud colors, with a massive fox head figurehead. It was the Sexy Foxy.
"That is one ugly ship," Sanji commented, lighting a cigarette.
"Merry," Ben said calmly. "If they initiate an attack, you are authorized to use defensive countermeasures. Don't sink them yet, but make a point."
"Acknowledged, Papa," Merry chirped.
From the bow of the pirate ship, two massive, metallic claws—shaped like paws—shot out on chains. They were aiming directly for the Going Merry's mast and hull, clearly intending to grapple and damage the smaller ship.
"Grappling hooks detected," Merry announced. "Deploying counter-fire."
CLICK-CLACK.
Two panels on the Merry's side flipped open. Two automated cannons, upgraded by Ben with rapid-fire mechanisms, swiveled into position.
BOOM! BOOM!
Two precision shots rang out.
In mid-air, the cannonballs struck the metallic paws. The impact shattered the claws instantly, sending shrapnel raining down into the water. The chains snapped, recoiling back toward the pirate ship with a loud CLANG.
"Direct hit," Merry reported, her eyes returning to normal blue. "Threat neutralized."
"Show off," Zoro grinned.
Ben pulled out his wand. He pointed it at his throat. "Sonorus."
"ATTENTION, UNIDENTIFIED SHIP!" Ben's voice boomed across the water, amplified to a deafening volume that shook the enemy's rigging. "THIS IS THE STRAW HAT PIRATE SHIP. YOU HAVE FIVE SECONDS TO COME OUT AND EXPLAIN YOURSELVES, OR THE NEXT SHOT GOES THROUGH YOUR HULL!"
The deck of the Sexy Foxy erupted into panic. A moment later, the ship drifted closer, docking aggressively beside the Merry. A gang of pirates, wearing strange masks and carnival outfits, ran to the railing, hands raised in surrender but looking oddly smug.
"Don't shoot!" one of them shouted. "We are the Foxy Pirates! Our Captain has business with your Captain! We demand a Davy Back Fight!"
"Davy Back Fight?" Nami frowned. "What is that?"
"It's a game," Robin said, her expression serious. "An ancient pirate game. And usually... it doesn't end well."
Tonjit's House - The Plains
Meanwhile, blissfully unaware of the naval confrontation, Luffy's group was having a great time.
Tonjit, the old man on stilts (formerly), was reunited with his beloved horse, Shelly.
"Go, Shelly! Go!" Tonjit cheered, riding the incredibly long-legged horse around the clearing.
"Look at him go!" Luffy laughed, clapping. "That horse is awesome!"
"It's like a giraffe," Usopp noted. "But faster!"
"Run, horsey!" Chopper cheered.
"QUACK!" Caroo flapped his wings, running alongside the horse, trying to race it.
It was a wholesome scene. An old man and his pet, reunited after ten years.
BANG!
A gunshot cracked through the air.
Shelly shrieked. Her long legs buckled. She collapsed to the ground, throwing Tonjit off into the grass.
"SHELLY!" Tonjit screamed, crawling toward his horse. Blood pooled on the white leg of the animal.
The wholesome atmosphere shattered instantly.
Luffy's smile vanished. His eyes shadowed. He slowly turned his head toward the source of the shot.
Standing on a small hill nearby was a man who looked like a split-head mushroom. He wore a purple coat, a ridiculous hairstyle that split down the middle, and a smirk that made you want to punch him. He held a smoking pistol.
It was Foxy the Silver Fox.
"Fehfehfehfeh!" Foxy laughed, a grating, annoying sound. "What a long horse! I wanted to see if it would fall over!"
"You..." Luffy growled, his fists clenching so hard his knuckles turned white. "You shot her... for fun?"
"Calm down, Straw Hat," Foxy sneered, walking down the hill with his subordinates, Porche (a woman with a baton) and Hamburg (a giant gorilla-man). "I didn't kill it. Just aiming practice. But since you look so angry... why don't we settle this like pirates?"
Foxy pointed a finger at Luffy.
"I challenge you, Strawhat, to a Davy Back Fight!"
"Davy Back?" Luffy gritted his teeth. "I don't care what it is! You hurt the horse! I'm gonna kick your ass!"
"If you win," Foxy grinned slyly, "I'll apologize to the horse. And I'll give you whatever you want. But if you lose... I take your crew."
Luffy didn't hesitate. He didn't think about the consequences. He looked at Shelly bleeding on the ground. He looked at Tonjit crying.
"FINE!" Luffy roared. "I ACCEPT!"
The Meeting of Crews
An hour later, the two pirate crews converged on the grassy plain near the coast.
The atmosphere was tense. On one side, the Straw Hats stood with arms crossed, looking deadly serious (mostly because Ben had explained the stakes). On the other, the Foxy Pirates were setting up festival tents, food stalls, and balloons, acting like this was a carnival.
"Fehfehfeh!" Foxy stood on a stage, holding a microphone. "Welcome, Straw Hats! Since your captain accepted the challenge, let me explain the rules of the legendary Davy Back Fight!"
He held up three fingers.
"The Davy Back Fight is a game of thieves! In each event, the winner gets to steal something from the loser!"
"Steal what?" Chopper asked, hiding behind Zoro's leg.
"A crew member!" Foxy declared dramatically. "If you lose a round, the winner picks one of your nakama to join their crew! They must swear permanent allegiance to the new captain immediately!"
Nami gasped. "Permanent allegiance?"
"That's right!" Foxy continued.
This revelation immediately sparked a heated, hushed argument among the crew.
"Obviously," Sanji lit a cigarette, flipping his hair, "if they win, they'll come for me first. A first-class cook who is also a genius tactician? I'm the rarest treasure on these seas."
"Hah?" Zoro scoffed, veins popping in his forehead. "Are you stupid, curly-brows? They need muscle to carry their ugly flag. They'd pick a master swordsman over a love-cook any day. I'm clearly the priority target."
"You're both wrong!" Nami hissed, stepping between them. "They'd pick me because I'm the navigator! Without me, you idiots would still be sailing in circles in the East Blue!"
"Gebabababa!" Dory, currently shrunk to human size but still radiating the aura of a warrior captain, laughed heartily. "You little ones worry too much! If they want strength, they will choose the Warriors of Elbaf!"
"Exactly!" Brogy flexed an arm that was as thick as a tree trunk. "We come as a matched set! Two Giant Captains for the price of one! Let them try to take our allegiance!"
"I hope they don't want a pet!" Chopper wailed, clinging to Zoro's leg.
"I hope they don't pick me..." Usopp muttered, sweating.
"Don't worry," Zoro patted Usopp on the back without looking at him. "Nobody wants you."
"HEY!"
Foxy's eyes lingered on Dory and Brogy. Even though they were human-sized due to Ben's magic, their presence was undeniable. "Ooh... those two look strong. Unique specimens. I'll keep them in mind."
"Or," Foxy continued, turning his gaze to the Jolly Roger. "If you don't want a person, you can steal the pirate flag! The Jolly Roger! And with it... your dignity!"
While the Straw Hats bickered, Robin stood quietly at the back, her eyes dark.
"The Davy Back Fight..." Robin murmured, her voice carrying a chill that silenced Chopper and Usopp. "It was created to honor the pirate paradise, Hachinosu. Legends say entire fleets vanished in a single afternoon playing this game. Proud captains forced to swab decks for their rivals... legendary swordsmen reduced to chopping onions... It is a game where you lose your soul before you lose your life."
Usopp and Chopper turned pale blue. "ROBIN! DON'T SAY SCARY THINGS SO CALMLY!"
"Fehfehfeh! That's right!" Foxy laughed, pointing at her. "We have taken the pride of hundreds of crews! And today, we take yours!"
Mini Merry, who was standing beside Ben, tilted her head. Her eyes glowed softly as she scanned the split-headed captain.
"Papa," Merry tugged on Ben's coat.
"Yes, Merry?" Ben asked.
"Scanning Captain Foxy..." Merry chirped loud enough for everyone to hear. "Threat Level: Low. Charisma: Negative. Fashion Sense: Critical Failure. Analysis: He looks like a split-end given life. Recommendation: Shampoo."
"PFFFT!" Nami and Vivi clamped their hands over their mouths to stop from laughing.
"That is a very accurate description, Merry," Robin chuckled.
Foxy froze. He fell to his knees, an aura of depression hanging over him. "Split-end... she called me a split-end..."
"Captain! Don't let the kid bully you!" Porche screamed, trying to comfort him.
Ben's eyes scan the Foxy Pirates. He saw the referee putting on a Foxy mask. Yeah, 'neutral' referee, my foot.
Foxy recovered quickly (mostly). "The contestants for each event are chosen by the captains before the game begins. Once chosen, the lineup cannot be changed!"
"So if we use Sanji in Round 1," Ben noted aloud, "he can't fight in Round 2 or 3."
"Correct!" Foxy winked. "And here is the kicker... if you lose a crew member in Round 1, they become my crew. Which means... I can use them against you in Round 2!"
The Straw Hats stiffened. The strategy was brutal. If they lost Zoro or Sanji early, they'd have to fight against them.
"However!" Foxy added. "If you win Round 2, you can steal your friend back! But only within this specific Davy Back Fight. Once the games are over, the transfers are final!"
"Cheating is strictly prohibited!" Foxy announced, pointing to a large book of rules. "Any foul play results in immediate disqualification!"
"Whatever," Luffy stepped forward, cracking his knuckles. "I'm going to win them all and make you apologize to the horse."
"Fehfehfeh... such confidence!" Foxy laughed. "But be warned... the Foxy Pirates have never lost a Davy Back Fight!"
As Foxy laughed, Ben watched the referee wink at Foxy.
"Cheating is prohibited," Ben muttered to Nami. "Unless the referee is blind."
"We're in trouble," Nami sighed, clutching her head. "Luffy just gambled the entire crew because he got mad at a split-head."
"Don't worry," Ben patted her shoulder. "We have something they don't."
"What?"
"We have actual cheats," Ben smirked. "Let the games begin."