Rouge walked through the dusty streets of Nanohana, his Observation Haki spreading out like an invisible net across the town as he made his way toward Nami and Usopp's location.
The scorching Alabasta sun beat down on his crimson hair, the heat making the air shimmer and dance above the sand-colored buildings.
"Hmm, now that I'm here, I don't really remember the whole thing," he muttered to himself. "And from what the clown said, Crocodile is in Rainbase. There are also other minions of his scattered around."
He paused mid-step, a thought occurring to him. "Let's see my status. It's been so long."
The familiar translucent blue screen materialized before him, and Rouge couldn't help but grin as he read through it.
[STATUS]
Name: Rouge
Age: 20
Devil Fruit: Mythical Zoan - Maho Maho no Mi, Model: Rouge
Skills:
- Confringo (Blasting Curse) - Perfection
- Expelliarmus (Disarming Charm) - Perfection
- Episkey (Healing Charm) - Perfection
- Observation Haki (Intermediate)
Current Stats:
- Strength: 335
- Stamina: 455/455
- Vitality: 695
Rouge's lips curved into a satisfied smile. All that grinding on Little Garden had definitely paid off. But as he stared at his spell list, his expression grew more serious
"Hmm, considering that guy is a sand Logia, I can't touch him physically without Haki," Rouge murmured, analyzing his options.
"Then there's either water or fire. I only have fire being Confringo. Fire can make sand solid... but it needs to be an extreme one."
He calculated quickly in his head.
"With my current stamina, I can use that maybe three to four times at most at full power. There's also Expelliarmus, so his hook is already out of the equation."
Rouge drew his bow, testing the weight.
"So two shots at max of full Confringo with my bow. Should be enough."
Suddenly, his Observation Haki flared with warning. Multiple presences moving fast—one rubber-like signature he recognized immediately, one made of smoke, and another... fire?
In the distance, Luffy came bounding around the corner at full speed, his face split in his trademark grin despite clearly running for his life.
Behind him, a Marine Captain wreathed in white smoke gave chase, and behind them both, a young man with flames dancing around his body followed.
"Shit, my plans," Rouge muttered, watching the chaos unfold. "They must be Logia. Urgh, what should I do? Shit, shit, shit!"
His mind raced through possibilities, each one more problematic than the last. Fighting Marines would bring unwanted attention. Fighting Ace would make Luffy upset. Doing nothing meant Smoker might capture their captain.
He made a snap decision.
"Ahhh, whatever."
Rouge raised his bow, channeling magic through it. An arrow of pure flame materialized, but this time he poured significantly more power into it—roughly sixty percent of his capacity. The arrow grew brighter and brighter, becoming like a miniature sun that bathed the entire street in orange light.
The intense heat made everyone in the vicinity stop in their tracks.
Smoker's smoke form faltered slightly as he sensed the dangerous energy.
Ace stopped running entirely, his fire instincts screaming warnings.
Even Luffy paused, looking back with wide eyes.
"LUFFY!" Rouge shouted.
Luffy's head whipped around, and his expression transformed to pure joy.
His captain skidded to a stop, turning with that trademark grin. "Oohhh, ROUGEEE!"
Luffy immediately changed direction and bounded toward him, completely forgetting he'd been running.
Rouge sighed, flicking a glance past him. "Luffy! Run that way — you'll find the others there. I'll catch up."
"But Rouge, you can't hit that guy!" Luffy called back, pointing toward the Marine.
"I know, I know! Just go already! I'll handle it. And seriously, what the hell's going on? Didn't I tell you to follow Vivi and Chopper?"
Luffy tilted his head, thinking hard. "Hmm… did you say something like that?"
Rouge groaned. "Of course you didn't hear it — you were asleep, you idiot!"
Luffy scratched his cheek, a bead of sweat running down his face. "Ohhh, then I'll meet you later!" he said before taking off again.
Rouge maintained the arrow, keeping it aimed generally in the Marines' direction, but his attention was always on Smoker.
"Now let's see, well, well, Marine-san," Rouge called out with a smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Stop, or get ready to burn with that smoke of yours."
Smoker's eyes narrowed dangerously, taking in this new threat. The heat from that arrow was no joke—even from this distance, he could feel it.
"At most you'll get scattered using Logia," Rouge continued conversationally, "but what about behind you?"
Smoker's expression darkened as he glanced back. Rouge's arrow was still pointed, but the implication was clear - if it came down, the explosion would be massive.
Tashigi stood there with several Marines, all staring at the miniature sun with varying expressions of terror. Beyond them, civilians had stopped to watch the confrontation.
Everyone in the area had already broken into a nervous sweat. They could feel the heat radiating from that arrow even at this distance, like standing too close to a forge.
Dark lines appeared on Smoker's face as he processed the situation.
"Who are you?" he demanded.
Rouge's grin widened mischievously.
"Ara ara, let me introduce myself properly."
He struck a dramatic pose, the arrow still burning. "I am Demon King Guy Crimson, a new member of the Straw Hat Pirates! Heheheh."
Ace's eyebrows shot up at that declaration. Luffy's crew had picked up someone this strong?
"So, Smoker-san, listen carefully. I'm here for a lizard, not for your Marines. You better take them and leave."
Smoker's jaw clenched. "And why should I? Looking at you, you think you can stop me?"
Rouge's grin turned dangerous. He pulled the bowstring back further, channeling more power into the spell. The arrow grew brighter, the heat intensifying to the point where nearby wooden signs began to smoke.
"Oh, I can assure you the damage will be beyond you. Even this little arrow is only at most sixty percent power."
To demonstrate, he channeled more stamina into the spell. The arrow glowed brighter, forcing several people to shield their eyes, fear written across their faces.
"So, have you decided? And did you forget that fire guy behind you?"
Smoker glanced back at Ace, who was watching the exchange with intense interest. The Marines were trapped in between.
Smoker ground his teeth, smoke beginning to pour from his body in agitation. Every instinct told him this red-haired man wasn't bluffing.
"Damn it," he finally muttered, though his glare could have melted steel. "I don't know who you are, but next time I will drag you to Impel Down, you bastard."
Rouge's grin somehow got even wider.
"Oh, don't be like that, Smokey-chan! Have you ever considered learning about Haki? Hehe."
A visible tick mark appeared on Smoker's forehead.
"I will go, but put down your fire first," he growled. "And my name is SMOKER, you bastard!"
"Ara, considering your request, then..." Rouge pretended to think about it. "Well, that's not possible, you see. I can't take this back."
Smoker's eyes widened slightly. "What?"
"I can't actually take this back once it's formed," Rouge explained cheerfully. "But don't worry! I already have an idea."
"If you injure even one of my men, I will disregard everything and drag you to hell personally" Smoker warned, his voice a low growl.
"Bye-bye, Smokey-chan," Rouge chirped, and with a final, dramatic flourish, he aimed his bow directly at the Marines.
Smoker's eyes widened in fury and disbelief. "You—!" He exploded into a dense cloud of white smoke from his body at full power, ready to disperse and protect his subordinates if necessary.
"BOOOM!"
Rouge shouted the word dramatically as he released the bowstring.
But instead of firing the arrow, he simply dispersed the magical energy, letting it fade harmlessly into sparks that drifted upward like fireflies.
"HAHAHA!" Rouge doubled over with laughter. "Oh my god, look at your face! You thought I'd really do it! You look like you just shit yourself!"
Smoker stood frozen, his smoke still billowing around him protectively. His face was a mixture of shock, rage, and absolute bewilderment.
Tashigi and the other Marines behind him had similar expressions—they'd been prepared to die, and now they were just... standing there. Alive.
Even the civilians who'd been watching in terror, had screamed and started to run.
And nothing had happened.
Ace had been preparing to jump in with his flames to counter the attack if necessary. His jaw dropped as he processed what had just happened. "Umm... ah... um... who the hell IS this guy?"
"He... he was bluffing?" one Marine whispered.
"No," Tashigi breathed, adjusting her glasses with a shaking hand. "That power was real. He just chose not to use it."
Rouge was still laughing, tears forming at the corners of his eyes.
"Hahaha! Oh man, that was great! Priceless! Absolutely priceless!"
Smoker's shock rapidly transformed into pure, incandescent fury. Without warning, he shot forward using his smoke powers, barreling straight toward Rouge.
"OI, SMOKEY-CHAN!" Rouge called out, rolling to the side to dodge. "Didn't you say you were going to leave?!"
"SHUT UP!" Smoker roared, his fist wreathed in smoke as he threw another punch.
Rouge dodged again, his movements fluid and practiced.
"Come on, you said you'd go back!" He ducked under another attack. "A Marine should keep his word, don't you think?"
Smoker wasn't listening anymore. His attacks came faster and faster, smoke billowing around him like a storm.
Rouge continued dodging each strike with minimal movement, his Observation Haki making every attack predictable. He was actually enjoying himself, a lazy grin on his face.
"Hmm, you're not even listening at this point," Rouge observed, tilting his head to avoid a particularly vicious punch. "Well..."
He jumped backward, gaining some distance, then raised his finger and pointed it directly at Smoker.
"EXPELLIARMUS!"
The spell shot forward as an invisible force. Smoker, in his Logia form, didn't even try to dodge—physical attacks couldn't hurt him anyway.
Which is exactly why his eyes widened in shock when the spell connected.
The jitte—his sea-stone weapon—was suddenly wrenched from his grasp, flying through the air in an arc.
The Marine's eyes widened in shock. How had that touched him? He was smoke!
Rouge snatched it out of the air with his free hand, testing its weight.
"Oh, nice! A sea-stone weapon! Don't mind if I do, Smokey-chan!"
Smoker had barely processed losing his weapon when Rouge closed the distance with speed that belied his casual demeanor. The jitte in Rouge's hand came down toward Smoker's head.
Smoker tried to turn into smoke to avoid it, but the sea-stone made contact first. Pain exploded through his skull as the metal rod connected with full force, and his Logia powers cut out instantly.
"GUHH!"
Smoker dropped like a stone, hitting the ground hard. His consciousness flickered, darkness creeping in at the edges of his vision.
The street went dead silent.
Rouge stood over him, twirling the jitte casually.
"Huh, what the hell? I thought he'd be more fun than this."
He looked around at the stunned Marines, the shocked civilians, and the dumbfounded fire-user still standing at the end of the street.
"Well then!" Rouge said cheerfully, slinging the jitte over his shoulder. "This was entertaining!"
Tashigi's hand trembled on her sword hilt. "How... how did you hit him? And what was that ?"
"Trade secret," Rouge said with a wink. He looked at the jitte again, clearly pleased. "Thanks for the souvenir, Smokey-chan!"
Then, without warning, he turned and sprinted away, disappearing behind a building before anyone could react.
Ace stood there, his flames dying down as he processed what had just happened. A member of Luffy's crew had just defeated a Marine Captain - a Logia user - in about thirty seconds.
And he'd done it while laughing the entire time.
The fire user looked at the unconscious Smoker, the stunned Marines, and the shocked civilians. Then he started laughing.
"Luffy, you really know how to pick your crew!"
Back behind the buildings, Rouge finally stopped running. He turned and jogged toward where Luffy had ducked behind a building.
"Oh, there you are. Look what I found!" He held up the jitte proudly. "A perfect weapon! Hehe!"
Luffy was grinning from ear to ear. "Rouge! Can I see the stick?"
"It's called a jitte, Luffy." Rouge held it up, examining the sea-stone tip. "And this is perfect. A weapon that can actually hurt Devil Fruit users."
"And Luffy, we should probably get moving before—"
"Oi, there you are, guys!"
Both of them turned to see Nami and Usopp running toward them, looking worried.
Usopp panted. "What happened?"
Rouge opened his mouth to explain, but before he could speak—
WHAM!
A fist came out of nowhere, connecting solidly with the top of his head with enough force to make him see stars.
"ITAI!" Rouge grabbed his head, tears springing to his eyes from the sheer unexpected pain. "What the hell?!"
He looked up to find Nami standing there, her fist still raised, her expression furious.
Nami shrieked. "Do you have any idea how much attention you just drew?!"
Beside her, Usopp was shaking his head. "We just got here, and you're already starting fights with Marines?"
"It wasn't my fault!" Rouge protested, still rubbing his head. "Luffy was being chased, and I just... helped?"
Luffy nodded enthusiastically. "Rouge saved me from Smokey!"
"Smoker?!" both Nami and Usopp shrieked. "The Marine Captain Smoker?!"
"Look what I found!" Rouge held up the jitte proudly, trying to change the subject. "A perfect weapon against Devil Fruit users!"
His words hung in the air as all three of them stared at the seastone weapon.
Then, slowly, Nami's expression shifted from anger to something far more terrifying.
Her smile was sweet. Too sweet.
"Rouge," she said, her voice dripping with false cheer. "Did you steal that from a Marine Captain?"
"Ah... borrowed?" Rouge tried.
"So you robbed a Marine Captain."
"When you put it that way..."
"After making a huge scene."
"In my defense—"
"And now every Marine in this town is probably looking for us."
Rouge's shoulder slumped. "...I may have made a small tactical error."
Luffy just laughed, completely unbothered. "It's fine! We're pirates!"
"Hehe, my bad?"
"'My bad' doesn't cover it, you idiot!"
Nami grabbed both Rouge and Luffy by their collars. "RUN!"
And so the newest member of the Straw Hat Pirates spent his first hour in Alabasta doing what the crew did best - running from the consequences of their actions while laughing like complete maniacs.
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Author Notes:
Anyway, that's Chapter 14! I had fun writing this one — between the fake explosion, the jitte theft, and Nami's inevitable punch of justice, it's peak Straw Hat chaos.
This could get him a good bounty poster, hehe.
Next chapter's gonna stir even more trouble in Alabasta, so polish your seastone and hand over those stones!