Boy With a Scar

Chapter 20: Living a Lie

"We're gonna crash! We're gonna crash! We're gonna crash!"

Luffy laughed loudly, ignoring or not hearing Usopp's, Johnny's, and Yosaku's terrified screams behind him. He had one of his rubbery appendages twisted around Merry's figurehead so that he wouldn't fall as the huge sea cow pulled their ship. "Faster! Faster!" he urged excitedly. "Full speed ahead!"

"Moooooooo!" replied the beast. A strange twinkle entered his eyes.

Suddenly Going Merry jerked forward, speeding up even more. The wave threw it into the air, eliciting laughter from the captain again. "Yahoo!" he cheered as the ship landed roughly back on the sea surface.

"WE'RE GONNA DIE!" the cowardly trio yelled in fright, hugging the main mast for dear life.

Sanji brushed his hair from his eye as Merry jumped another wave. "We're making a good time with this hippo's help," he casually commented.

"Yeah," Zoro agreed, nonchalantly leaning on the inner railing with his arms folded. "We might even catch up with Nami before reaching that island."

"Ah! Beautiful Nami-san~! I can't wait to see her again!"

"You two are way too relaxed!" Usopp shouted at them from his spot. "Show at least some concern for our lives!"

Luffy put his free palm above his eyes to cover the sun, because his straw hat was wildly dangling in the wind, and squinted at the distance. "Oooooi!" He flashed a huge grin over his shoulder. "I see land!"

"Finally...!" Zoro drawled with his hand on his katana and a small smirk playing on his lips.

Sanji clicked his tongue. "Nami-san is our top priority, you hear, shitty swordsman?"

Zoro's eye twitched. "What did you call me, damn cook?!"

Before they could start fighting once more, a mirthful laughter drew both their attentions to their exuberant captain. Luffy just then stretched his arms to grab Moomoo's horns.

"He's not gonna do what I think he might do, right?" the cook mused loudly.

The swordsman snorted. "Of course not."

They held their breaths as the boy's arms snapped back. Luffy collided with the back of the sea cow's head, giggled under his breath, and then climbed up to sit on top. Fist-pumping the air, he exclaimed, "Wait for us, Nami! Here we come!"

Zoro and Sanji heaved heavy sighs of relief, for some reason feeling as though this time luck was on their side that Luffy didn't decide to simply shoot himself to the island ahead of the ship.

The huge sea beast started to gradually slow down till it came to a halt right in front of the Arlong Park.

Luffy beamed at his new friend. "Good job, Moomoo!" he praised, at the same time gently patting the beast's head under him. "Thanks."

The cow closed his eyes in bliss. "Moooo..."

"Mohmoo? What are you doing?"

An unfamiliar voice coming from the land drew the pirate's attention and he turned to look at the speaker. It was a tall fishman with six arms and octopus-like face. Luffy's eyes widened slightly as his gaze fell on the fishman's forehead, instantly recognizing the mark burned onto it.

"Nyu! Is this human bullying you, Mohmoo?!" the stranger yelled in outrage, lifting all of his fists ready to fight.

That caused the straw-hatted boy to blink in surprise. "Shishishishi! No, we're friends," he informed with a sunny grin. "Right, Moomoo?"

The sea cow nodded his head. "Mooooooo!"

"Oh..." The fishman lowered his aggressive stance, and then rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Sorry about that. I never saw Mohmoo getting friendly with a human before."