Julius “Orange” Premile sat with his back on the mast of the Suneater. Below the waves crashed against the hull as Maroon steered them towards their next destination. They had taken to the colored nicknames and embraced them willingly.
Tala, or PInk, had taken hers the worst, though she came around to Pink quickly. She now stood with her slender blade drawn, sparring with Rouge “Indigo”. Pink had been with Orange when he had met the Umbras back in the south blue, an event that felt like an eternity ago.
Pink ducked under Indigo’s massive clever of a weapon, then rushed forward with the blade, stabbing at Indigo’s chest. Indigo was quick on his feet, which was a surprise based on his weapon of choice, so he dodged easily out of the way of the strike.
“Cap” A voice called out. Orange regarded Made “Violet” Urgos. She was a hardy woman, with muscles that rivaled Maroon. Her hair was shaved down along the sides to leave only a hint of its black color, while the top of the hair was left long and pushed over to one side. She was all about bulking up and showing how strong she was, which made it no surprise that she refused any and all weapons presented to her, besides a set of knuckle dusters that she kept hidden in her pockets. “Maroon said we should be approaching Kinder Island.”
“What's special there?’ Orange said, scratching his chin carelessly.
Violet gave Orange an annoyed glare. “Pirate safe haven, good place to resupply.”
“How safe can it be? There are pirates there.” Orange joked.
“Julius.” Indigo said, his voice slightly accented. He placed his weapon against the mast of the ship to show he was done sparing, then corrected his vest jacket and the bowtie below it. “Come now, there is more than just pirates there.” He said in his gentlemanly tone.
“Oh yeah?” Orange said, looking at his second mate. “Like what?”
Indigo’s lips rose to a smirk that was cut off at the corners by his handlebar mustache of purple hair. “Why, women of course! And of the less, butch variety if you will, no offense Violet.”
“I wouldn't have taken offense if you hadn't said it to just me, you know Pink is here too?” Violet said, pointing at the thin woman with sunken eyes.
“I would never dare insult lady Pink.” Indigo said with a bow to Violet. “Mostly because she would, in fact, skin me alive like the Smiley man. In fact, captain, are we sure Pink isn't the Smiley man?” Pink glared at Indigo. “I jest I swear.”
“Fine Fine, tell Maroon to bring us there, lets try not to cause much trouble.” Orange said. “Indigo, get the rest of the crew ready to dock.”
“The rest of the crew is here?” Indigo said, looking around at the other crew members who did most of the ship work.
“Yeah, you're my left hand man, do the work for me.” Orange said, turning back towards the sea.
“You heard our captain ya lot.” Indigo said after a moment of pause.
Kinder Island was a mess to put it bluntly. The sandy walkways were covered with large paths of woods that led all around the place. Windows were smashed, blood was spilled on random sections of wall and ground. A person came flying out of a swinging door as Orange walked, this was his kind of place.
“Such barbarism.” Indigo said, using a handkerchief to lift up the hand of the person who just was thrown out the door. “This one is unconscious, and smells distinctly of piss.”
“The whole island smells distinctly like piss.” Violet said with hands in pocket, most likely ready to pull out the knuckle dusters.
“Right, you are my manly lady.” Indigo said, waving the handkerchief to rid it of the germs, then placed it back into his vest pocket.
“One word to many there ya creep.” Violet said annoyed.
“The lady part?” Indigo quipped.
“Indigo dont be picking a fight.” Maroon said, waving his big meaty hands in a way to hopefully calm Indigo before he got himself killed by his own crew mates.
“I got a feeling there are plenty of better targets for fights.” Orange said as they walked along. “This one looks good.” He turned instantly and walked into a tavern, making such a fast right turn that the rest of the crew had to swerve to keep up.
The tavern in question probably had a name at some point, but now it is probably a few islands away. The paint of the building looked like it hadn't been redone in some years, which was not helped by the temperate temperatures that a summer island provided. It felt annoyingly muggy here for Orange’s taste.
As he entered the bar Orange and his crew drew the attention of several other patrons. They ignored it and approached the bar. He wondered if they thought that Orange with his green hair and single brown cowlick was the strangest thing here. No it was probably Indigo and his giant sword that was almost bigger than him. The bartender took their drinks and poured them into glasses that showed streaks from poor cleaning.
“I am not sure how I feel about this.” Indigo said, using his handkerchief to turn his clear glass around.
“Alcohol kills germs ya freak.” Violet said before taking the drink back in one deep gulp, she chose a hard liquor. With her everything had to be though, maybe she did that to offset Maroon’s softness?
“Right right.” Indigo said, taking his back in a big gulp. His was a wine of a deep crimson color.
Pink sipped at hers, eyes darting between the different patrons of the bar.
Maroon drank milk.
Orange raised his glass, a brown liquid with ice, then sipped. He spotted the man in the corner of the room when he entered, but chose not to say anything at the time. But he could feel his eyes on his back.
“Julius Orange huh.” The voice said from the corner of the room. The once rowdy crowd suddenly went silent as Orange turned towards the voice. It was none other then Byram ‘Long Neck’ Teach.
If one could describe a pirate they would often think of Gold Rodger, or Baihan, maybe even Eduart Corpis, but they would all agree upon seeing Byram that he was, in fact, the perfect image of a pirate. A bushy, scraggly beard, round belly, big captain hat with a skull with a crossbones of swords, their jolly roger, on its front and red feather at its side, pistols at his waist, and a sword on his hip. Leathery skin from time in the sun, and a jolly smile with missing teeth.
Next to him sat two men, his crew mates. The first was a tall fellow of average build with a patch covering his right eye, he had his hair tied into two pigtails of red color. He wore stripes of black on a white background, and bore a saber that was quite large at his right side. This was Pintel Dalma.
The other man was chubby with a large bald spot on his head that made the remaining hair form a sort of crown along the side and back of his head, though it was of a sickly gray color and very stringy. He carried a set of pistols at his hip, several sets from what Orange could tell. He dressed in a camouflage color of greens and browns. This was Ragetti Florence.
Orange smiled at the Eternal pirates. “Well, it's so good to see you survived entering the grandline Byram.”
“Glad to see you survived the Umbra’s.” Byram said, lifting a large clear mug of a muddy colored drink. “A toast, as the sole survivors of the South Blue’s most wanted?”
“I’ll drink to that.” Orange said, raising his own glass high and taking a drink when Byram did.
Byram took down the whole mug in one deep swig, then slammed the glass on the table. “More!” He yelled, a barmaiden quickly replacing his glass, for her troubles Byram only stared at her butt instead of grabbing it like he wanted to. “So, you hear about your little buddies?”
“I did.” Orange said. “Defeating a Warlord, quite a feat wouldn't you say?”
“That it is.” Byram said, never breaking eye contact with Orange. “Meanwhile, you've been fighting marines, and I've been looting whatever comes my way.” His eyes shifted ever so slightly to the other side of the bar.
Orange followed the look briefly and caught sight of the person he directed him towards. A man drank, trying to appear casual, yet it was clear this was no pirate. No he was some sort of informant for the marines, if not a marine. Orange focused again on Byram.
“I feel I have been putting in some good work, 30 Million isn't anything to scoff at.” Orange said.
“Yet here I am, at 40 Million.” Byram said to provoke Orange.
“Ah but I spread the wealth of the bounty amongst my rather large crew.” Orange said, waving at his crew with wide arms.
“Pintel, you're at 36 right?” Byram said, turning his head without breaking eye contact with Orange.
“Aye captain.” Pintel said.
“Oh and Ragetti, 20 right?”
“Aye.”
“Well look at that.” Byram said. “Looks like my crew out weights yours in terms of bounty, but I aint so good at numbers.”
Orange got to his feet, keeping a casual smile. “Ah but see, we just recently caused quite a stir that hasn't been evaluated yet. Our bounties will be increased within a week, and then you'll be eating your shoe as they say.”
Byram stood, pushing his table away from him. “And when it turns out that I am even further in the lead of you by that time, then you'll be eating your shoe, and boy are they nice shoes, must have cost you that extra 10 Million you would need to catch up to me.”
Before Orange could retort the bar door opened, revealing a crew of pirates. At the lead was two men with fancy looking clothes. They all were armed and bore the air of trouble.
“How about the both of ya shut ya mouths.” One of the lead men said. “Neither of you are even viewed as a real threat, hell the Umbra’s outshine both you Knobs. Sit down with that 30 and 40 bounty, make room for the Jack Bros and our individual 50 million bounty.”
The marine that was undercover on Kinder Island for intel later reported that the moment the eldest both, Joe Jack, said those words to the Orange and Eternal pirates the air in the bar erupted into flames.
To his credit, Orange was not the one who started the fight. Though, that was only because Byram was cheating and using a pistol. However, it was clear that Orange was the first to score the first real kill. Sadly it wasn't on one of the Jack brothers, a lacky stepped in the way, poor guy’s eyes and face melted under the power of the Citrus-Citrus fruit.
The chaos erupted instantly upon the two captains declaration of battle. Maroon rushed forward, entering a fist brawl with several members of the Jack Bros at the same time. Violet had pulled out only one Knuckle duster, though that one alone was enough to smash the jaws of two members of the Jack Bros. Pink had snuck into the mix of pirates and was shoving them in different directions from her sword strikes.
Pintel had drawn his saber and pushed back three pirates with his skills. Ragetti had flipped the table he was at for cover and was taking pot shots at the different jack bros pirates. Whenever Ragetti would run out of bullets he would simply drop his gun and pull another from his bandolier of guns.
Windows were smashed as bodies flew out into the sandy wood ground. The younger Jack bro, James Jack, had used his enhanced legs to kick Indigo out into the streets, where he followed in the hope to bring him down. Meanwhile Joe Jack used his enhanced arms to punch Pintel and send him out into the streets.
“Not happening.” Orange and Byram said in unison, following the Jack Bros out into the streets.
Many other Jack Bro pirates began to flood the street, revealing to be a small army of the men then what was seen in the bar. The bar fighting was beginning to spill into the street as well as Violet slammed two men through the walls of the tavern, holding them like human battering rams. She dropped their unconscious bodies onto the ground, then cracked her knuckles and neck as she faced the coming conflict.
James Jack stood over Indigo, but had to turn his attention away as Orange came out swinging at him. Byram stopped Joe Jack from continuing his attack on Pintel in a similar fashion.
“Indigo, mind helping Violet deal with the fodder.” Orange said, standing between Indigo and James.
“Of course captain, they all look so dirty it would be my honor to clear the litter from the street.” Indigo said, using his large blade to get to his feet.
“Pintel.” Byram began. “Get Ragetti, tell him the real show is out here.” Byram said, staring down Joe Jack.
“WIll do Captain.” Pintel said, beginning to cut his way into the crowd back towards the tavern.
“Byram, when I finish this guy ill help you deal with yours, I know you'll need it.” Orange said.
“As if, but if you need some help Ill gladly be of assistance.” Byram said, then began to change.
The Marine would later report the first known sighting of Byram Teach’s Hybrid form. He was a Zoan type user who bore the Dragon-Dragon fruit Model Anchisaurus. His neck stretched out long, and scales covered his body. His hands became similar to claws, but not quite. In his full beast form he stood much larger, but his hybrid form would hold the strength of both the animal and Byram himself.
Orange attacked James with open palms, but James deflected it away. The downside to his fruit was that he needed to make direct contact with a target to give it the acid. The fight turned quickly into a grappling match as the two struggled to land a blow on the other. Orange would slip under the arms of the Jack Bro, trying to get his own strike in.
Byram charged Joe, his strength enhanced beyond belief. Joe used his legs to bounce about, dodging Byram’s grasp with every attempt. Little did he know that Byram had a secret weapon.
The rest of the Jack Bros Pirates could not even begin to help their captains in their fights, as the rest of the Eternal and Orange pirates had emerged and begun fighting to clear space for their captains.
“Now you will tace the power of the ancient beast, the Anchisaurus.” Byram yelled out, then pointed his hands at Joe. “Ancient Drill!” His hands began to spin, then launched out, hitting Joe head on. One in the stomach, the other in the leg. The hands tore threw his flesh as he gasped from pain.
“That doesn't make any sense.” Joe said as he dropped to the ground.
Bryam accepted his win, another set of hands emerging from the empty socket that the first had left. He turned to steal the spotlight from Orange, but was too late.
The Citrus-Citrus fruit had a secondary ability that Orange had begun to take great advantage of. Below his feet he formed a layer of endocarp that let him slide across the ground. He used the surprise of this fact to slip into James Jack’s blind spot, then slipped past him, dragging his hand across the man's stomach.
“Citrus Reticule.” Orange announced, coming to a halt behind the man.
Jack collapsed to the floor, the pain of his stomach ulcer making him immobile. Orange had considered melting the man, but had decided it was more fun to leave him to suffer. He did that alot.
The fight came to an end as the rest of the crew had finished off the army.
“It seems my crew is the victor here.” Orange said to Byram. “We beat the most.”
“Ah, but we beat the most per person.” Byram said, returning to his normal form.
“That doesn't change anything, plus Violet alone took out more than Pintel.”
“So? Pintel had the best takedowns, did you see how he beat that guy over there!”
“If we are talking quality of takedowns, look no further than Indigo! Look over there!”
“No way, Ragetti took down three with one shot!”
This went one till sunset, where they begrudgingly decided to agree to disagree at the behest of their crew. With that they each took off in their separate directions.
Meanwhile, the marine who watched the whole thing stood with a slack jaw. His report would later cause both the pirate crews to get a large bounty raise.
