In Which I Meet My Favorite Monsters
Even after six days of sneaking inside, the wall of the naval base stands tall and intimidating before me. I never know if marines patrol the other side or observe the execution yard from one of the many windows above. I time my excursions based on information received from some of the marines—the lonely young men who are all too happy to talk to a pretty girl who takes an interest in them. Not that I want anything to do with them beyond friendship—and that is a stretch—as long as they wear the naval emblem. The only thing I care about is the man inside the base who doesn't belong to the government, not yet. Today will be the day I pay Roronoa Zoro back for what he did.
No one comes near the base if they can help it, not with the chance Captain Axe-Hand Morgan might find them. A sour taste coats my tongue and I twist my lip. Despicable man. But his abuse of power means I can climb the wall without potentially putting a villager in danger. My bag bounces against my hip and my naginata knocks against my knees, both threatening to send me tumbling to the ground if I don't pay attention to what I'm doing.
Poking my head above the wall, I pause. Zoro slouches against his post, arms tied back and chin resting on his chest. Sweat darkens his shirt, and he breathes shallowly. The man must be starving after nine days; he won't hold out against me for much longer. I pull myself the rest of the way up the wall and sit on the top, swinging my legs. Zoro stirs at the rhythmic thudding and looks up, his eyes narrow.
"I told you to go away," he says.
"Yep, you did."
"Then leave."
"Not happening. Not until you let me help you."
"Help?" He scoffs at the word. "More like charity."
I stick my tongue out at him and open my bag. "Rice balls, salted fish, meat pies, plenty of water, and… oh, what's this? Ale?" Zoro stiffens at my words, and I grin. "I guess I'll have a picnic by myself."
I pull out one of the rice balls and bite into it, chewing slowly and loudly. Keeping my eyes locked on Zoro's, I wash it down with a mouthful of Ririka's best ale. Zoro swallows, watching me hungrily. He manages to stay quiet, but he can't stop his Adam's apple from bobbing with every swallow he takes as he watches. He glares at me.
"Evil girl."
"The name's Ember, as I've told you before." I finish off the rice ball. "Better hurry up and ask for help; all the food is gonna be gone soon."
"There he is!"
Two boys pop up on the wall next to me. I jump, a strangled noise coming from my throat, and lose my balance. Arms pinwheeling, I scramble for purchase. The flask of ale tumbles from my hands, and I lunge after it, barely managing to grab it with my fingertips. My bag slides down my arm, hooking on my elbow and swinging like a pendulum. The shift in weight tips me over, and the execution yard rushes up to meet my face, but seconds before I slam into the ground, a hand grabs the back of my shirt and hauls me to the top of the wall. Breathing heavily, I grip the edge with knees and hands. My heart races.
"Th-thanks," I stammer.
"Don't mention it!"
The boy who grabbed me grins, his smile spreading across his entire face in a way that emphasizes the scar under his left eye. He's wearing a simple straw hat, a sleeveless red button-down vest, and blue shorts. He looks to be about my age. The second boy, pink-haired and bespectacled, can't seem to decide who terrifies him more, Zoro or me.
"What's wrong?" Straw-Hat asks his friend.
"A black bandana and a haramaki sash. It's really him! And her! She's got a huge spear on her back and was talking to him! They must be friends!"
"It's a naginata," I say shortly. "And 'friends' is labeling our relationship rather nicely."
"We don't have a relationship," Zoro adds, his words as short as mine.
"If he's Roronoa Zoro, who're you?" Straw-Hat asks.
"Ember."
"I'm Luffy," he replies. "And this is Koby."
"What are you guys doing? It's dangerous to visit him."
"Because he might kill us?" Koby exclaims.
"No. If the marines see you, you could get in a lot of trouble."
"I'm not afraid of the marines," Luffy says. "I came to see if the famous pirate hunter is as strong as everyone says. I'm not so sure now. Those ropes don't look thick. Why doesn't he break out?"
"That's suicide!" Koby shouts. "Don't talk about him getting free! He'll kill us all and go after the town."
I snort. "More like run out on his debts," I mutter.
"Hey, kid," Zoro says, addressing Luffy. "Why don't you come and untie me? I've been here for nine days, and I can't take it anymore."
"Look, he's smiling!" Luffy says.
My head whips around, and I stare at the man tied in the execution yard. His head is raised and, just like Luffy said, a dangerous smile dances across his lips. His words cut me like his famous swords.
"I'll make it worth your while. I'll capture someone with a big bounty and give all of it to you."
Blood roars through my ears, drowning out the last of Zoro's words. My grip on the wall sends bits of stone and mortar tumbling to the ground. Who does Roronoa Zoro take me for?
"What did you ask them?" I yell. "You're asking them for help when I've come every day? I would have untied you!"
"I told you, I don't want your help!" Zoro shoots back, his cheeks flushing.
"But you want his?" I hook my thumb toward Luffy. "You don't know him! You think because I'm a girl, I'm not as useful as some random boy who shows up?"
"That has nothing to do with it!"
"I don't want you to protect me, Roronoa." I make quick work of my bag, pulling out the food and ale. "Here," I say, shoving them into Koby's hands, "you can have this. Apparently, you'll make better use of it than I will."
Koby splutters and Luffy watches me, but neither stops me from handing them the food. I think I might see a gleam in Luffy's eyes, although it is gone before I care to figure out what it means. Luffy isn't my concern.
"What are you doing?" Zoro asks, suspicious.
I face him, shaking my bag in the air. It sloshes, the water the only thing left in it. With a snarl, I toss it into the execution yard; the bag lands a few feet from Zoro, dust drifting up around it. His mouth drops open, and he stares at it, eyes wide.
"That bag has my name sewn in it." A lie, but he doesn't know otherwise. "I'm not scared of the Navy." The solidness of the words surprise me; my voice doesn't tremble once. I'd believe myself. "You're in this because of me, and I'm going to be here for you—one way or another."
"This isn't the time to prove your bravery! If they see your name, they'll arrest you."
"Will you accept my help?"
His face darkens. "No."
I wave, one quick flip of my hand over my shoulder, and jump off the wall to the street below. Luffy laughs, grinning widely. Heat continues to flood my face, only growing more intense when he says, "She's got spunk!" Some spunk, I think. I can't defend the people I love, and I can't help the people who can. Part of me knows I'm pouting, how it's ridiculous of me to expect Zoro to let me pay him back—but that part is tiny and handily contained.
Years of making sure the Navy never paid any particular attention to me means I know how to avoid notice. Asking questions at the pub, climbing the wall of the naval base, throwing my property into the middle of the execution yard—none of those things are low profile. What in the world possessed me to be so reckless for this man? Recklessness means death. That's a lesson I know too well.
Sighing, I scrub my face with my hands, willing the heat and anger both to go away, and promptly bump into someone. We both stumble back, and I drop my hands to see little Rika standing in front of me. Her determined face and blazing eyes lift my spirits a bit, although the food in her hands—which she quickly tries to hide under her dress—does the opposite. I gently pull her cheek.
"Rika, love, we've talked about this. It's too dangerous for you to see him."
"You see him every day!"
"I'm bigger than you, and it was still stupid."
"You're not much bigger than me!"
She sticks her tongue out, and I return the gesture, pulling her cheek again. Little Rika always has such big ideas. One day she'll grow into them, but not today.
"He saved us, you know."
"I know," I reply, sighing. Oh, how I know.
"Why is your face all red?" she asks suddenly.
Caught off guard, I blink. "Oh, he—Roronoa was acting stupid."
"Now he's stupid, too? Big sis, do you think everyone is stupid?"
"I'm beginning to think so," I mutter. Crouching, I ruffle her hair. "Be safe, Rika love. If any marines are in the yard, don't go see him, okay?"
She nods, relief blooming in her eyes. "Thank you!"
"And be back in time for dinner! I don't want your mom worrying again!"
She waves at me as she dashes away. I watch her until she turns the corner and disappears from view. Without her nearby, I can't stop from mulling over my emotions and everything that's happened. Why am I so caught up with Zoro? I let my feet wander, losing myself in the streets of Shells Town. If I walk enough, maybe I can outwalk my stupidity.
Sometime later, I find myself in front of Ririka's inn. Much to my surprise, she's standing outside, Rika clutching her skirts. I frown and glance at the sun—at least an hour has passed since I left the execution yard, although it doesn't feel like it. Ririka and Rika both have looks of concern on their faces, and once I draw close, Ririka clasps my hands in hers.
"Thank goodness. I was so worried, Ember."
"Why?" I ask, allowing her to search my face and draw me into a hug. Some of the tension drains from my shoulders.
"Because of all the commotion at the base, of course," Ririka replies, pulling back.
"What—?"
"He liked my rice balls, and he drank all of your water," Rika cuts in. "He said it was delicious, all of it. I think he wanted to eat your food, but Luffy ate it first."
I shake my head slowly. "I'm not following, Rika. Who are you talking about?"
"Zoro!" she exclaims. "He told Luffy to tell us how much he liked what we brought him!"
"But that's impossible. He blatantly refused everything I had."
Rika's eyes brighten. "No, he didn't. And now he and Luffy are gonna break out of the base and start a crew together!"
"What?!" I shout, looking at Ririka. The older woman nods, her face grave.
"It's true," she says. "That young man in the straw hat punched Helmeppo because he said he plans on killing Roronoa Zoro in three days time."
"You can't be serious," I stammer, my mind a whirlwind as I try to keep up. "Roronoa killed? And Luffy is going to put a stop to it?"
"Yes. That's why I was so worried. It's no secret you're sweet on the young man—"
"I am not!" I interject.
"—although for the life of me, I don't know why you like such a dangerous person—"
"That's because I don't!"
"—but I knew when it happened that you were in the middle of it all, and when you never came back… I'm so glad I was wrong, Ember."
I rub my face with my hand, gathering my thoughts. So Helmeppo lied about Zoro's release, and not only that, but he managed to piss Luffy off, too. I try to mesh the idea of Luffy storming the naval base with the grinning boy I met but can't do it. But more surprisingly, Zoro drank my water. My chest swells; he accepted my help.
"Ririka, when did Luffy leave?"
"Oh, not too long ago. Ten minutes, maybe." Her eyes narrow and she grips my chin, forcing me to meet her gaze. "Why? Ember?"
"I'm going to help them."
Smiling sweetly, I kiss her on the cheek. I slip out of her grip and take off down the street before she can stop me. She cries out after me, the sound rending my heart a little, but I can't stop. Not after Zoro stamped down his pride and accepted my help.
"Yeah! You go, big sis!"
"Rika, don't encourage her! Ember! Ember, please come back!"
"I will!" I call over my shoulder. "But with Luffy and Roronoa this time!"
Her cries and Rika's cheers are soon lost in the twisting streets. I run in silence for a short while before new shouts drift to me on the wind. Something several times larger than a human, but humanoid in shape, looms at the top of the base's tower. The marines hoisting it into the air look like tiny toy soldiers, but the distance doesn't muffle Captain Axe-Hand Morgan's demeaning and booming voice. The object must be the giant statue he commissioned of himself. My stomach churns at the sight of it. What type of horrid man wastes tax money in such a repulsive way?
A gunshot echoes through the air, jarring me back to the situation at hand. Someone screams, and within the scream, I can barely make out the words 'shot' and 'die.' The voice sounds familiar, although I don't immediately recognize it. The thought does little to loosen the white panic gripping my chest. My breath comes in short bursts. A single gunshot, I tell myself. Dying from a single bullet is hard. No, it takes multiple shots to kill someone, even an old man. My stomach cramps and I bend over. I breathe slowly through my nose and push the thoughts—and fear—away as best I can; I can't afford to be sick. The gunshot means I can't waste any more time.
I pull myself over the wall with shaky arms and drop into the execution yard. It's empty except for Zoro and Koby. The former is still tied up, while the latter writhes on the ground in pain, gripping his bleeding shoulder. Well, it looks like I found the recipient of the attack. The marines must be heading to us at this very moment. I hurry over to the boys. Zoro glances at me, his sigh loud and resigned.
"Not you, too. Why are you here?"
"I heard you drank my water," I reply, grinning.
He scowls but doesn't deny it. "Why are you here?" he repeats.
"Charity."
"You're making jokes at a time like this?! How many times do I have to tell you that the marines will kill you before you stop thinking that this is some game?"
"Trust me," I say darkly, the gunfire report still causing me to tremble, "you don't have to convince me of the danger."
Something in my tone must have tipped him off to my mood because he clamps his lips shut. Instead, he turns to Koby in what would be a pleading gesture from any other man.
"You've gotta talk some sense into her," he says.
Koby pushes himself to a sitting position, his face pale but determined. He glances at me. "To be honest, I think she has a better grasp of the situation than you do. They're going to kill you, not her. You're going to be executed in three days."
"What?" Zoro stammers, looking between the two of us as if he can't believe what he's hearing. "That idiot promised me if I survive for a month, I'll be set free."
"That idiot lied," I reply.
"That's why Luffy punched Helmeppo. He found out that he lied to you!"
"Is that true?" he asks me.
I nod. "That's what Ririka told me, and she has no reason to lie to me."
"Luffy saved my life," Koby tells us. "I won't ask you to become a pirate like he wants, but he's strong and so are you, if the rumors are true." His eyes fall on me again. "I bet even you're stronger than I am."
"What's that supposed to mean?" I retort, my cheek twitching at the offhand compliment.
"If you guys team up, you can escape."
"Well, he's right about that," I say. "I came to save you like you saved me, as long as you can stomach a girl helping you."
"I told you that you being a girl has nothing to do with it."
"So what's your decision? You have to choose. The Navy knows we're here," Koby says.
Zoro's eyes narrow, and I know he's calculating the situation in his mind. The seconds tick by and his eyes darken while his face pales. He looks like a man with his back to the wall, or in this case, the post. I take stock of the situation while he considers the offer. Koby is right; we have no time to spare. If we're going to free Zoro, we need to do it before the marines pin us in this yard.
"Stay where you are!"
"Captain Morgan has ordered your immediate execution!"
"You four aren't simple outlaws, are you?" I recognize this voice as Morgan's. "I bet you're trying to overthrow me."
Guns cock behind us, the sound sending trickles of fear down my back. I turn, slowly, my hands slightly raised. A line of marines faces us. I recognize a few of them as regulars from the pub, young men who laughed and danced and bought me drinks only a few night ago. Their faces brighten—and immediately darken—when they see me. The Captain looms behind them, tall and daunting. Staring down the barrels of their guns, the trickle of terror threatens to turn into full panic again. I swallow thickly, eyes darting back and forth between the men. I can't see many options; either I draw my naginata and defend us or stand and wait for them to arrest—or kill—me. My heart beats painfully in my chest.
"Roronoa Zoro… common folk and baby pirates might tremble at your name, but you're no match for someone like me. You may be a barracuda, but I'm a great white shark," Morgan says, sneering. His eyes trail over to me, and I stiffen, stopping my slow reach toward my naginata. "And you. You're a village girl, aren't you? I always wondered about you, living by yourself outside of town, befriending the villagers but never putting down roots… mighty suspicious. I should have known you were up to no good."
My heart stops. How much does Morgan know? He can't possibly have any information or else he would have ended me instead of issuing empty threats. Morgan raises his hand, an evil glint in his eyes. I reevaluate; maybe his threats aren't so empty after all.
"Ready."
Zoro and Koby inhale sharply. Morgan's giant form swells and grows in size, and just like that, I am eight years old again. What sounded like the poppers we played with on New Year's ended up being multiple guns firing in quick succession. Flashes of light, the horrible relief of blood against the setting sun, and his eyes, once bright and full of laughter, fading away to glass marbles. The acrid scent of gunpowder sends my stomach into knots. The two images—my past and the present—lie one on top of another. I shake my head, desperately trying to make myself present in this moment, but I can't rid myself of the memories.
"Aim."
I have to be here. I turn on my heel, exposing my back to the marines. Fear sends my limbs into a trembling frenzy, and I almost trip. Forcing the panic down, stamping on my memories, I grab my naginata and yank it off my back. Orienting myself toward Zoro, I catch a glimpse of him, grim-faced, pale, and with a touch of sadness in his eyes.
The sound of glass shattering, like the sweet refrain of raindrops, fills the air. Someone shouts and Morgan yells, "Fire!" I tense, diving forward. Two dozen guns fire, their reports filling the execution yard like thunder. I brace myself, ready for the sharp pain of bullets piercing my skin, but instead I complete my jump toward Zoro. I land on his chest, and I can't help but notice the hard contours of his tense muscles and the relief mingling with fear and disbelief on his face.
I follow his gaze and see Luffy standing between us and the marines, his arms spread wide and—and parts of his body stretching back. My vision wobbles; did… did Luffy take the bullets for me? No. No, no this can't happen again. He steps back, his body shuddering from the impact, and my mouth dries. Where did he come from and what is happening to his body?
"You!" Zoro exclaims. "What are you—how?!"
Luffy bends forward, still shaking as if struggling against an enormous weight. He flings his arms open. Bullets shoot from his body and fly into the marines, every bit as quickly as if they came from a gun. The men scatter, many falling to the ground to escape the onslaught of fire.
"Bullets can't hurt me!"
Luffy laughs, his full-bodied whoops blending with our shocked gasps and the marines' shouts. Morgan doesn't make a noise; he barely flinches when a bullet whizzes past his head. He scowls at us, a vein popping out on his forehead and his face turning red.
"What are you?" Zoro asks.
"I'm the guy who's gonna be King of the Pirates."
Luffy grins over his shoulder at us. He walks to us, and I, with a jolt, realize I'm still pressed against Zoro. I push off him, although he hardly notices me. Luffy wears Zoro's three swords tied across his back and my bag slung over his hip.
"So which are yours? I brought all three because I couldn't tell."
"They're all mine. I practice santoryu, three-sword style."
Zoro makes a motion with his hand as if to grab his swords, but Luffy keeps them carefully out of reach. Luffy manages a thoughtful look, but he can't hide the mischievous gleam in his eyes.
"If you fight the Navy with me in the eyes of the Government, you'll be an outlaw for real. You'll be no better than a pirate. But if you don't want to be a pirate, you could obey the law… and let them kill you."
Zoro grimaces. "Demon spawn, the both of you. I'm not ready to die without a fight. All right, damn it. You've got yourself a pirate!"
"Me, too," I interject, staring up at Luffy. "I want to join your crew."
The words are out of my mouth before I realize what I'm saying. I clamp my lips shut, eyes widening, but the declaration has been made. Where did that come from? I came to rescue Zoro, but I never considered joining a pirate crew. But as soon as I say it, I know the words are right. I want to travel with them, and I can't stay in Shells Town after standing up to the Navy.
"What?! You can't be serious," Zoro exclaims.
"I am!" I counter, jabbing him in the chest. "So don't try to stop me."
Luffy grins and sticks out his hand. "You sure you want to be a pirate?"
"Yes!"
"Good," he says, laughing. "I like people with spunk!"
I slap his outstretched hand, my heart full to bursting. There's no going back. Ririka is going to kill me.
"Yahoo!" Luffy cries out, jumping into the air with his arms outstretched. "I have two crew members!
"Will one of you hurry up and untie me?"
Zoro glares at us as if he'd rather be anywhere other than stuck in this situation with the two of us. Luffy's grin drops from his face and he tugs on the knots keeping Zoro tied up. He pulls on a few without making any progress. The marines grow noisy behind us, slowly regaining their feet. They draw their swords in place of their guns and charge us, shouting. Koby echoes their screams, scrambling back on hands and feet away from the charge. I step forward, standing between Luffy and the marines.
"Uh, guys," I start.
"These are some pretty tight knots," Luffy mutters.
"Just hurry up!"
"Guys, you should probably—"
"I think I made it tighter…"
"You what?!" Zoro shouts.
"We don't have time for this," I say, scowling. Twirling my naginata in my hands, I take a half-step back and bring the blade down in a short arc. Luffy ducks out of the way and Zoro flinches as if he wants to as well. The naginata thunks into the wood directly above Zoro's left hand, cleanly slicing through the ropes. His hand falls free.
"My swords!" he demands.
Luffy complies. In a flash, Zoro slices himself the rest of the way free and jumps past Luffy. The marines are closing in on us and I turn back to them. The ones in front hesitate for the smallest moment, regret burning like a beacon on their faces. They don't want to hurt me. The pause is all Zoro needs; he shoulders me to the side and meets the marines in a clash of steel on steel. He blocks all of their swords with his three and manages to make it look effortless.
"Wow, he's so cool," Luffy gushes.
"Show off," I retort.
"The first one who moves dies," Zoro threatens.
Despite the sword in his mouth, his words are clear and intimidating. The marines shake where they stand, their swords clanking nervously against Zoro's. Tears stream down some of their faces. I can't stop from staring at him in awe; he only used one sword when he defended me against the wolf-dogs. Seeing him use all three feels like watching a master at work. He glares at Luffy, the marines frozen in fear behind him. Zoro's cold eyes gleam with unbridled passion, giving off the air of a man choosing the lesser of two evils.
"All right, so I'm a pirate. I gave you my word," he says. "I've fought the Navy and now I'm an outlaw. But you need to know! I have a mission to fulfill—I'm going to be the world's greatest swordsman. All I have left is my destiny. Infamous or not, my name will shake the world! But you're making me become a pirate, so if I have to abandon my dream for any reason, I'm gonna make you pay for it."
"The world's greatest swordsman? That's fitting since your new boss is gonna be the King of the Pirates. Anything else would make me look bad."
"Heh. You sure talk big," Zoro says, chuckling.
"What are all of you waiting for?" Morgan yells. "Hack those brigands into mincemeat!"
"Zoro, Ember, duck!" Luffy commands, the glint returning to his eyes. "Gum-gum whip!"
He leans forward, lifting one leg as if gearing up for a kick, but his leg stretches for several feet before stopping. He whips it toward the marines. Zoro's eyes widen and he drops to the ground without question. I follow half a second later, and the force of Luffy's kick lifts the hairs on my head. Luffy's leg crashes into the marines, sending them flying. I grimace; lousy day to be a marine.
"What the hell are you?" Zoro and I ask in unison.
"I'm a rubber man!"
Any confidence the marines had before leaves them at his words. Many of them struggle to regain their footing, clutching shoulders and legs. They turn to Morgan, fear and despair on their faces, torn between obeying their orders and running back into a hopeless fight. I feel a twinge of sympathy for the men, most of whom always treated me much better than I expected. Outside of these walls, the men are kind and polite. Some have loved ones in the village. None of them deserve to be stuck in a battle like this.
"A rubber man?!"
"Captain, they're too strong!"
"We can't fight a rubber man and the demon Roronoa Zoro at the same time!"
"Hey now," I shout, annoyed. "I'm part of this crew, too!"
Luffy laughs good-naturedly. I glance at my captain, my anger rising, but he gives me a thumbs up, appeasing me a small amount. I want to be every bit as useful to him as Zoro is. I might not be some infamous bounty hunter but I have my own set of skills. The marines, for the most part, ignore me. They train their eyes on Captain Morgan, who clenches his fist and bows his head. Shadows cover his eyes, and when he speaks, his words are equally as dark. He bellows into the still air.
"All of you cowards who whined will shoot yourselves in the head! I won't tolerate defeatists in my outfit. On my order, fire!"
Shocked silence rings through the execution yard. The marines hesitate as if considering the order, much to my surprise. They look between Morgan and us with uncertain eyes. I take the opportunity to stand back to my feet, lightly drumming my fingers on the haft of my naginata. Zoro positions himself behind Luffy. Luffy doesn't move, only stares at the marines with a stricken expression. I understand how he feels; surely they'll refuse… right? My chest tightens painfully as one by one, the men lift their pistols to their heads, arms shaking and eyes shut tight.
"Something is wrong with these naval marines," Zoro mutters.
They're going to kill themselves. The thought skitters across my mind like the first heavy footsteps that crack a thin layer of ice on a pond. The image of them pulling the trigger, of so many bodies crashing to the ground, shatters what composure I'd managed to hold onto. My mind a blur, I lunge forward, but not before Luffy bounds toward the marines first. He outpaces me, and for a second I think he means to barrel into the marines and scatter them again. At the last moment, he jumps into the air and flies not at the soldiers, but directly toward Morgan.
"Hey, I'm your enemy," he declares. "Try putting me to death instead!"
Morgan parries Luffy's fist, which strikes him square in the middle of the giant axe-head that makes up his arm. He counter-swings at Luffy, but Luffy pushes off him, using the momentum of the swing to land a few feet away. The two stare each other down; Luffy secures his hat and Morgan tosses his Naval Captain coat away.
"What do you guys think you're doing?" I exclaim, skidding to a halt in front of the marines. "You can't kill yourselves for someone like Morgan. I don't care if he did give you an order."
I grab the gun of the closest marine, knocking it to the ground. He lifts his head and I recognize the shock of dark hair and darker eyes; a few years older than me, Anthony often frequents Ririka's pub during his time off. He rarely drinks, but he and the other young marines in the crowd like to buy me drinks. I remember him because he loves to sing and would often entertain us with music. To his left is the bright-eyed and rosy-cheeked Freddy, and halfway through the crowd, I can make out Kane's mousy head. Even Commander Ripper has his gun to his temple. They're not bad people, and because of that monster, all of them are considering taking their lives. The thought of any of them dying for Morgan makes my blood boil.
"You should follow someone you believe in, not scum like him."
I reach out and grab another soldier's gun, lowering it. By this point, all of their eyes are trained on me. I slowly step through them, lowering guns and patting arms. Their muscles relax as I pass, but not all of them drop their weapons. I reach Commander Ripper; he stares me down, conflicted. I see the question in his eyes, the one he can't ask with Morgan a few feet away.
"If you die," I say, pitching my voice so only the marines closest to me can hear, "who will protect this town from his atrocities? If you kill yourself, who will stand between him and us?"
Ripper's lips compress into a tight, white line. His eyes flicker past me to Luffy and Morgan's fight. I hear crashing noises and shouting coming from them, but I refuse to take my gaze off the man in front of me. He returns my look and I notice the slightest tremble in his hand. Stepping near him, I lower my voice more, for his ears alone.
"Commander Ripper… fight us, arrest us, do whatever you need to do to us, but don't finish your life like this."
"He is my Captain," he says softly, his words almost drowned out in another crash, "and I am a marine."
"I'm not asking you not to be a marine anymore. I'm asking you to be what a marine is supposed to be. Save your men. Uphold justice. Trust me."
"Do you believe in this boy you follow?"
"More than I ever believed in Morgan."
Ripper's lips lift into a wry smile. "That isn't saying much."
He sighs and haltingly, as if the action pains him, lowers his gun. The men who haven't lowered theirs yet give a start and copy him. They murmur amongst themselves; I suspect they never expected their Commander to disobey a direct order. I smile, relief blossoming in my chest and chasing the last remains of worry away. He returns the smile, albeit a little shakily.
"You better not be wrong," he tells me.
"Don't worry; I'm not."
"The Captain was right concerning one thing, there is something different about—"
Ripper cuts off, eyes widening and mouth dropping open. I jerk around, fully expecting to see Morgan bearing down on me. Instead, I see him on the ground at Luffy's feet, and beyond them, Helmeppo holding Koby at gunpoint. I scowl. Men and their guns. Despite the weapon pressed against his temple, Koby's chin is held high. He meets Luffy's eyes.
"Luffy, don't let them win because of me. I'd rather die!"
Luffy grins, winding his arm up for a punch. "Did you hear him, idiot son? Koby's a good guy. He means it."
"I told you not to move or else I'll shoot," Helmeppo stammers. "I mean it! Stop walking!"
"Luffy, forget about me—look out behind you!"
A dark shadow rises behind Luffy. His arm stretches across the yard, slamming into Helmeppo's face. The boy grunts and falls, face crumpling. Another shadow dashes across the ground in a white and green blur, low and fast. Morgan grunts and falls backward; he and his son land in the dirt at the same time, both unconscious. A cloud of dust rises from the impact, and when it clears, Zoro stands above Morgan.
"Nice, Zoro!" Luffy says.
"No sweat, Captain."
I grin, feeling slightly lightheaded. Running over to the boys, I sling my arms over both their shoulders, bringing them together. Zoro glares at me from underneath his bandana, but Luffy returns my smile.
"Good job, guys! We did it!"
"Are you sure?" Zoro asks. "Maybe they still want to capture us."
He nods to the marines. They stand unmoving off to the side, staring at us and Morgan's unconscious form as if they can't believe their eyes. Ripper finds my gaze and shakes his head ruefully. I grin, giving him a thumbs up. He throws his head back, his relieved laughter breaking the silence of the execution yard.
"They defeated the Captain."
"The Captain lost!"
The marines throw their weapons into the air with a cheer that shakes the naval base. A few start dancing with each other, but all hug someone or pat each other on the back. Grins and laughter overwhelm all of them.
"We're free!"
"Morgan's reign of terror is over."
"Long live the Navy!"
"We don't have to fight anymore!"
"They're all happy the axe-guy was defeated," Luffy says wonderingly.
"They must have hated him!" Koby exclaims, running up to the three of us. "Look how happy they are!"
"Of course!" I reply, still grinning. "Could you honestly expect them to—"
Zoro collapses against me, cutting my words short. I stagger beneath his weight, struggling to prop him up and keep my feet underneath me. I slide my arm around his waist, feeling lean muscles and hard bones under my fingertips. His pulse thuds dully.
"Zoro!"
"He's all right," I say, hefting him higher on my shoulder. "He's just unconscious. He needs food and water. You should take him to Ririka's place."
"What are you gonna do?" Koby asks.
I transfer Zoro to Luffy, who also looks at me questioningly when I pull my bag off his shoulder and sling it over mine. "I have to get my stuff. I'll meet you at Ririka's in a few."
The marines open the front gate for us. I walk down the main road toward the outskirts of town and my little house, while the boys branch off and head toward the pub, chatting amongst themselves. Even after we split, I can hear Zoro's snoring and Luffy's loud assertions that all they need is meat—and a lot of it. Rika will be happy to see Zoro free.
My house comes into view ten minutes later. I enjoy living outside of town. The isolation brings a certain amount of independence—and safety—with it, benefits I appreciated more and more as Morgan gained power. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't stop the rumors from circulating. Sometimes I think my connection with Ririka is the only thing keeping the town and the marines from asking more questions than they did. None of the rumors ever grew into anything substantial, of course. I didn't tell anyone the circumstances that led to my arrival on this island ten years ago, but that didn't stop the marines from questioning. More than once, I experienced run-ins with officers who found a young orphan girl living by herself suspicious. Morgan was the worst; he visited my house twice, threatening me. Only threats, though; he never found anything to use against me. I smile. And now he never will.
Once inside, I unlock the small safe hidden beneath the floorboards under my bed. I keep everything of value inside, which isn't a lot. My journal, along with three blank tomes, sharpened quills and a knife to sharpen them with, and ink pots. The cleaning kit for my naginata. A few changes of clothes. An unusual book filled to the brim with drawings of people, plants, animals, and bright swirls of colors in different shapes and sizes that connects all of them together. And last but not least, a small, nondescript, black book no larger than my palm. The two books and my naginata are my most prized possessions and the only things I brought with me to Shells Town. Gramps left me the weapon but my parents left me the books. The naginata has been more useful than the books so far, but I suspect they will come into their own one day. I sigh, shoving them into my bag. If I ever figure out how to read them.
Standing, I sling my full bag over my shoulder. It bounces against my hip, the books a comforting weight. I lock the door behind me, not that I left anything important inside. I reach Ririka's house only to find marines surrounding it. The sounds of fighting come from inside. I stand on my tip-toes, trying to see, but the marines block my view. The ones closest to me grin and shift aside, opening a clear path for me to the front door. As soon as I approach, Luffy and Zoro walk out, their heads bowed and eyes shadowed. A red mark blooms on Luffy's face and I notice remnants of blood on his fists.
"Leave this town immediately," Commander Ripper orders, following them out of the pub.
"Come on," Luffy says when he sees me standing to the side. "We're leaving."
I look between Luffy and the marines, trying to piece together what I'm seeing. I can't think of any good reason why they would chase us out after defeating Morgan for them unless the red mark on Luffy's face means he got into another fight. I knew I shouldn't have trusted Zoro with keeping him out of trouble.
Before I can figure it out, Rika runs out of the pub. She carries a bundle in her arms, which she shoves into mine. Her eyes shine with tears and she buries her face in my shirt. Behind her, Ririka stands in the doorway.
"I heard you're leaving, big sis! I made this for you since you didn't eat with the others."
Patting her on the head, I feel tears sting my eyes for the first time since deciding to leave. Only at this moment does it hit me how I'll be leaving all of this for a world of questions with two boys I barely know. Rika sniffs and I hug her more tightly.
"Don't worry, Rika love. I'll come back one day, just you wait and see."
"Do you promise?"
"I promise."
She looks up at me, tears streaming down her cheeks. The sight of her crying makes my heart ache, but I don't want to ruin my leave-taking with tears. I cried the last time I left a village; I wouldn't do it this time. I smile instead, gently tugging on her cheek. I extricate myself from her and walk over to Ririka. She draws me into a hug that threatens to turn me into a blubbering mess. I swallow the lump in my throat.
"Thank you for… everything. I'd be dead if not for you."
"Nonsense," she says, brushing the hair from my face. "You have a fighter's spirit. I've known that since the day I met you."
I push the key to my house into her hand. "Can I ask you for one more favor?"
She smiles, tugging on my cheek the same way I pull on Rika's. "Always, Ember love. I'll keep it ready for you. Now go," she says, shooing me away, "before your friends grow impatient. I hope you find what you're looking for."
Taking a few steps back, I pause and bow, hands on my knees. I say thank you one last time before straightening and coming face to face with Anthony, Kane, and Freddy. They wrap me up in hugs before I have time to react. Anthony kisses me on the cheek, sending my face aflame. He smiles, eyes crinkling at my embarrassed spluttering.
"We want to thank you before you officially become a pirate," he says. "You didn't just stand up to Morgan, you stood up to him for us."
"Yeah, thanks for forcing some sense into us," Freddy adds.
"Give 'em hell out there," Kane says.
"And good luck," Anthony finishes. "We'll miss you."
Face still burning, I wriggle out from the circle of their arms. A strange mixture of emotions bubbles in my stomach. I never imagined leaving would be like this, and I especially never imagined the younger marines would act like they are. They're marines after all, and despite what Anthony says, I'm already officially a pirate. I wave at them and hustle back a few steps before anyone else can envelop me in more hugs.
"You'll survive without me, boys," I say, my words a lot less inspiring with my blushing cheeks. "I think you've learned enough from me."
They laugh, Freddy elbowing Anthony in the ribs, who ducks his head. A hint of red tints his cheeks. Waving one last time, I head down the street toward the docks and my crew. Luffy and Zoro stand near their small lifeboat dingy when I find them, deep in conversation and waiting for me. I balk slightly at the sight of the boat; talk about close quarters. It barely looks big enough for the three of us. My adrenaline rises, only increasing when the two of them glance in my direction.
"I was beginning to think you would chicken out."
"You would think that, Roronoa. But you're stuck with me."
"That's all I need," he replies, snorting.
Luffy laughs, spreading his arms wide. "Everyone ready to go?"
I nod, tossing my bag into the boat. It lands with a solid clunk that makes Zoro's eyebrows lift. He climbs into the boat and offers his hand to me. I raise my eyebrows, mimicking his expression, and he frowns, giving his hand a little impatient shake. Giggling, I take it and he helps me into the boat. Luffy pushes it off from the dock and jumps in, sending it rocking dangerously side to side. Zoro and I both face-plant, clutching the side of the boat to steady it and ourselves.
"Luffy, everyone, wait!"
The three of us turn—Zoro and I pushing ourselves up from the deck—to see Koby standing on the street near the docks. He must have run straight from Ririka's after I left. He has a bandage on his arm from his gunshot wound and his cheeks are splotchy and swollen. There's a smear of blood along his jaw. Is he the one Luffy fought? Why? Koby snaps to attention, saluting us.
"Thank you, Captain Luffy!" he cries out. "I'll never forget you and everything you've done!"
"I've never seen a marine saluting a pirate before," Zoro muses under his breath.
"Koby, we'll meet again someday!"
Luffy laughs and raises his arms, waving. I start to wave too but stop when I see the entire company of marines, including Commander Ripper, fall into line beside Koby.
"Group salute!" the Commander shouts.
As one, the marines click their heels together and salute us. The tears I tried so hard to keep from falling before spring up all over again. After a few seconds saluting Luffy, the younger marines, along with Ripper, turn their eyes to me. My chest swells. I throw both arms into the air, waving wildly at them. Anthony winks and Ripper smiles.
"Bye!" I cry out. "Protect everyone while I'm gone! Especially Rika! And don't be idiots anymore!"
I scrub the back of my hand across my eyes and settle down into the prow of the ship so I can watch the retreating island. Every building, every road, every tree, and every blade of grass holds a memory for me—most of them good. My heart pounds an excited tempo in my ears.
"Sure you still want to come?" Zoro asks.
"Yes," I answer. "More than anything."
[Author's Note]
Hi everyone! Daine here. If you made it this far, I just want to say thank you! I didn't want to detract from the story by putting this first, so you're getting the business side of things here at the end. One Piece is a huge part of my life, and if you're reading this, I assume you love it, too. I want to show my love and respect for One Piece through this fic. This is the first time I've written fanfiction, so I hope you enjoyed it! Not all chapters will be this long, but I wanted the introductory bit all in one place. I plan to update bi-weekly but don't hold me to that too strictly (alas, I have other obligations). I also realize that I'll probably never catch up to Oda while he's writing because I'm starting at the beginning. That being said, I love writing Embers Among Gold, so no need to be worried if you want to see more. Thanks again for reading my work! You're the best.
~All rights and credit go to Eiichiro Oda, all places and characters are fictional (and if they bear any relation to real places/people, it's just a happy accident), I own nothing, this is purely fan work, and all that legal jazz.~