Hello and welcome back! Thank you for once again coming back to this wild little fic Starring Coby!

I won't make this super long because the chapter itself is a little long.

I'm thankful to everyone who favorite and followed this story and I hope I can keep everyone pretty chill with this chapter.

It occurred to me that i should have probably posted this first, but I did explain that I wasn't going to post these in any form of chronological order, so you're getting it as a second chapter!

Enjoy!


Title Chapter: The First Step

Timeline: Shell's town, after free-ing Zoro

Featured Characters: Coby, Luffy, Zoro

Summary: After seeing Axe Hand Morgan and witnessing the abuse and the other marines' willingness to follow him despite his obvious corrupt nature, Coby starts to think about his choices, starts to doubt his initial goal of joining the Marines. When a different path is forced open by Luffy, Coby remembers scenes from his past... and his dream.


What was it that he wanted to become?

Coby thought long and hard about the answer to that question as he sat on his chair at the table where Zoro and Luffy stuffed their faces full of food. A glass of orange juice in his hand, the glass faintly reflecting his worried expression. So much happened earlier that day, almost too much happened, he could barely keep up to think about it… Until now that is.

What was it?

He couldn't help but think of the Marine Captain they had encountered, or rather, the former Marine Captain. Then he thought about the marines who worked under his tyrannical rule. All of them had only worked under him because they were scared, because he was higher in authority, because he was stronger.

But they had tried to shoot themselves because that was what Morgan told them to do. Why? Was that what devoting to the name of Justice meant? Killing your comrades just because they were useless? Listening to those higher than you and committing suicide in the process?

It was no different.

He couldn't help but to compare it to the time when he was under Alvida's thumb. The fear of death, not knowing when he'll be killed. That every day where he had no choice but to follow her orders to a T. He had been so scared every day… but when Helmeppo had aimed a gun to his head, he wasn't scared at all.

Why?

It was because he didn't care for his own life. He cared more for the life of the only friend he had made in his pathetic little life. He wasn't under anyone, he wasn't following, or going against, any orders. He was a free man.

If he died at the time, then he did it to save someone. He died because that was what he decided, he lived for someone.

That thought was enough to calm him, to steel his resolve, despite being at gun-point.

Would joining the marines mean he would return to that daily life of fear and regret?

Why… Did he think of joining the marines all this time?


"I wanna be a _!"

"Fufu, Coby has big dreams huh? Then I suppose that means you'll have to be a marine."

"A marine…? Would becoming a marine make me a _?"

"Hm… Well, there's a lot of different ways, but becoming a marine might be the fastest way."

"The fastest?"


It was a conversation Coby barely remembered. It was one of the very last ones he had with the important people in his life.

Once that fishing accident happened, he was in the care of the whole town, someone always checked on him, made sure he ate right, and taught him how to fish.

It was still hazy and he could barely remember… but he feels like it was missing something.

Something very important.

"Man I'm stuffed! Haven't eaten in nine days! Thought I was gunna starve to death!"

"Then there's no way you'll last a month."

"You… you're so scrawny, how the hell are you eating more than me?"

"Auntie! I want a refill!"

"You're still eating?!"

"They said the food's free! That means free refills! Right Coby?" Luffy asked, his cheeks puffed and filled with food, a bone of a chicken sticking out of his lips. When he didn't receive a reply, he looked over to Coby. "Coby?" He called again.

"Huh?" Coby asked as he finally snapped out of his deep thoughts, only to realize that Luffy had been trying to call him. "O-Oh uh- sorry- I was uh- I'm sorry you had to treat me to a meal as well, Mrs." He awkwardly diverted the fact he wasn't paying attention, turning to the owner of the establishment instead.

"Don't worry about it. All three of you saved this town, eat as much as you like." The owner kindly said as she brought out another plate for Luffy to eat.

"You barely ate." Zoro stated as he pointed to Coby's one nearly empty plate of food, comparing it to the multiple empty plates of food piled next to himself and Luffy.

"I don't eat much, is there a problem with that?" Coby asked.

"You're gonna stay weak and scrawny forever." Zoro claimed, causing Coby to flinch in shock.

Luffy continued to stare at Coby, almost as if he was contemplating something.

"Hey big brothers!" Rika came over with a big smile. "You're really strong huh!" She exclaimed, diverting Luffy's short attention span.

"Yeah. We're going to grow even stronger!" Luffy boasted.

"Speaking of. What's our next plan?" Zoro asked.

"We're gunna take on the Grand Line!" Luffy exclaimed.

Somehow Luffy expected Coby to explode like he had when he explained about his dream, but it didn't come.

"Grand Line…" Coby muttered, once again looking at the glass of orange juice.

"Grand Line huh." Zoro smirked. "Sounds good to me. I'm sure we can handle it."

"Wait-" Coby seemed to register something. "You're not planning on going with just the two of you, are you?!" He asked.

Oh there it is. "There a problem with that?" Luffy asked in confusion.

"Yeah there's a problem!" Coby exclaimed, slamming his hands onto the table and standing up. "Grand Line is where all the most ferocious and dangerous pirates all gather together! To say that you'll both go there alone? That's just reckless! Impossible! It's impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Coby exclaimed only for two fists to bonk him on the head.

Sitting hunched over, Coby whimpered from the pain. "Why did you both hit me…?" He asked Luffy and Zoro.

"Just because." They both replied.

"Why are you worried anyway?" Zoro asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I'm worried because you plan on going without a plan!" Coby exclaimed. "Luffy-san doesn't even know the basics of navigation!"

"You don't?"

"Nope."

"And Zoro-san. Do you know any basic navigation?" Coby asked.

"Nope." Zoro explained. "I let the ocean take me where it wants." He explained.

"I do the same thing!" Luffy grinned, causing Zoro to grin back.

See. Their method of transportation works!

Like hell it did. Coby had his face buried in his hands. "I really can't recommend you both going on your own." He uttered out.

"Why not? Why does it matter?" Luffy whined.

"It matters because I'm your friend!" Coby declared strongly, only to falter and shrink into himself a little. "… I am your friend… Aren't I?" He asked, looking at the two of them.

Luffy grinned. "Definitely!" He confirmed without a second thought.

Zoro was a little more hesitant. Though as his eyes trailed to the shorter teen's bandaged arm… he sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "… I guess." He admitted.

Coby smiled wider as he looked down. "… I've never had any friends as a kid… All the other kids just pushed me around cuz I was an orphan… So you're both my first friends." he claimed.

Zoro and Luffy stared at Coby.

"Man you're pathetic." Zoro suddenly claimed, he himself had been an orphan, yet he would have punched anyone who makes fun of him.

Coby flinched. "I don't want to hear that from the big softie with a scary face!" He returned.

"Ah?!" Zoro glared and got up, ready to fight, causing Coby to shriek and for Luffy to laugh at the spectacle.

Coby nervously waved his hands at Zoro to stop any violence against him. "A-anyway! Because I am your friend, I worry about you! Is that so wrong?" He asked them.

Zoro sat down, still sour over the comment. Luffy, on the other hand, looked over to Coby before putting his attention back onto his plate of food.

"Then you wanna come with us?" Luffy asked before taking a bite of a large chicken stick.

"Huh?" Coby couldn't help but utter, his eyes going a little wide as he looked towards Luffy. "What?" He asked.

"On our adventure." Luffy said as he grinned Coby. "You're a little noisy and you're weak, but Coby's got guts! You got shot but you still tried to help Zoro and you trusted me even when that weird mushroom head dude was gunna shoot you." He said before turning to Zoro. "Got a problem with having one more to take with us?" He asked.

Zoro blinked before looking at Coby and grinned. "None, but doesn't he want to become some marine?" He asked.

"He can become one after." Luffy reasoned.

"Idiot. A former pirate can't become a marine." Zoro scoffed.

"Oh." Luffy claimed before looking over to Coby. "Come on! Become a pirate!" He urged.

"Oi." Zoro called out with a sigh. He was completely exasperated by the man's simple enthusiasm.

"We won't treat you like that fat ugly lady, so become a pirate with us!" Luffy ignored Zoro in all of his eagerness.

Coby stared at Luffy before looking down at his glass of orange juice again. "Become a pirate…?" He wondered out loud.

"Being a pirate is fun! We'll help you get stronger too!" Luffy punched the air to point this out.

"What are you saying!" a new voice interrupted them

The group of three blinked and turned to the door.

By the mentioned door, were the marines from the headquarters, the highest ranking of them stood in front.

"Pirates are criminals. What do you two plan on doing coercing this boy." The leader of them asked.

"What? You guys came for another fight?" Zoro asked, slightly unsheathing one of his swords.

Many of the marines behind the leader flinched and backed away a little.

"We didn't come to do any of the sort." The head marine claimed as he adjusted his hat. "But we did come to give you two a warning. You may have saved this town… but pirates are still pirates. I will have to ask you to leave this island quietly." he said, causing an uproar outside the store.

"What the hell marines!"

"This isn't fair!"

The town's people cried out, but Luffy and Zoro didn't really mind.

"Oh? Okay I guess." Luffy said as he and Zoro stood up.

"We were going anyway." Zoro said. "Thanks for the food." He thanked the restaurant owner while Luffy grinned at Rika.

"Come on, Coby!" Luffy called out to Coby as he stood by the entrance, only to see that Coby had gotten up from his seat, but hasn't moved an inch from where he stood. "Hey." he called out.

Coby stared at Luffy and Zoro, unsure of what to say. If he were to speak up right now, he would be forfeiting his chance to join the marines. But if he were to stay silent and not acknowledge them, then he'd be still have that chance.

What was he to do? In the two years he lived under Alvida, he kept dreaming of joining the marines and putting Alvida behind bars, but that was only because she was a big fat jerk. Meanwhile, he had no such thoughts with Luffy. In fact, hearing the invitation to join the crazy rubber man's crew- it brought him warmth and joy he couldn't quite express.

"I…"

Which way was he supposed to go?

Which way was the right way?

Which path would lead him to his dream?

Justice… Or Freedom?


"The fastest?"

"Mhm."

"Does that mean I'll be a _ if I become a marine?!"

"Yes, and no dear…"

"... I don't get it."

"There are many different ways… and whichever way you go, you'll get to your dream if you work your hardest. As long as you believe in what you think is right, and you follow that heart no matter what. It doesn't matter if you become a marine, a bounty hunter, a revolutionary, or even a pirate. You'll get there."

"Okay!"


"Coby… I'm sorry to tell you, but your parents died in that storm yesterday. They got washed off shore too far… We couldn't make it… We're really sorry."

"Poor thing, he's so small…"

"Don't worry Coby, we'll protect you! We'll even teach you how to fish!"

"... I'll become a marine…"

"A marine? What a splendid dream! I'm sure your parents from above will be proud."

"It's… Not my dream…"

"Huh?"

"It's not… It's just… The fastest way there."


Luffy stared at Coby as the smaller teen didn't respond one bit to his call. Staring blankly, he held onto his hat and brought it down to hide his eyes. "I see." he mumbled, a little solemnly as he headed out without another word.

Zoro stared at Luffy before looking over to Coby again. "Hey Coby." he called out.

Coby snapped out of it, looking up at Zoro who pierced him with a stare.

"What kind of a man can't even state his dream?"

The words hit him like a wave, leaving him drenched, cold and in mild shock. Unable to really say anything, or to refute, Coby was left to watch Zoro leave as well. He stood there contemplating those words.

His dream…

Yeah…

Yeah!

His dream!

Once the two pirates went out of the store, the head marine walked over to Coby. "That was a close call... wasn't it, young man." he began. "We saw your braveness in the midst of that execution grounds. If becoming a marine is what you want. We can certainly look past your-"

"No..."

The head marine blinked, staring at the short pink haired teen. "Pardon?"

"No!" Coby repeated louder, his hands clenched into a fist. "I don't want to become a marine!" he claimed and took off. "Excuse me, pardon me, so sorry, let me through!" he uttered out as he squeezed past the marines blocking the entryway, and the streets. Once past them, he looked around, trying to figure out which way was the port.

Though, before he left, he turned around to look at the head marine. "Thank you for the kind offer! But I'm sorry, I'll have to politely decline!" he called out with a big wide grin on his face. Bowing low once, he took off towards the port with a clear goal within his sight.

The head marine stared, but couldn't help but to smile at the sight of the big grin, and the young man's strong back.

"I see…"


"Are you sure you're fine with that?" Zoro asked Luffy, as he untied the rope keeping the boat onto the port.

"I'm sure." Luffy answered strongly.

Zoro hummed. "For someone who's sure. You're extremely depressed." he pointed out to how his (now) captain was draped over the figurehead of the dinghy they call a ship.

"Yeah… But Coby's gutta choose it himself. I'm not gunna force him." Luffy claimed.

"Says the guy who practically blackmailed me with my swords." Zoro scoffed as he got onto the boat and unfurled the sails, allowing the wind to start drifting their dinghy out into the ocean.

"Wait!"

Luffy and Zoro perked upon hearing the voice. Turning around, they saw Coby standing there on the port, out of breath.

"Coby!" Luffy called out happily.

"What? Came to thank us or something?" Zoro asked.

Coby continued to pant, looking up- only to keep panting, raising a hand as if asking them to allow him some time to respond.

'This kid needs more stamina.' Zoro couldn't help but think.

Coby continued to pant until he was able to talk again. "My dream…." he mumbled.

Luffy blinked a little as he stared at Coby, waiting for him to speak.

Coby stared at Luffy, looked him dead in the eyes. "I… I said I wanted to become a marine. I said that was my goal! But that's not true!" he claimed as he stepped closer, and closer.

"Then, what is it?" Luffy asked, his face blank, his tone serious.

Coby stared at Luffy, he opened his mouth, but something kept him from speaking. It was as if something was stuck in his throat; like someone was trying to hold him back, trying to root him down.

But no.

He decided he was going to stand up for himself. He decided he was going to speak what was on his mind!

No more pushing around!

No more discouraging himself!

He was going to become stronger.

"My dream is… My dream is-!"

"I wanna be a hero!"

"MY DREAM IS TO BECOME A STRONG AND KIND HERO!" Coby screamed on the top of his lungs.

Luffy couldn't stop the grin stretching across his face. "Hero…" he whispered under his breath, excitement bubbly from within.

"A hero?" Zoro asked. "Shouldn't you be saying that to the marines?" he asked, a little amused.

"No!" Coby called out. "I don't want to become a marine! It- It might be the fastest way! Maybe- maybe everyone will tell me I have to become one to get to my dream- but I don't want to go that way! I don't need the fastest way there!" he said, almost stepping over the edge of the port. "I'll get to my dream, my way!"

"I might… I might get in your way a lot… I'm scrawny, I'm weak, I'm a scaredy-cat! Cleaning is the only thing I can do right!" Coby claimed, tears gathering in his eyes, struggling to reign them in the further the dinghy went. "I- don't care if I'll get to my dream in a-a hundred years. I don't ca-care if this is the wrong w-way… I-if your- if your offer still stands-!" he sobbed, his tears overflowing so much he had to take off his glasses to see them.

"LET ME INTO YOUR CREW! I WANT TO GO WITH YOU! TO THE GRANDLINE!"

Luffy didn't need to think twice for his response to Coby's strong resolve. "Get over here, you moron!" he called out.

Zoro grinned. "Get on before we get too far!" he called out.

Coby blinked before a smile reached his expression.

"Hurry up!" Zoro called out impatiently.

Coby flinched. "R-right!" he called out and wore his glasses again before jumping into the water and swimming over to the dinghy.

"Come on!" Luffy called out as Coby finally reached the dinghy, and pulled him up with Zoro's help.

The three teens looked at each other and grinned, before Luffy noticed something.

"ALL MEN SALUTE!"

Coby blinked and turned around, only to see the marines of Shell's town salute them.

"THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICES IN THIS TOWN!" The head marine called out.

Luffy chuckled and waved as the town's people joined in on sending them off. Zoro merely looked amuse by their antics.

"We just saluted pirates, and violated the Marine's code! So our punishment will be to go with no food for a week!" The head marine declared.

"YES SIR!" The other marines agreed.

Coby took one long look at the sliver of the life he was leaving behind. The small vision of the future he might have had... made him smile confidently over his choice.

Maybe he took the wrong path, maybe he was going to regret this somewhere down the road. But right now, he didn't regret a single thing.

He didn't regret taking his first step down this road.

This first step... this first step will lead to his dream.

Thus began a slightly different kind of Adventure.


And that is all for this chapter!

I had never did have trouble deciding on Coby's dream. Everyone in the Strawhat crew has big dreams and I wanted Coby's dream to match up to how big everyone else's is. I hope I did it justice! (pun not intended)

His canon dream was to enlist in the marines and fight bad guys, so I decided to center his dream about fighting bad guys and doing good in the world.

Heckityheckheck: Yes, there will be more chapters, I have at least twenty different drabbles already written out :)

Thank you for reading!