Note Pior: This is very much shorter than the first chapter. I also don't really want to break up the first chapter since it's how the original author published it and I would rather keep that theirs. Again, I won't be going through the entirety of Luffy's adventures though that will simply become clearer as I publish more chapters. The story 'How Things Were And Then' is my main priority however, I will try to publish a new chapter within a two week frame regularly. Thank You readers!

A/N: Hello! I realise this chapter isn't written up to my standards as someone who wants to write well. Despite fanfiction being written mostly for an author's sake, I still care about other people enjoying what is written, hence why I will be working on the next few chapters and will publish them when I feel they are more complete. Apologies to everyone! BUT I would rather people read good work rather than something that is simply adequate. I will get the chapters rewritten and published before the end of next month! ^v^

I hope people still enjoy reading this. ^v^

The cool brushes of the sea-breeze were a fresh welcome to the so-called "pirate hunter" after the several days spent tied to the small crucifix. The food and clean clothes were also appreciated and Zoro wasn't sure he could thank that little girl's mother enough but now they were making themselves scarce; after all, they had no intentions of being bound by the marines again any time soon.

"Th-thank you so much, Luffy-san!" small tears filled the eyes of the pink-haired kid Zoro was now saying goodbye to and small sniffs could be heard.
A small smile formed on the face of the smaller man he now called Captain.

"Coby."
His voice projected firmly despite the movement of the wind.
"Y-yeah?" Coby was clearly nervous and whatever anxieties he now felt were showing through the rapid movements of his legs and hands.
"From this moment, you're a marine."
Coby gulped and straightened his posture as he steadied his shaking. "Of course, Luffy-san! It was all thanks to you!"

Whatever the black-haired man had been wanting to say, the words were being selected carefully, Zoro noted.
"Coby," he repeated, "everything you've done. That was all because of you. I didn't do anything."
"But of course you did, Luffy-san! You-"
"Coby."
"...erm, yes?"
"You got yourself here. You talked to the marines. That was all you. I don't even like marines."
Coby seemed confused and Zoro couldn't blame him. After all, Luffy had brought down Axe-Hand Morgan, saved the marines and the village from the giant's tyranny and gave Coby the opportunity to find a place amongst the marines.
"But you have a dream. Hold on to it, okay? Don't let it get watered down and forgotten 'cause of some jerks you might come across."

So that's what he had been meaning.
The black cloth wrapped over the left side of his face and his lengthy disorderly fringe made it difficult to quite see whatever expression he was wearing but the taller green-haired man could still feel a level of desperation, almost pleading, and firm determination radiating from the younger.

Luffy's words must have resonated to the much smaller teen as suddenly his legs and hands stopped shaking altogether. His back straightened firmly and suddenly his gaze held strength to it.
"Of course, Luffy-san! I won't ever forget my dream! I'll become the best marine there is, no matter what! I know I'm weak right now, and I'm not very confident..." his gaze lowered for barely a second before meeting Luffy's remaining visible eye as he continued. "But I promise, Luffy-san, I'll keep going! I'll get stronger, and more brave, and one day, Luffy-san...

...one day, I'll be Fleet Admiral of the marines! I want to be your equal, Luffy-san. Even if it's as enemies."

The declaration brought a smirk to Zoro's face. It was pleasing to hear the same small nervous wreck from earlier suddenly make such a bold statement that could only pass as believable to anyone that heard. This wasn't the same kid from earlier. Zoro hadn't believed being a 'man' to be something determined by age, size or gender. It was the resolve and will of a person to persevere and not be smothered by the expectations of others. Perhaps his Captain felt the same as his face suddenly became the most expressive he had seen in all of that day. A massive grin stretched across the smaller man's face and that single eye held so much pride in it for the self-declared future Fleet Admiral.

"Good."

And the two disembarked on the small rowboat Luffy had brought.
Shouting could be heard from the shore as the sea carried them further in the distance.
Zoro turned around in time to see the dozens of marines from earlier saluting in their direction from the shore. He grinned in response to it all.

'Marines saluting to pirates. That's a first,' he thought to himself.

The man he called Captain simply 'tsked' in irritation, though Zoro could hear the light amusement in it.

"Something wrong, Captain?"
There was a small pause before the younger man spoke.
"No, nothing."

As they continued to drift, Zoro couldn't help but realise that there wasn't a thing he knew about the person he called Captain other than his name and perhaps a few moral standards. Looking at him closer and actually paying attention, Zoro realised just how small the raven-haired was. Covering his torso was nothing other than a baggy worn out shirt that was obviously several sizes to big and his hands that protruded from the shirt sleeves were unnaturally thin. The skin around his face was somewhat tight and Zoro was wondering where Luffy had come from and if he had been eating enough.

Zoro pulled one of the sacks of provisions closer to himself and opened it, searching for something small and edible. Reflecting on their time in the bar owned by Rika's mother, the swordsman realised he couldn't remember ever seeing the other eat. Removing a long stick of bread from the sack, he tore an estimated third from it and handed it to the other pirate.

Zoro couldn't be sure what the other had reacted to – either the movement or the gesture – but in any case, the smaller male's eyes widened ever so slightly and shoulders seemed to twitch. Zoro didn't show any reaction in seeing any of it though as the future Pirate King slowly reached out and accepted the bread, inspecting it slightly before making a small bite into the food.

This was the man Zoro now called Captain. Someone who encouraged and inspired the dreams of others that were just as reckless and unbelievable as his own. He was the only person he had met that seemed more capable of bringing him closer to attaining his dream than becoming a hindrance. If he could do nothing for the person he had chosen to rest his ambitions in then he would be useless.