She awoke slowly, painfully, to the sounds of a busy street and the smell of food. With a small grunt of pain, her eyes fluttered open and she looked around through bleary eyes. After several seconds of disorientation, she forced herself into a sitting position and tried to wake herself up enough to figure out what was going on. The alley she was currently in was most definitely not the same one she'd been in before she'd passed out. With a quiet groan, she clambered to her feet and half stumbled to the end of the alley. Peering outwards, her eyes widened in disbelief.

This was most definitely not the same town she'd lived in for the past few years.

Her jaw dropped at the sight of people bustling around frantically and shouts of laughter came from what looked like a nearby pub. Snapping her jaw shut, her eyes darted around swiftly as her heart started to race. Where the hell was she?!

Everything came to a screeching halt as her eyes spotted something familiar. Two men were walking down the street wearing blue and white uniforms, a hat on their heads that said 'Marine'. Feeling like she had been hit very hard in the stomach, she half bent over as her brain registered what she was seeing.

"Impossible..." She whispered, eyes still glued to the men as they walked down the street.

Once they had passed the alley she was half hidden in, something inside her snapped and she collapsed back onto the ground in a trembling heap. Panting heavily, she pressed her hands to her temples and forced herself to slow her breathing before she passed out again.

"Calm down... Calm down... Now think, you could just be dreaming or in some kind of hallucinogenic state..." As her breathing slowed, she pinched herself hard on the forearm and winced at the pain. "Okay, not a dream most likely. I don't think I ever remember having a dream that had corresponding smells anyway. All right, so drugged? Maybe?"

She closed her eyes and focused inwards so she could slow her heart rate further and clear her mind. She'd been drugged before so she knew how it felt as drugs raced through her veins. After several minutes of meditation, her eyes snapped open. She'd sensed nothing in her system to indicate that she'd been drugged. With a frustrated noise, she looked at the alley again in resignation. "So, I'm not asleep and not drugged. That leaves the nearly impossible reality of being in the world of One Piece." The statement brought a strangled laugh from her throat. With a whimper, she pressed her hand to her forehead and breathed out slowly to stop herself from bursting into tears.

"Well then, might as well sneak around a bit and see if I can figure out where I am."

Decision made, she eased herself up and swept out of the alley as if doing so was perfectly normal. She blended in with the crowds easily and kept her eyes peeled for anything familiar. She'd made it about halfway down the street when she spotted something else that made her freeze.

Casually walking down the street was none other than Straw Hat Luffy and young Coby.

She shut her eyes tightly and opened them again in disbelief. This just kept getting more and more insane with every passing second. Wait...She thought suddenly. If Luffy and Coby are here, then that means this must be the town that Zoro was tied up in...

Part of her relaxed at the thought as having more information about her circumstances calmed her immensely. Even though the situation was still utterly absurd and she was only barely keeping herself from curling into a ball to sob like a child, the additional tidbit of information was all she needed to keep pushing forward. Curiously, she decided to follow them to see if they were headed to the Marine base. Might as well take a peek at Zoro while I'm here. Then I can figure out my next step.


Emiko's eyes danced in amusement at the sight of Coby and Luffy peering over the wall at who she assumed was Zoro. She casually flung herself up next to Coby and peered over as well. "Whatcha lookin' at?"

Coby let out a girlish shriek and fell off the wall. Luffy looked over at the girl who was blinking owlishly at Coby, who was rolling on the ground in surprise and pain from his fall. He inspected her curiously, taking in her lightly curled hair auburn and pretty features with a glance. His eyes trailed down to peer at her clothed figure and caught sight of the dagger on her thigh. "Who are you?" He asked her cheerfully.

Emiko looked up at Luffy, meeting his dark eyes with her own blue eyes. She blinked at him a few times in surprise upon finding him surprisingly attractive in his own way. He tilted his head at her expectantly and she snapped out of her reverie with a shake of her head. "Oh, I'm Emiko. Who are you?"

"I'm Luffy!" Luffy said with a giant grin. He gestured to Coby who was looking up at the girl with distrust. "And that's Coby."

"Nice to meet you. Now what are you two looking at?" Emiko asked, looking back towards Zoro who was of course, tied to a post in the middle of the yard. Luffy glanced at him too.

"He's gonna be a member of my crew!" Luffy exclaimed, his eyes practically burning with excitement. Emiko looked at Luffy in amusement.

"Your crew?"

"Yep! My pirate crew! I've decided he is gonna join!"

Coby chose that moment to snap himself out of his daze and looked at Luffy in mild horror. "Don't go announcing to random people that you're a pirate! What if she's a spy!?"

Luffy and Emiko both looked at the pink hair boy. "But it's true," Luffy said blankly.

Emiko snickered at the pair of them. She looked at Coby with an eyebrow raised. "I'm not a spy but I am very good at getting into places I shouldn't be. And disappearing." She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I suppose I could be a spy after a fashion."

Coby's hair stood on end as he pointed at her, his eyes wide in frightened horror. "See!? She just admitted it!"

Luffy just laughed at the boy but he glanced Emiko with renewed interest.

"Oi! You three! Shut the hell up and get out of here!"

The three of them paused their conversation to look over at the man in the yard, who was glaring at them from underneath his bandana. Emiko rolled her eyes while Luffy practically vibrated with childish excitement. Coby's face turned to panicked horror once more as Zoro's glare settled on him. A ladder popped up next to the three and a small girl climbed it with a smile, leaping down into the yard. Emiko sighed and propped her head up on her hand, silently wondering if she should interfere at all or just let things play out. Luffy watched the girl curiously as she walked up to Zoro, offering him food. Zoro resolutely refused it and told the girl to scram. Emiko's eyes flicked towards the gate just as Helmeppo walked through it.

"Oi, Zoro! That's no way to talk to a child," Helmeppo sneered. The two Marines next to him stayed silent as they looked at the pair. Emiko was unsure if they stayed quiet due to Helmeppo's presence or Zoro's. Probably the latter.

Zoro turned his icy glare towards Helmeppo but said nothing. Helmeppo snatched up one of the rice balls the girl had made and ate it swiftly, ignoring the girl's protests. He instantly spat it out in disgust.

"It's sweet! You're supposed to use salt, you stupid girl!" Helmeppo screeched. The girl flinched and tears formed in her eyes.

"But... I thought it would be better if it was sweet..." She sniffed a few times and Emiko clenched her fist in anger. Seeing Rika cry reminded her of Mel and that made her want to gut the stupid halfwit so he bled out slowly. Helmeppo stomped on the other rice ball, causing Rika to cry out again.

"Little twit. Didn't you hear the decree! Anyone who helps criminals is to be immediately executed, orders from Navy Captain Morgan! You! Throw her out immediately!"

The Marine that Helmeppo pointed at looked horrified at the order but swallowed thickly before grabbing the girl and throwing her over the wall. Emiko watched as Luffy reached out and caught the girl, saving her from the fall. Seeing him stretch in person was extremely weird but also very cool. Rika thanked Luffy for saving her and he just grinned. He launched himself over the wall and approached Zoro. Emiko also leapt down from the wall and sauntered up to the pair.

"I hear you're a bad guy," Luffy said.

"You're still here?" Zoro asked him, his face twisted in annoyance. Zoro's eyes shifted over to Emiko who wiggled her fingers at him in hello. He merely scowled at her and focused back on Luffy.

"Being stuck out here for all to see... Are you really strong at all!?" Luffy asked, his eyebrows raised skeptically.

"Mind your own business!" Zoro shouted.

Emiko hummed, "He must have some decent quality for a little girl to risk her life to give him a rice ball. Maybe he played house with her."

"Oi! Shut up you stupid woman!"

Luffy laughed at the two of them. "If it was me, I would have died from hunger in three days!"

Zoro smirked at him, "I've got more spirit than you. I will live through this. I swear it."

"Ehhh! What a strange person!" Luffy said as he turned to leave. Emiko turned to follow the rubber man but Zoro's voice halted them.

"Wait! Could you pick that up?"

The pair paused and looked at where Zoro was staring, noting the squashed rice ball. Luffy looked up at him blankly.

"You're gonna eat this? It's mostly mud and dirt now."

"Shut up and give it to me!"

Luffy shrugged and shoved it into his mouth. Zoro chewed and swallowed the food swiftly. Emiko smiled slightly as Zoro thanked Luffy for the food. Luffy just grinned brightly and the two left the Marine yard.


Back in town, Luffy was telling a much happier Rika that Zoro had eaten every bite of her rice ball. The girl clasped her hands together. "I'm so happy!"

Coby slumped on the steps. "Is Zoro really as evil as the rumors say?" Rika gasped and whirled around, glaring at the boy.

"No! He let himself get crucified in our place! Helmeppo brought his vicious dog to our restaurant. He was scaring the customers and I tried to stop it... Zoro saved me from being attacked and hit Helmeppo. Helmeppo told Zoro that he'd spare me and my mom from being executed if he could survive one month without food, strung up in the yard. Zoro... He agreed to the terms... He's been stuck there for almost a month because of me!" Rika cried, her eyes bright with tears. Emiko stroked the young girl's head sympathetically. Luffy stared up the sky thoughtfully and Coby muttered under his breath. A sudden crash from nearby jerked them all up as they heard Helmeppo's voice demand free food.

Luffy and Emiko walked into the restaurant as Helmeppo continued to spout nonsense. "Ah! I've been bored lately so I've decided to execute Zoro tomorrow. Look forward to it!" Helmeppo laughed and Emiko's hand twitched towards dagger. Luffy reached out and grabbed her wrist tightly without looking at her. She glanced at him curiously but he kept his eyes focused on Helmeppo, his face neutral but his eyes blazing with fury. He let go of her wrist and flung himself forward, hitting Helmeppo in the jaw.

Helmeppo looked at Luffy in shock after he recovered from the hit. "W-What the hell are you doing?!"

Emiko had already moved behind Luffy and put her hand on his shoulder to stop him from beating Helmeppo into a bloody mess. Coby wrapped his arms around Luffy's left arm and tugged frantically. "Luffy! Don't!"

"This guy is scum!" Luffy snarled. Emiko tightened her grip on his shoulder and leaned in.

"Not here, Luffy. Wouldn't want to damage this nice lady's store," she whispered in his ear. Luffy relaxed a fraction but didn't soften his glare at Helmeppo.

"You hit me! I'm Captain Morgan's son, you know!"

"So what?!" Luffy demanded angrily.

Helmeppo glared at Luffy through the tears in his eyes, still clutching his throbbing face. "I'm gonna tell my dad and he's gonna execute you!"

"Fight me yourself!"

"L-Luffy-san! Please calm down! Are you trying to make an enemy of the Navy!"

"Coby, I've decided. I'm... Going to have Zoro join my crew!" Coby looked up at the rubber main in shock and Emiko dropped her hand with a small laugh. Helmeppo took the moment to scurry away from the restaurant.

"Whaaaaat?!" Coby cried out. Luffy looked at Coby, his eyes fiercely determined.

"Yosh! Let's go, Coby! Emiko, you coming?"

Emiko shrugged helplessly, "I can't let you have all the fun. Things seem to be far more exciting around you."

Luffy grinned at her as Coby looked at her in horror. "You're crazy!"

Emiko merely laughed and followed Luffy out of the restaurant, Coby hot on their heels.