Chapter III: Coby's Decision

Set in Shells Town, home to a naval base, and its surrounding waters.

Fist pumping into the sky, Luffy was triumphant as he shouted. "We've finally made it to the Marines' base! I can't believe we actually reached our destination!" Changing tones in a way that created a shiftier mood, he gave the boy beside him a sly look. "You know… I could get used to this getting to where I'm going stuff. Are you sure you won't join my crew?" And, for what felt like the hundredth time that morning, Coby decided the best course of action was to ignore him.

Alvida hid an amused snort behind her hand at his attempts. She still wanted to be irate for all this pirate had done to her, but for some reason could not find it in herself to hate him. Not that such a thing mattered, she was still going to pay him back for the indignity of it all, it was just a matter of when, where, and how. Waving aside such thoughts for the moment, she spoke softly, though still with an edge. "Hmm, finally indeed. I guess you always have been a decent navigator, if nothing else."

Coby blinked, nonplussed, at the quasi-complement. "Huh? Oh… well not really. I really only know the basics of navigation. I've just been fishing these waters since I was barely a one year old, still being carried and cared for by my father. Of course, it wasn't until I was five before he actually let me do any work, so I spent a lot of my free time reading anything about the 'East Blue' that I could find." Shaking himself back to the present moment, he turned back to Luffy to chastise him. "If you wander around at sea every time you set out, you'll never become the 'Pirate King.'"

Staring at Coby with an owlish look of condescension, Luffy took his turn at blinking nonplussed. Without giving it another thought, he marched off into town. "Alright. Now let's go eat!" Looking up at his friend's seemingly serious look, Coby somehow knew he hadn't heard a thing that had been said. Except maybe 'Pirate King.' And maybe 'fish,' cause that was a type of meat, right?

… A short time later in a restaurant named Food Foo …

Luffy was patting down a very full stomach by the time he had satiated his hunger. With a defeated frown, he realized with displeasure that he did not have nearly as much of his usual cheer in the wake of a normal meal's postmortem. He was pretty sure he knew the reason though, and so did his best to wave away his sadness. "So we really are going our separate ways here? If you won't be joining my crew then I expect you to become a real bad-ass Marine one day!"

Coby failed to hold in his tears any longer as he expressed his gratitude. "I will Luffy, thank you so much! You have to become a great pirate too someday, even if that makes us enemies." Wiping his sleeve across wet eyes, he grinned at the ever-happy pirate.

Luffy couldn't let that go uncorrected. "Not just a great pirate," he shouted, with the barest trace of a tear in his eye, "I will be the Pirate King!"

Alvida was keeping mostly to herself, but was more than willing to nip the sob-fest in the bud if it meant shutting them up. "While I hate to break up this little moment of yours, shouldn't we be saving our goodbyes until after we find Zoro?" Apparently that was the wrong change of topic, as everyone else in the establishment visibly tensed upon hearing the bounty hunter's name.

Noticing the room's reaction, Coby leaned forward with a whisper. "Looks like we can't just casually throw out Zoro's name around here." Searching for a safer conversation starter as they went to leave the restaurant, he decided to use the moment as his chance to inform the group of his intentions. "I was asking around some of the Marines we saw stationed at the port before we got here, and it looks like the base is accepting new recruits. I can see why they need them too. The officer I approached all but told me I shouldn't bother enlisting, for my own good. What kind of operation is this Captain Morgan running around here? I may be weak, but they should be able to train me up if I'm a willing soldier!" And for the second time the atmosphere of the room grew tense as the patrons grew quiet once more.

Soon after that they left the building, slightly dumbfounded by the odd mood swings witnessed any time a name had been dropped. Luffy was enjoying the surprised look on the would-be-marine's face. "Ha ha ha, what an interesting place! I gotta go there again before we leave this place."

Coby was not able to share in his glee, pondering the new information gleaned over lunch. "It was strange though... I have a bad feeling about this place. I can understand why people would be scared after hearing Roronoa's name, given that he could escape at any time; what I can't understand is why they would be so afraid after hearing a Marine Captain's name."

Alvida brushed aside and crushed the boy's idealistic notions without remorse. "Is it really so hard to believe that he has done something to deserve their fear?" She finished with a cruel flourish. "People say power corrupts. What makes you so sure putting on an insignia changes fundamental human nature? Don't be so naive." With as scoff she kept walking.

Coby did not take kindly to her assertion. "But that's impossible! The Marines represent the shield that stands between us and evil, the protectors of a sacred code of law!" With a far off look in his eyes he stared up at the base visible in the distance. Constructed on the island's highest point of altitude, two blue checkered towers emblazoned with the Navy's seagull symbol were encircled by an imposing stone wall. Resting atop the fortifications were multiple turrets capable of swiveling their aim in any direction. "I'm not sure if I'm ready for this… the incident back at the restaurant got me thinking. What if they already know about my time as Alvida's cabin boy? If this Morgan fellow is scary enough to frighten his city's citizens, I can't even imagine what he might do to a former pirate…"

Upon hearing this Alvida's mind lurched with guilt. She told herself it was nothing, but the time spent with the man who had ruined her ambitions was starting to overcome her anger. "I really am sorry about that…" Hardly believing his ears at his former captain's first ever admission of regret, the boy was momentarily shocked out of his worries. Realizing she had slipped up in maintaining her façade, she backtracked. "Don't take that the wrong way though, you're still stupid and useless!"

With a knowing smile, Luffy was internally patting himself on the back for giving the former pirate captain a second chance. She had made significant progress in discarding the walls she had put up, and was starting to act like part of the group more and more now. Shifting back to Coby, he gave the boy one last push. "Cheer up Coby, go ahead and knock. I'm sure they will take you! And if they don't... well you'll always have a spot in my crew to fall back on!" Laughing like only he could, his attention was hijacked once more. "Now if I was a monster where would I be…?" With a jump he was hanging from the wall, hand over his eyes looking for Zoro.

Alvida snorted at his actions. "Seriously? You're not going to find just like that. For someone as notorious as the 'Pirate Hunter Zoro,' the Marines are sure to lock him away in a secret room of some sort."

Hopping up to take a look with Luffy, Coby soon proved her wrong. "You would think that... but it looks like there is someone tied up in the naval yard." Squinting to get a better look at the figure, he fell to the ground outside the facility with a gasp. "That black bandanna... and green obi belt… there is no question, it's him. It's Roronoa Zoro!"

And there he stood. A half dead man leaning against one of several sturdy posts in the base's yard; he was tied to his own personal crucifix, arms splayed across the wooden beam nailed across the pole at shoulder height. The summer sun was drenching him in sweat. The cloud cover only caked it on until the intense rays revealed themselves once more. The infamous 'Pirate Hunter' was wearing the same black leather cargo pants and combat boots he had been in on the day they tied him up. His plain white tee was splattered with dried blood stains, from the wounds littering his face, and tucked into his pants beneath a thick green cloth. He had clearly taken several beatings at the hands of the Marines. His makeshift cell was a fenced off portion of the lawn outside the towers. A sign on the gate warned intruders that the same fate would befall any trespassers.

From his spot on the wall Luffy gave the prisoner a questioning glance. "So he's Zoro, huh? Can't be that strong… those ropes look pretty easy to break. Are you sure that's him?" He kept up his intense gaze though, examining the stone still bounty hunter as he hung from the cross with his head down. "I wonder if he could hear us from way over there." He raised his voice's volume and called out to the captive. "Hey there! Hello! 'Mr. Pirate Hunter?'"

Coby was aghast, against the idea entirely. "Stop messing around! Who knows what will happen if you talk to him… he could make a mess of the town." Stumbling further down his 'rabbit-hole' of paranoia, the blood drained from his face until it took on a faint appearance. "Or worse, he could kill you!" To his utter dismay, Zoro took the opportunity to shout back at them. Luffy just grinned in response and let out a, "shishishi!" Alvida perked up her ears and hopped atop the wall, interested to hear what the famed swordsman had to say. Coby fainted.

With a cough, his raspy voice tumbled out while he gritted his teeth into a cocky smirk. "Could you please…?" He paused to catch his breath. "Could you please come over here and untie me? I've been tied up for 9 days, and I'm exhausted. A short nap on the ground would do me a world of wonders." Seeing Alvida's hesitance, he figured his words would reap him nothing but disappointment. Still, he was desperate enough to make another attempt at swaying them. "I'll repay you. I could hunt down a fugitive and give you the reward." With an earnest plea he finished. "I'm not lying. I'll keep my word."

Regaining consciousness from his brief spell, Coby managed to hear the man's request. "No! Don't do it Luffy! Don't get pulled into his pace, it can be more deadly than any attack move!"

But Luffy was not going to be reasoned with on this one. "Don't worry. He can't kill me because I'm pretty much invincible!" Sporting a smile once more he patted the nervous wreck on the head. "Besides, I'm also strong. Have I ever told you about the time I finally managed to do more damage to a tree with my fists then I could with a pistol?" And for the second time, so far, Coby fell to the ground, out cold.

Alvida took this chance to flash her nastier side again. "He really is hopeless. He's always been like this, afraid of his own shadow." She missed the a little girl approaching from behind with a ladder, distracted as she was by disparaging her former cabin boy. With a soft 'clack' however, a the ladder came to rest on the wall and she was immediately aware of a young child. Scurrying to the top, a little girl no older than five years old held a finger up to her lips with a look that silently screamed, "Shh!" When she jumped over the ledge Alvida sucked in her breath before trying to stop her. "Ah! Little girl, don't do that, he might be dangerous!"

Eyes shaded and jaw set in a menacing snarl Zoro barked at his newest visitor. "Hey, what are you doing here? Do you want to die or something? Get lost!" For emphasis he shot a spitball at her. The child remained unfazed despite his gruff attitude.

Unpacking her bag, she pulled out a small picnic basket. Lifting open the lid, she held up the basket with an innocent smile. "Um, mister? I made some biscuits for you. You haven't eaten in a long time, right?" she pulled the dish out of the carrying case. "I know it's my first time making someone food, but I really hope you like them!"

His heart stopping with a pang, Zoro nearly dropped his tough facade. "I'm not hungry, now go away! I don't want them so leave me alone." His voice became desperate as he had an ominous feeling about what was to come. "I'll kill you if you don't go now!" Coby had just started to recover when he heard those words and gave up on life for that day. A creaking gate confirmed Zoro's suspicions as an opulently dressed youth walked into the scene flanked by two Marine grunts. He hadn't spoken up soon enough.

With a shrill snobbery, the young adult called out, sneering. His tacky boots, large gold chain, and top three buttons undone were a better encyclopedia entry for self-doubt fueled narcissism then either pirate had ever seen. "Roronoa Zoro! You shouldn't pick on kids. I'd hate for my father to hear about it."

Off to the side, Luffy and Alvida were watching the developments closely. Hand beside his mouth, he whispered to her. "Hey look, some weirdo showed up." Scrunching his forehead he put on his proverbial thinking cap. "I wonder who he is…"

Alvida finally released the air she had been renting out her lungs to. "He must be somebody high up in the Marines, thank goodness. I know they aren't perfect, but they surely have her best interests in heart. She's safe." She let a small smile grace her lips.

With his usual tact Luffy derailed the conversation. "You're rather pretty when you show off your nicer tendencies, you know that?" She huffed and crossed her arms, turning her face the other way to hide her blush.

While the two eavesdroppers were otherwise occupied, the important looking newcomer was affronted. Zoro had just insulted him without batting an eye, disrespecting him still after all this time. "Tch… if it isn't the Captain's bastard son." Putting on a world class sneer he plunged the blade of his words deeper into his antagonist. "Did you get tired of looking at yourself in the mirror?"

Turning purple, the now identified Captain's child snapped back. "Bastard? Don't get cocky. My dad is the Captain, and that means I can do whatever I want to you." He snickered to himself while his men silently exchanged feelings of uneasiness. Turning to the young girl, he spoke to her in a sickly sweet manner; one that induced chills in the five year old. "Why hello there... Rika wasn't it? Those biscuits look delicious…." Grabbing one of the still warm baked goods with a swipe, he stuffed it into his mouth only to spit it out soon after. "Blech, this is horrible! You put sugar in these; you're supposed to put salt in you dumb brat." Taking the plate from her hands he threw it on the ground and stomped the rest into the dirt. "How could any person eat something like that." Twisting his heel in the remains, he turned his back on the prisoner and intruder as she rushed to save what was left of her morning's efforts. "Don't worry, I'm sure the ants will eat it all up, he he he…"

Attention having returned to the unfolding affair, all three pirates were now up on the wall looking on in horror. Coby in particular was stricken, but too tired to faint anymore. "That's so cruel! Rika must have worked so hard to make those on her own. I can only imagine what she must be feeling right now…" As she had been doing more frequently of late, Alvida was nodding in agreement with one of her 'captors.' Luffy was stock still, emitting a sense of palpable intensity.

As Coby predicted, tears started to well up in the girl's eyes. "How could you be so mean Mr. Helmeppo? It took me two tries to not burn those! What kind of person does that?" With the slight sheen trailing down her face drying, she yelled at the older boy. "Not even my mother would send someone to bed without supper!"

With an exasperated grimace, Helmeppo spun around to berate her further. "Aww… don't cry now, or I'll give you something worse to shed your tears over. It's little wonder why I hate kids so much, all they do is complain." He loomed over Rika as he began to explain why this was all her fault. "Didn't you see the sign? It says 'anyone who helps a prisoner will be charged with the same crime.' Signed by my father, Captain 'Axe-Hand' Morgan! You would do well to heed his words." Bending down, she could feel his putrid breath hit her face with force greater than any beating he could dole out. "You know how scary I can be, much less how scary my dad can be. You would have gotten the death penalty if you were a grown up." Getting up to leave once more, he gave one of his escorts an order. "Oye, throw this brat out!" When the soldier moved to take her out through the gate with them, Helmeppo stopped him. "Are you trying to disobey me? I will tell my father… so do as I say and throw this brat out of here! Do not escort her, that's what you do for me not this peasant scum." And with great reluctance the soldier complied.

… Just outside the base …

Reacting swiftly Luffy caught the girl with ease, and set her on the ground. "Hey, are you alright Rika? Those bastards didn't hurt you did they?" Seeing her shake her head, he addressed his friends. "Would you guys mind taking her back into town? I can catch up with you later, but I want a quick word with Zoro first." Getting ready to jump, he was stalled by Coby.

Shaking as he made his decision he spoke up, quietly at first. "All my life I thought Marines were the guardians of justice… but this isn't justice, it's cruelty." His hands had formed fists and he wore a determined expression. "Say Luffy… I don't suppose that offer to join your crew is still good.

Giving his newest recruit an exuberant smile, he laughed at the question as if it was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard. "Do you even need to ask?"

... Back in the Naval yard ...

The starving swordsman had shut his eyes in an attempt to rest and recover. That did not stop him from sensing the new presence, and snapping open his eyes as he lifted his gaze. "You still haven't left yet?" Zoro barked out a command, his voice took on a tone of irritation. "Leave now, before someone notices you." But a dark look betrayed his sorrowful remorse. "I don't want you, or anyone else for that matter, coming to harm because of me." Finishing in a somber manner, he tried to gauge his visitor's reaction to his remark.

Luffy just kept still, unreadable. He stood there with a piercing stare that unnerved the captive bounty hunter. "How do you figure its your fault?" Shaking his head, he dropped the line of questioning. "Never mind that, it's my own fault not yours at this point; you've told me off and I've ignored you, simple as that!" He crept forward in a slow gliding gait, raising his right hand to grasp the back of his straw hat in a conciliatory gesture. With uncertainty still showing as he twirled his headgear around his index finger, he broached the subject of piracy carefully. "I'm looking for someone like you to join my crew." He paused to test the waters, with naught but a toe checking the temperature. "My pirate crew."

An interested guffaw left Zoro's mouth. "You want me…" He paused to make sure the odd man was listening. "The infamous 'Pirate Hunter…' He paused for effect before continuing. "…to become a pirate... are you retarded?" Correcting his manners, he edited his words quickly. "Pardon me, I mean mentally unstable." Digging in he lobbed one last jab at him. "Heh, so you just gave up on life and became a crook, such a shame."

Luffy's furrowing brow gave away emotion for the first time since he had entered the yard. "It's my dream! There is nothing wrong with being a pirate." He felt honor bound to explain further. "Just because the many are bad doesn't mean you should stereotype the few of a group!"

With a skeptical glance Zoro took a shot at guessing the pirate's intentions. "Hmm… so let me see. You're gonna set me free, but only to force me to join you?" He mocked the free spirited dreamer with another verbal assault. "How kind of you! What a great and noble captor you must be."

Pondering the swordsman's words, Luffy tilted his head as he wracked his brain for a reply. "Well... I think I am. Alvida doesn't seem to mind it much anymore." Zoro was surprised to hear the 'Straw Hat' respond without denying it. "I haven't made up my mind about you yet though. Everyone thinks you're a bad guy, but I'm not so sure." The prisoner scoffed. "I'm not so sure I agree with them, so I wanted to see you in person and decide for myself if you are good guy or a bad guy."

That brought a small smile to Zoro's face. "Not sure, huh… well I'll never become a pirate, you should quit wasting your time. I have something I must accomplish, and I won't allow anyone to distract me from my ambition." He grew cocky as he spoke confidently, with an arrogant undertone. "I'll survive even without your help: I only have twenty-one more days to survive out here." His heart on his tied up sleeves, anger infiltrated his voice. "That bastard Helmeppo promised to let me go… I just have to do everything I can to make it through, and fulfill my dreams."

Luffy dropped the stony attitude and smiled hearing this. He didn't say it, but he decided then and there to recruit him. "Really? If I were you I'd gnaw my arm off within hours." He laughed his impish, "shishishi," and beamed when the fasting prisoner snorted.

"That's where we are different, I have discipline." Zoro shook his head with a scold. "Go find someone else to join you. But before you go…" A hesitant pause consumed the silence for a few seconds. "Before you go, can you pick up that food there." He motioned his head to the girl's biscuits. "She is okay, right?"

With a firm nod he assuaged the man's noble conscience. "Yeah, she is fine. I caught her before she could get hurt." Zoro sighed in relief. "Are you sure you want these? Those biscuits are all muddy and mushy now. I know you can't be choosy, but I could go grab you something else from her mom's store."

Opening his mouth wide and saying, "ah," Zoro ignored the offer. "Shut up. Just stick whatever's left of them in my mouth so I can eat something now." Luffy gave him another knowing look, but complied readily enough. Swallowing the nasty leftovers was difficult after he managed to chew them up. A loud gulp signaled he had avoided asphyxiation by crumpet, but coughs distracted him from his relief. "Tell that little girl, 'the biscuits were delicious. Thank you very much.'"

… That evening, beside Food Foo …

"Really?" Rika's ecstatic voice could be heard through the walls of the restaurant. "He ate it all?" Luffy nodded as confirmation. "I'm so happy, he really needed some food. I can barely go a couple of hours without asking mommy for a snack." She giggled at her statement, an elated grin dancing along the child's mouth. "He is really not as bad as people say. The only reason they locked him up was because of Helmeppo's pet wolf. Roronoa didn't do anything wrong, people are just scared of him. He doesn't do himself any favors acting the way he does though…" She cut off the trailing thought with a sharp pivot, showing the trio two crescent scars decorating her forearm. "But he only got arrested for protecting me. That 'pet' bit me, and Zoro killed it to save me."

Nodding, Coby inferred the rest. "I see… so you're saying he's only arrested because he cut down some public menace? Attitude and a bad temper aren't illegal. And killing an animal gone rabid isn't exactly what I would call a big crime; that shouldn't be worth jail time. I can't believe what these Marines call justice."

With a sad pair of large watery eyes Rika revealed the startling truth. "The only bad guys here are the Morgans." She revealed Shells Town's darkest secret with a furtive whisper. "Everyone is afraid, because they'll execute you if you disobey them."

On cue Helmeppo's screeching bellow pierced through the conversation and grabbed their attention. "Heh heh heh, everyone bow as I pass by, and do not sully my gaze with your loathing. He who dares lift their head will be reported to my father and shall join Roronoa in the stockade." He made his way to the town spa for his daily shave and 'Mani-Pedi.' "I'm going to execute him in three days, but we could always use an opening act." Laughing at his twisted sense of humor, he didn't notice Luffy approaching him with a defiant stride.

With barely contained rage, bubbling beneath the surface, he asked the spoiled son a question."Three days… didn't you say he could go free if he survived the month?"

Eyeing the stranger warily, Helmeppo retorted. "Who are you to be so rude to me? I should have you chained and whipped for your insolence." Superior smugness radiated off him. "I was joking with him, only an idiot would believe that. If I execute him he won't survive the month, so how is that breaking…" Before he could finish his words, Luffy grabbed the bastard's collar and slammed his arm into the rotten youth's chest. He did not neglect to to coat his arm with his fiery transformation.

Rika looked up in awe, but knocked herself out of it and returned to reality. "Luffy, please stop! You need to calm down!" wrapping herself around his waist she tried to hold him back, which he didn't struggle against as he found his emotional center of balance again and decided to humor her. "Do you want to die?"

Hearing the commotion, Luffy's crew mates had followed him into the square. Taking notice, Luffy informed them of his choice. "Coby. Alvida." He gave them a guilty grin as an apology. "Sorry for the trouble I'm about to cause with the Marines. We might be putting a target on our backs, at least more of a target than the $8,000,000 we're already worth..." He pause for a moment with a resolute gaze. "But I'm going to bust Zoro out and have him join our crew."

The townsfolk were stepping out of hiding now that Helmeppo was rolling on the ground, screaming out in pain. "This is bad, who is he? He's done for; he dared to hit the Captain's son. There's no way he survives this." Coby and Alvida just smiled and accepted their Captain's orders. As somebody finally figured out that a bucket of water would stop the howling teen, the defiant pirates made their way back to the base. Helmeppo shoved away his rescuers, and took a shortcut to reach the base ahead of those damned strangers.

… Morgan's Penthouse Office, Naval Base …

A door slammed open, smashing the drywall when the doorknob met the wall. Smoke began streaming out the door, and Helmeppo had to cough as he breathed some in. Captain 'Ax-Hand' Morgan sat behind a large wooden desk, swiveling around with a cigar hanging from his iron jaw. His famed 'Ax-Hand' was resting on the desk as the blubbering fool wasted no time demanding an execution. "Father, I need you to kill somebody! He hit me with some dirty trick and burned me! No one has ever hit me, not even you! The flames left no scars, but they burned hotter than any fire I've felt before I was doused with water."

With a low, gruff voice, Morgan let out his snappish response. He savaged his son with cold, heart-wrenching words. "I only tolerate you for your dearly departed mother's sake. I haven't hit you yet because you're just not worth my time." Standing up to make his way to the rooftop, he walked through his son's with a shove. "I'll kill this man, but only because my reputation would be damaged if I did not. Stop being so cocky! Leave my sight before I change my mind." After Helmeppo scurried away up the stairs, the Captain addressed his second in command, Lieutenant Ripper. He wore a standard Marine issue uniform, with a hat and aqua green ascot included in the ensemble. With a commanding tone he declared his might. "I am great! Why is it then, that our revenue stream has been down the last few months? Detaining Zoro should have cut the dues we owe 'Navy HQ' for bounty payments as well."

With a nervous nod, Ripper responded carefully. "Of course Captain Morgan, sir! You are the Captain and should expect nothing but the best." Shifting in his boots nervously, he tried to explain. "But about the money offerings... well our citizens have been hit by some hard economic times lately."

With a cold tenor showing through, the Lieutenant shivered at Morgan's next words. "It's not a matter of financial problems. It is a matter of respect." He was nearing the top of the stairs as he finished. "Oh, and bring me the runt that tried to feed Roronoa. It's time I taught this island what respect really means. Fear."