"Are we there yet?" asked Pinky.
"No," deadpanned Brain.
Five Minutes later…
"Are we there yet?" asked Pinky.
"No," said Diddy while sunbathing.
"Are we there yet?" asked Pinky.
Three Minutes later…
"Are we there yet?" asked Pinky.
"No," said Luffy without looking up from one of his newer journals. He was currently flipping through his Mushi Numbers, looking up a contact for one in particular. He usually wouldn't bother, but some of his friends had numbers that rotated on a predetermined rule basis. Accounting for which Blue they were in and for time displacement, getting a call to them was a hassle and a half.
One Minutes later…
"Are we there…"
"I swear to Oda, Pinky," ranted an irate Cody – being on a small ship with no privacy for two days would do that -, "if you ask if we are close to Shell Island one more time, I will…"
"Actually," started Brain, eyes coming out of his shell, "we are. If you sit on the mast Luffy, you should see the island over the horizon."
Luffy closed his journal, tossed it at Diddy – who promptly stored it away - and did just that. "Good. We made good time. I was honestly afraid that the storm front would come around again."
"Really?" inquired Coby, "I get the freak weather we have been having in this section of the sea lately, but it's not that unusual."
Luffy looked at Coby smiling, If only you knew.
"Call it paranoia. Neither Brain nor Pinky were able to catch a whiff of the storm beforehand, so it was definitely outside the norm. Trust me, I know."
Coby sat interested, "You suspect a Weather Devil Fruit is doing it somehow?"
Luffy sat on the mast facing Cony, "Despite popular belief – or myth in most people's case – a Devil Fruit is not capable of everything. There are SOME clear limitations."
"Really?" awed Coby. "Having a Devil Fruit for weather seems like something that would exist."
"So should a Logia Mizu Mizu no Mi (Water Water Fruit) or a Paramecia Shibuki Shibuki no Mi (Splash Splash Fruit), but one of the key rules of Devil Fruit powers is that it can only control ONE THING."
"Isn't Tenkō (Weather) one thing? Also, Shibuki?"
"Manipulate all surrounding water without producing your own, a parallel fruit for Mizu."
Coby raised a brow, "Parallel?"
"Personal term, don't overthink it. In any case, maybe I wasn't too clear. A Devil Fruit can only control ONE CLEAR ELEMENT. Weather is too complex to fall under the dominion of one clear term. Normal weather relies on air currents, temperatures, pressure, humidity, moisture, and other married of things. Hell, Grand Line weather throws in magnetic forces just to make it even worse. No one fruit can control the weather, just like there is no fruit for everything."
Coby rubbed his chin in thought, "So there are no fruits to create water at all?"
"Water – no. Other liquids and semi-liquids – yes."
"Semi-liquids?"
"There exists a Hachimitsu Hachimitsu no Mi (Honey Honey no Mi) Paramecia class fruit. Also, don't get me started on some of the Charlotte Family Devil Fruit Users."
This actually caught Coby's interests. As a precaution, he studied all he could about the Yonkos, but a lot of information regarding Big Mom's family was classified and/or unpublished. "You actually know them?"
"I caught mentions of them here and there. I only really know about them because of her more… prominent… family members."
"So her children have these liquid fruits?"
"Yup," said Luffy with a pronounced 'p' sound. "Granted, its only for a few of them. I know for a fact that Charlotte Katakuri has the Mochi Mochi no Mi which he can make liquid based on some reports. Charlotte Opera has the Kurīmu Kurīmu no Mi (Cream Cream Fruit) which is self-explanatory. The only one who I nor the Marines are really sure about is Charlotte Galette since she rarely leaves Totto Land: we only have far away witnesses noting that she bounded people with some sort of transparent liquid. Personally, I am putting my Belli on a Shiroppu Shiroppu no Mi (Syrup Syrup Fruit) since it makes sense."
Coby's brow twitched alongside his anime sweat drop, "I think we've gone a little off topic. Are you sure you still plan to meet with Roronoa Zoro?"
Luffy smirked, "Yeah, why? Scared?"
"With good reason. 'Demon Hunter' Zoro… He's like a beast hungering for blood. He lives only for the bounty. He slits everyone's throats. He is a demon in a human body. Why do you want to that man to join your crew so badly?"
Luffy smiled as he crossed his arms behind his head without any worry, "Secret. Besides, I have a bargaining chip that might change his mind. Also, 'Demon Hunter'? I thought he was the 'Yang Swordsman'?"
"Well, actually…" started Coby
"HI-HO! Look Luffy, LAND! We are here."
Everyone looked up to see what Pinky had spotted. On the horizon, they saw an island that at a distance, looked like one layer of buildings and houses with two towers at the very top, one taller than the other, with Marine clearly written on both.
"Good," said Luffy half smirking half serious, "Brain?"
Said snail poked his head out entirely from the shell. Coby noted the Mushi's eyes switching through a variety of colors and dilations. Guess that's how his Devil Fruit works.
"There's a dock that no one is watching on the south side of the island we can sneak to. Also, I have spotted Zoro, but his current placement is rather… odd."
"Define odd."
About one to two hours later…
"This is not what I expected to see when I came here," deadpanned Luffy.
"It is rather… odd." Chimed Coby.
The duo – plus a Diddy to Luffy's left – were both looking from the top of a wall into the Marine Base. Took them a while to get directions – despite clearly seeing where they needed to go – but every time they asked for directions, the civilians were scared into hiding.
This set off so many alarms in Luffy's head it wasn't even funny.
Oddly enough, all the Marine's he met were cordials and helpful, if not emotionless and serious. Didn't take Observation Haki – which he did use – to note that they too were afraid of something.
Staring into the field outside the main building, there was Zoro bound and tied to a post. Wearing black trousers tucked inside black boots, a dark green hood that could pass as black, a plain white shirt with three undone buttons at the collar and a green haramaki. He was dirty sure, but it presented an interesting image.
But still…
How did such a dangerous man – one NOT wanted by the government as he was a licensed bounty hunter – end up disheveled, scratched, bruised, and hog-tied like this?
"If we untie that rope, he can escape, right?" inquired Diddy.
"Don't say stupid things like that!" shouted Coby with shark0-teeth to emphasize his rage. "What do you think will happen if we let him go? I am sure he will kill all of us in spite."
Luffy chuckled, "No problem, I'm strong."
"Hey you guys…" shouted Zoro, without bothering to look up. "You're bothering me… Get lost."
While Coby flinched, Luffy was concerned. Both the voice in his head and his haki were telling him that Zoro wasn't being sincere. In fact, on a cursory glance, he was giving off all the wrong emotions and feelings for someone being tied up.
There's more to this situation then what's seen. What are you hiding?
Coby came closer to Luffy, "If you recruit a guy like him, it won't matter how many lives you have."
A ladder clanged next to the group, piquing their curiosity as a young girl climbed up, roped down the wall, and ran toward Zoro.
Coby was going to warn her, but both Pinky and Brain shushed him, both telling him that she was safe.
How do they know? Though Coby repeatedly while fearing for the girl.
"What?" gruffed out Zoro.
"Aren't you hungry? I made you some onigiri," said the smiling child.
Zoro looked up at the girl as she began to untie the bag, "You're gonna be killed, shorty. Go away."
"You haven't eaten anything though," ignored the child. "Here! This is my first time, but I made it with all my heart."
Luffy caught the huntsman shock.
"I'm not hungry! You're annoying! Hurry up and go home!"
"But…"
"I don't want any. Don't make me hurt you!"
A gate slid open from the side of the field as a trio of people walked through,
"You shouldn't be bullying kids," spoke the 'leader.' Luffy studied him: skinny, lanky-looking, young man, light blonde hair shaped like a sideways oval on top of his head, cleft chin, a dark purple uniforms with white shoes and a rubber band ring on his left hand, and a smirk that could spew disgust. Although…
Okay, something is definitely wrong here. The marines he is with are giving off the malice, not him. Heck, his appearance isn't matching what he is feeling! What is going on here?
"Looks like you're still energetic, Roronoa Zoro," said the boy smuggle as he pulled on his collar.
"Thank goodness. They're Marines, so I'm sure that girl will be fine now,' breathed out Coby.
"I wouldn't be so sure," muttered Luffy. The group was currently hiding behind the wall, making sure the Marines couldn't spot them while they watched.
The man leaned toward the girl while two Marines watched. "Hey, that onigiri looks pretty good," he snatched one and ate it despite the girl's protests, quickly gagging and spitting it out. "Nasty! It's fall of sugar! Onigiri needs salt! Salt!"
"But I thought it would taste better sweet," said the child innocently.
"Give me that," snarled the man, throwing the remaining onigiri on the ground, stepping on it in anger in front of the girl and Zoro. His Marine buddies watched in fascination but made no comment.
"Stop it!" cried the girl.
"What a horrible thing…" muttered Coby.
Not as horrible as what I am getting off those two Marines compared to the kid, thought Luffy.
"I tried to make it with all my heart," cried the girl, knees on the ground.
"Nah, hah," sighed the boy, hand to his forehead, looking up, "You haven't read this poster yet? 'Anyone who helps this criminal will be executed. Signed, Marine Captain Morgan.' Brat, you know who my father is, right?"
Luffy quickly spotted something about the boy. "Brain?"
"Yes Luffy, the boy did spot us."
The boy looked back at one his Marines, "Hey, toss this brat out."
The Marine smiled, "Sir, Captain Morgan's orders are clear…"
The boy grabbed the Marine's collar, "I'm telling you to toss her over the wall! Are you disobeying my order? I'll tell my father!"
"Yes! Right away!" panicked the Marine. Quickly, he grabbed the girl and threw her from the center of the field over the wall, girl screaming all the way.
Despite her screaming, Luffy waited till she couldn't be seen by the Marines before stretching his arms, grabbing the girl, and landing on the ground to make a noise so that they would believe she fell.
"Thank you," said the girl, breathing in and out to regain her calm.
Luffy nodded and jumped back to the wall while Cony and Diddy comforted the girl, Diddy doing so by giving her a banana.
"You bastard," snarled Zoro.
"Hehehe," laughed the boy. "It seems like you're pretty stubborn, being alive still."
"Yeah, I will live through the entire month."
"Well, do your best," said the boy nonchalantly while waving his hand and walking away with his Marines.
"10 more days left."
"Only if you live that long."
Luffy watched the man leave, confusion raging in his head.
"How could he do such a horrible thing, Luffy?"
"He didn't," said Luffy as a matter of fact. "He had two other directions to toss her, plus under the orders of his father, he should have killed her on the spot. And yet, he picked the one direction where he knew someone would be there to either catch her and/or attend to her immediately? No, there's definitely more here than meets the eye."
"What do you mean?" asked the girl and Coby in unison.
"You noticed that the Marines with the boy didn't try stopping him? Hell, the one who tossed you wanted to execute you before he was forced to toss you. Compared to the Marines in town, these two just feel…"
"I know what you mean. I am Rika by the way. The Marines in town are different than the Marines who work in the base here."
Luffy nodded in understanding, a clearer image forming in his head. He jumped over the wall, slipping a little Shave and Moon Walk to land silently in front of Zoro.
He watched in fascination. Using Observation, he could tell that the swordsman has been tied up for some time now yet with will alone he was surviving.
"So you're a bad guy, huh?" inquired Luffy, almost jokingly as it were.
"You're still here?" grumbled Zoro in annoyance.
"Being publicly humiliated… Are you really supposed to be the dangerous bounty hunter Zoro?"
"Mind your own business!" shouted the swordsman, pride wounded.
Luffy smirked and walked toward the man, "I would have escaped first chance I got."
"I'm different from you," Smiled the man. "I will survive to show them. Definitely."
Luffy smiled a bit more, "Heh, what a stubborn guy."
"Before you go, mind getting the onigiri the girl made?"
Luffy spotted where the swordsmen was looking. "Are you really going to eat this? That faker made it more of a dirtball now."
"Shut up and give it to me!"
Luffy shrugged and tossed the rice ball into Zoro's open mouth. The man chewed before promptly coughing,.
"Told you so."
"It was delicious," said Zoro as he looked down once more, "Tell the girl that for me."
Luffy smiled, Guess the demon has a soul after all.
Back in town, in a local bar…
"So let me get this straight, Ms. Ririka."
Luffy, Coby, and Diddy were currently eating some grub at the bar where Rika's mother worked. Pinky and Brain were each eating a small serving of vegetables off Luffy's shoulder – the only time he took them off – with the others as a thank you for keeping her daughter safe.
"This Helmeppo Kire somehow got a pet wolf named Soro, who was for all intended purposes savage. He then took the wolf around town, allowing the said wolf to go wild and basically do whatever he wanted, including but not limited to, trying to bite people and destroying food stands. Anyone trying to stop the wolf would be executed by his command. Said wolf ran into this bar and began eating off people plates. Rika, not aware of who the wolf belonged to nor the edict, tried to swat the wolf away, prompting said wolf to jump her. Zoro, annoyed by all the noise while eating, killed said wolf without even looking. Helmeppo, in a fit of 'rage,' tried attacking Zoro, getting a punch in the face for it. In annoyance, Zoro prepped to cut him, but in retaliation, Helmeppo threatened to kill Rika and Ririka in turn. As such, he made a deal to send Zoro to jail for one month in their place. Zoro accepted, and in turn, you and others have secretly been slipping in some food for him whenever you could. Only this time, Rika did it without permission. Did I miss anything?"
"No, you got it all," said Ririka nonchalantly as she cleaned glasses. "Been that way for three weeks now."
Luffy nodded in understanding, finishing his meal and wiping his mouth clean. He would have asked for more, but luckily, he has used his fruit sparingly, so he wasn't as hungry. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted an orange hair girl – the same one he spotted leaving Alvida's ship with them.
What are the odd's?
He would pursue this line of thought had Helmeppo not barged into the bar with his two bodyguards demanding wine.
Luffy would have ignored it had he not said something of interest during his boasts.
"…Since I'm tired of waiting, I've decided to execute Zoro tomorrow. Look forward to it everyone. HEHEHEHE!"
While the other patrons in the bar were terrified by this, Luffy was thinking of something else. Why did this guy come to this bar? We saved the girl over an hour ago, and he decides to get a drink and boast about this now? Is it to rub it into the girls and mother's face… or did he purposefully say it here?
Luffy would have decked the guy in the face had he been less clear-headed and emotional [a Luffy sneezed across the space-time continuum] but he let Helpmeppo boast until he had his fill and left.
He needed confirmation about something.
"Ririka… who is in charge of the Marine base here?"
"Captain Morgan Kire, or "Axe-Hand Morgan" as he prefers. Has been for the last three years since his promotion."
Luffy looked up from his drink, "What for?"
"He captured Kuro, captain of the Black Cat Pirates. His reward was a promotion and being stationed with his crew as head of the base. It was fine at first, but over time…"
"The power went to his head, and now he is building a statue of himself in the base?"
"Made of some good quality stone by the way," muttered Brain, "Can we assume your tax rates have been, how they say, rising over time?"
Ririka ignored the oddity of a talking Mushi for the moment, "Yes. All the Marines that worked in the base before Morgan works exclusively in the town now. They report to Commander Ripper, their de facto leader since he is one the highest-ranking officials on this island besides Morgan and as such, can't be removed."
Luffy sighed, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely… I swear, findings Marines like Morgan is becoming much too easy."
Coby looked up from his meal, "You mean there are more Marines like him out there? I thought Marines were about justice – that's what the Marine who saved me told me."
"That reminds me – I need to make a call," Luffy got up from his stool, "How certain are you that Helmeppo will proceed with his threat."
"Very likely," replied a worried Ririka.
Luffy sighed once more as he put his hat back on and snails on his shoulders. "Guess this isn't time to dilly-dally. Diddy?"
Diddy quickly saluted, "Yes boss?"
"Finish your meals and make your way toward the base again. I got two calls to make with Pinky and a bounty-hunter to save."
Luffy exited the building through the back door into the alleyway. Looking around making sure he wasn't being watched, Luffy took Pinky and dialed the number of the day.
Took a few 'peros' before he picked up, "Good to hear from you squirt. How you been?"
"Good. Listen, you have anyone you trust near Shell Town?"
"As a matter of fact, I am in that region of the East Blue at the moment. You found something?"
"Let's just say we have another case of a Marine getting too greedy."
Later…
Luffy stood in the sweltering sun, staring at a sleeping and twitching swordsman, clearly caught in some sort of dream that he couldn't get out of.
His patience wearing thin, Luffy was about to wake him when Zoro beat him to the punch.
"You again? You have too much free time," looked up Zoro.
"I'm going to untie your ropes, and you will become my comrade."
"What did you say?"
Luffy walked up to Zoro, arms behind his back, "I'm looking for people to join my crew."
"I refuse," scoffed Zoro. "I'm never going to be part of a pirate crew."
Luffy raised a brow, "At what point did I say that I was forming a pirate crew?"
"You aren't a pirate?"
"I never said that," Luffy said hands bend at sides, "I just find it hard to believe that I actually look like a pirate."
"Well you don't look like a Marine," smirked Zoro.
Luffy waved his hand almost annoyingly, "Pssh. Who wants to be a Marine when you can travel the seas and live your life freely?"
"So you ARE a pirate?"
"No, of course not – do you want me to be a pirate?"
"Why would I want to be a bad guy?"
Luffy tilted his head, "Why would a pirate be a bad guy?"
Zoro was seething now, shark teeth and all, "Because pirates kill, rape, and pillage without remorse!"
Luffy paused then laughed, "Oh! I think your confusing terms."
Zoro – despite his anger – asked, "And what would you call such people?"
The shock that registered on Zoro's face at the pure look of malice and fury that took on would be something that the swordsman would swear in the future to the end of his days was the most terrifying thing he ever saw.
And he counted all the crazy shit he saw on the Grand Line AND his wife during her first pregnancy.
"Why would I call those THINGS anything higher then diseased parasites and filth?" answered Luffy with barely restrained rage. "Those… people… and I use the term loosely… have perverted the pirate dream and ideal to an unrecognizable level, painting all vessels without a flag or agenda as nothing more than target practice for the justice of Marines."
Zoro actually thought about that, "So… you DO want to be a pirate, just not what the world CONSIDERS pirates?"
Luffy put his hand on Zoro's shoulder, "Zoro, Zoro, Zoro… I don't WANT to make a pirate crew… I NEED to make a pirate crew."
Pause…
"Why?" asked Zoro almost innocently enough
"Because I have PLANS, Zoro. Plans that require the world to pay attention to me and not try and shove me under the rug or out of the tabloid news by the old men in Marine HQ."
"Go on…" inquired Zoro, more out of curiosity than anything else.
"The Revolutionaries stick to the shadows and are intentionally kept out of the press. They are faceless and ever spreading, like a web that stretches, bit by bit, by a Dragon sitting in the center, playing with the strings like a marionette. Me though? I want there to be a bulls-eye on my back. I want people to hear about my exploits. I want people to wonder why someone who hasn't done ANYTHING pirate related is wanted as a pirate. Why? Because then everything I do will start raising questions – questions certain people don't want to be answered or looked into."
Zoro thought about it. As a bounty hunter, he had seen the other side of Justice, one he was noticing was getting a rather lousy connotation and was becoming too predominant as of late. Hell, the only reason he hasn't been arrested for murder YET is that he has been bringing in pirates and hoodlums for bounties.
The YET was somewhat contingent of Marines still considering bounty hunters as subsidiaries of the Marines.
That or if they didn't sell them out.
He had heard rumors of a few too dangerous bounty hunters suddenly being called pirates and suddenly becoming wanted men for no other reason than the Marines said so.
Hell, he had been scouted by…
Wait a minute…
"Your plans – do they involve just getting rid of these…"
"Let's just call them pirates for convenience sake."
"Do your plans involve getting rid of just pirates?"
Luffy smiled, a shadow falling over his face, giving him a devilish appearance, "Why – you interested?"
"Only if you plan to take care of other factions as well."
Luffy nodded, "I have plans for the Marines. Not all of them, mind you, but most of them. Even you should have noticed that the Marines in the town itself are not like the ones in the base."
Zoro nodded in agreement; the two days he spend in town did indicate two different factions of Marines in play.
"I like to think that there are two kinds of Marines in the world: the good and the decent."
Zoro raised a brow, "What's the difference?"
"Good Marines follow their rules to the letter and will sacrifice all for the sake of justice. Decent Marines sacrifice everything for the sake of all. Even justice, if it comes down to it."
Something actually resonated in Zoro with those words. "Sounds like bushido a little."
"How so?" inquired Luffy.
"'Believe in justice, not from other people, but from yourself' – part of the Righteousness Virtue."
Luffy smiled, "A sentiment my Gramps would agree with. But your earlier inquiry made it seem like you were asking about other factions as well."
Zoro nodded, "A while back, some guys attempted to recruit me for an organization called Baroque Works. I declined and killed the men since they worked for a group that instigated civil unrest and most likely assassination for some hidden agenda."
"I've heard of the organization, but I was led to believe that they mostly functioned in Paradise."
"Paradise?" asked Zoro.
"First half of the Grand Line – appropriately named, believe it or not. In any case, yes, my plans would also include removal of said rogue groups. Plus, they would most likely be classified as pirate squabbles or even attacks on 'recognized' Marine institutions, raising my bounty even further, and in turn increase focus on me."
Zoro smirked, "So, just to clarify: you want me to join your group of fake 'pirates' for some plans and schemes you have in the works for notoriety and attention, so that at some point in the future you can start dropping bombshells and screw with the Marines…"
"And World Powers and Nobles."
"Them too. And in exchange, you offer me a chance to continue my desire to kill people who deserve and have it coming."
Luffy raised a finger, "I also include training, a chance to fight enemies stronger then you, food, shelter, a ship, and a chance to travel the Grand Line – and maybe find One Piece, but that's more of the continuation of the whole pirate image if nothing else."
"You DON'T want to find One Piece?"
"I want the TITLE associated with it for no other reason than it would allow me to become the figurehead for the TRUE Pirate Age, not this facsimile that was formed from the bastardized message of Gol D. Roger."
Now Zoro caught on, "You want to reform pirates by becoming the Pirate King?"
Luffy spread his arms, "All hail the king, baby."
That did – Zoro laughed. "Zhazhazhazha!"
Luffy smirked, "Does that laugh mean you're in?"
"Tell you what kid – you bring me the swords Helmeppo took from me, and we have a deal. I want to personally shish kebab the kid for signing my death warrant."
Luffy's smile faltered, "I'll bring you the swords, but I would change my target to his father instead."
"Why?"
"Because I have more than a good hunch that the kid is only pretending to be a douche to make sure his father doesn't get rid of him."
"What makes you so sure?"
'Other than the fact he convinced a Marine who wanted to execute a child to toss her toward the wall we were hiding behind? Nothing more than a hunch and some deduction."
Zoro's smile faltered, "I'll believe it when I see it."
Luffy smiled once more, 'Believe none of what you hear and only half of what you see?"
Zoro smiled ones more, "Not with all the shit I've heard."
"Then I guess I'll make a believer out of you yet. Just remember – I get your swords, you'll join my crew?"
Zoro smirked, "Yeah, I'll join your 'pirate' crew."
Luffy smiled ear to ear, "Good."
And just like that, Zoro watched in shock as the boy in front of him – he realized he never asked for his name – shot his arm to the top of the Marine base, and propelled himself upward like a rocket.
"Huh. Devil Fruit… Neat."
Top of Marine Base where the statue was being propped…
Captain Morgan watched as a dozen or so Marines pulled the statue of his visage upwards. It had taken months to bleed the town for the money for this monument to his glory, and another few months to sculpt his magnificence.
"Okay, hold it there," order the Marine to his right. "Make it stand with one pull."
A Marine ran up from the sidelines and saluted, "Captain Morgan Sir! There was an intruder in the execution field."
"Who was it?" asked Morgan.
"It was a child, sir."
"Was she killed for talking to the prisoner?"
The Marine faltered, "Your son order her to be tossed over the wall instead."
Morgan considered this before pointing to a random Marine. "Go to town and make sure she is dead. If not, finish the job. I shall have words with my son afterward."
Said Marine nodded and was about to leave when Morgan stopped him, "Leave after we raise my stature – a testament to my greatness. Make sure to raise it to the highest point to show it as far as the eye can see."
Just as the statue was about to reach its halfway point, an arm grabbed one of the ropes pulling the statue. The Marines and Morgan watched in shock as a kid was pulled upwards from said hand, causing the statue to shift, crack, and brake in half, falling and pinning a few Marines under the half that remained on the roof.
The sound of a giant stone shattering when it landed on the ground followed soon after.
Captain Morgan watched in utter shock as the testimony to his greatness shattered so quickly.
"Huh, what do you know? I broke his stature… Neat."
"Poink! Déjà vu."
Captain Morgan quickly gathered his rage and focused it on the object that instigated it, "CAPTURE THAT KID! I WANT HIS HEAD ON MY EXECUTION BLOCK SO THAT I CAN CHOP IT OFF MYSELF!"
"SIR YES SIR!"
"Woah boy! Time to make a run for it."
With a quick application of Shave, Luffy ran down the stairs and locked the door behind him.
"Brain, directions?"
"Keep running down, I'll instruct you which turns to take."
Luffy nodded, "Please pay attention to anything interesting or of value that Diddy can take as well."
"Will do. You should know that the orange haired thief we met earlier is in here as well and that Coby has entered the field to free Zoro."
"Then I guess we got to hustle."
Took Luffy a few twists and turns – and a few Marine beatings – to get to a room that was oddly enough, with a plaque that was entitled "My Room." Luffy barged in, quickly noting the surroundings. It was classily furnished, not too girly, but it definitely gave off a somewhat haughty appeal. The only thing of difference were three swords with black casings in one corner and Helmeppo at a giant desk doing mounds and mounds of paperwork.
The world paused.
"You know, I am no Marine," started Luffy, "but that looks like the kind of paperwork that the head of a base would do."
"It is," said Helmeppo, not an ounce of haughtiness or 'I'm above you' mentality on him.
"Can I only assume that your behavior in town is all an act?"
"It is."
"So you ordering the girl tossed…"
"I spotted you there in the corner of my eye."
"The wolf?"
"A gift from my father in an attempt to toughen me up. I honestly thought that the Marines in town would have shot him, but apparently, they believed my message applied to everyone. Thank Oda Zoro was there."
"So you putting him on the post?"
"Twofold: it would have gotten my father off my back, and I honestly believed that the bounty hunter would have broken away on his own and killed him. Unfortunately, his pride was stronger than I anticipated. The only reason I went to town and announced his execution is because my father had actually ordered it and not me."
"And the paperwork?"
"My father won't do it, and it's the only way I could keep myself safe with a legitimate excuse for being a weak nancy boy."
"So your appearance…" said Luffy while pointing at his suit.
"If I had a chance and not the bad pull behind my father's name, I would have joined another Marine base by now. Unlike him, I want to be a Marine worthy of the name."
"Stick around afterward, I know a guy who can do just that. So you are okay with me getting rid of your father?"
"I prefer you kill him, but sending him to jail is decent enough as well."
Luffy nodded, "Fair enough. So Zoro's swords?"
Helmeppo pointed, "Over there. Don't know why you couldn't grab some other swords – those three are nothing special. I checked. You could get swords of better quality at any weapons shop."
Luffy shrugged, "Maybe he is sentimental. Can I count on you clearing everything up afterward and name names?"
Helmeppo opened a lower drawer and pulled out a bunch of paperwork, "I've been keeping track of everything Morgan and his 'base boys' having getting away with for when the inspector would have in two years time. I have everything: regulations not followed, money fraud, blatant favoritism for the men who work outside of the town. You name it, it's here."
Luffy stared at Brain, "Brain – Scan."
Brain eyes quickly took odd an odd glow as he stared at the patch of paperwork before returning to normal, "The boy speaks the truth: the first few pages alone would get everyone here court-martial at worst. Morgan isn't getting off with a pat on the back and a dishonorable discharge here. If he worked for your grandfather, he would have been killed by this point?"
"Wait, Gramps would have killed him himself? What the hell did Morgan do?"
Brain looked to the bookcases to the side, "I also scanned the census data for the island that Helmeppo keeps track of as well – very good bookkeeping by the way – and cross-analyzing what I just saw makes me think that Morgan had trouble keeping it in his pants."
Helmeppo winced, and Luffy became enraged, "How many?"
"Best estimate? Four gone – for this year alone."
Luffy's fist pierced his skin and bleed a little on the carpet, causing the material to burn and produce fumes.
Helmeppo noted this odd sight, "Odd Devil Fruit ability. I thought the San San no Mi (Acid Acid Fruit) was eaten by a Marine."
Luffy quickly wiped his hand, "Nah – a side effect of me trying to master my fruit. Only happens when I lose control. Otherwise, my fluids are normal."
Helmeppo nodded, not wishing to inquire further, watching as Luffy quickly strapped the swords to his back.
Luffy walked to a window and opened it but starred quickly to Helmeppo, "A monkey is running around the HQ 'acquiring' supplies for me. I had Pinky here message him that you're to be left alone. If you do come across him, stay by his side, he'll keep you safe."
"Will do and Luffy? Stay safe."
Luffy couldn't help but smile, "Don't worry Helmeppo – I am not an easy man to kill."
Coby was trying desperately to untie Zoro, but unfortunately, knots was just not something he ever got around to learning.
"You have got be kidding me! Who the hell tied these things, someone who ate the Saku Saku no Mi (Rope Rope Fruit)!" snarled Coby.
Zoro looked at the kid in confusion, "Is that an actual thing?"
"After spending three days with Luffy talking about the topic, it's more than likely. According to him, as long as it's not something that has multiple parts or things making it, it can have fruit for it."
Zoro thought about it, "Huh… so a Ken Ken no Mi (Sword Sword Fruit)?"
"You know, I actually asked him the same question. He says that technically, the Supa Supa no Mi (Dice Dice Fruit) turns a person into the blade human and the Buki Buki no Mi (Arms Arms Fruit) allows the user to become swords, but an actual Sword Fruit? I don't think there is one since a sword is forged and all that."
"Good to know," said Zoro nonchalantly. "So I am going to be executed today by the brat's orders?"
"Actually, Luffy thinks that Helmeppo is putting up an act to keep himself safe from his father's wrath. It's more likely that Morgan caught wind of something and decided that you were a liability to his image," answered Coby calmly.
"And where is this Luffy? In fact, how did you meet him?" inquired Zoro.
"We met three years ago after he saved me from a pirate crew who kept me hostage for three years. He and his friends all ate Devil Fruits, and he says he is forming a crew to do… something."
"Something?"
"He was very vague about it, but he emphasized that he wasn't going to be a pirate in the traditional sense."
Zoro chuckled, "Yeah, he gave me the speech. It caught my interests. A pirate crew that doesn't act like pirates and removes corruption where ever it goes; sounds like a plot of a bad romance novel if it had damsels in distress."
Coby looked at Zoro oddly, "You read those kind of things?"
Zoro shrugged as best he could, all tied up and all, "My partner does."
"Your partner?
"Yeah, the…"
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"
Zoro and Coby looked to their right, spotting a line of Marines all holding sanctioned Marine flintlock rifles at them. They then noted an enraged Captain Morgan approach the line.
"By the treason you have committed by attempting to free this man, you will both be executed right here."
Zoro stared angrily at the man, "Treason? You're man who is backing out of his son's deal and attempting to kill me despite me having ten days left. By your own actions, I have the right to leave, you coward! Hiding behind your troops and creating chaos!"
"COWARD!" shouted Morgan, "I am Captain Morgan, my word is law on this island! And if I say you die, then by my orders you will die!"
Zoro smirked, "What, by a firing line? What, too afraid to do it yourself?"
Morgan laughed "Your skill, when compared to my strength, is nothing! AIM! FIRE!"
As both Coby and Zoro saw their lives flash before their eyes, neither managed to hear a particular set of words.
"Gomu Gomu no Rocket!"
Seconds before the Marines fired, Luffy landed in front of the men, spreading out his arms in a protective manner, while his two snails were covered by transparent spheres.
Everyone – sans Coby – watched in terrified shock as the musket bullets hit the boy, stretched through him without piercing… and that's the last thing they saw before dying.
What Morgan managed to see as he dodged what his men couldn't was the bullets ricocheting out of the boy who broke his statue with his own body.
Zoro's jaw dropped, "What kind of fruit did this kid eat?"
Coby smirked at the swordsman, "He is the Rubber Man – no blunt object or bullet can harm him."
Zoro registered this fact and smiled in turn, "Meaning he can still be cut."
"What, getting ideas now are we Zoro?" laughed Luffy as he approached Zoro.
Zoro spotted the snails, "How did they avoid being hit?"
Luffy pointed, "Pinky here ate the Sound Fruit, and he simply created a shield of sound to protect himself and his buddy."
"Zoinks! Hello dangerous swordsman!" replied said snail.
"Huh – neat."
Luffy then proceeded to put his hands on the roped that bound Zoro's arms. Before either Coby and Zoro could inquire, the ropes began to literally burn and smoke away. When they finally got weak enough to be ripped by Zoro, Luffy moved on to his legs.
As Zoro undid himself – while Morgan watched from the sidelines still in shock and confusion – he had to ask, "Since when could rubber do that?"
"Some forms of rubber are rather toxic and caustic before they are refined into forms we are more familiar with in its usage. It took some mental acrobatics to manipulate my fruit this way, but ones the door was open, its pretty hard to close it afterward," said Luffy without looking up.
As Zoro freed himself, Luffy unstrapped the three swords off his back, "So, you practice the Santoryu style?"
"Yeah, something I created as a kid. Still haven't found any decent swords to keep up with it though. Most swords I have break after some fair usage – these three managed to last the longest so far."
"Ah, explains Helmeppo's concerns…"
"DAMN YOU, PIRATES! MARINES, ASSEMBLE!" shouted Morgan as he finally regained his nerves. As if by command, a hoard of Marines emerged waving around swords.
"Zoro?"
"Yes, Luffy?"
"I believe now is a good time as any to… release some tension?"
Zoro took on a devilish smile as he put one of the swords into his mouth, "You read my mind… Captain."
Luffy smiled as he and Coby watched in fascination as Zoro crossed his two swords across his chest and places the blade in his mouth horizontally behind them.
As the Marines were within distance, Coby saw the swordsman flash through them, arcs of blood and screams of pain emerging immediately.
Luffy smiled ear to ear, able to see and understand exactly what Zoro did with his advanced training. He also noted that Brain was watching this with fascination as well, as he had already switched to what was jokingly referred to 'Recording Mode.'
The last sound the Marine's heard before passing on was Zoro clearly stating through the sword in his mouth: "Oni Giri."
Zoro turned back to Luffy, "You know, I should have mentioned this earlier, but I have an ambition of my own, one I plan to keep while part of your crew."
"Oh?" stated Luffy as he raised a brow, "And what would that be?"
"To become the world's greatest swordsman!" stated Zoro with pure conviction.
Only Luffy was able to pick up the Haki behind that statement, released unconsciously by the man in front of him.
Interesting. It is as if his very soul believes that it is his purpose in life to accomplish his dream… To I know how to pick them or what!
"Good to know. Oh and Zoro – one more thing?"
"Yeah?"
Luffy lifted his leg back, "Please duck."
Zoro – now sensing the hoard of Marines behind him approach – promptly did so.
"Gomu Gomu no Whip."
The Marines were all shocked when Luffy's leg stretched out, catching them all of the guards as it smashed and propelled all of them against the wall a few yards away. They weren't dead, but they weren't getting back up either.
Morgan, shocked ones more, watched as the kid's leg stretched back up like nothing was wrong with it. "Who… who are you?"
Luffy slowly began to approach the Captain, his fear making Morgan step back reflexively, his axe-hand up and ready to cut him when he got close enough.
"Me? I am nothing more than the man who will break this world asunder."
Before Morgan had the chance to ask, Luffy flashed right in front of him.
"Gomu Gomu no Bullet: Hollow Point."
In that instant, Luffy's arm stretched back and quickly retracted by the sudden forward motion Luffy created as he Shaved toward Morgan. A little application of Shigan and, well… let's just say that the autopsy report on Morgan will reveal all the organs surrounding point of impact exploded like nobodies business.
Zoro watched in fascination as Morgan coughed blood, rolled up his eyes, and collapsed on the ground.
Coby covered his mouth, but couldn't stop himself from throwing up anyway.
Luffy quickly Shaved to him, "Coby, are you…"
"I'm fine, I'm fine…" whispered Coby as he wiped his mouth, "Never been around so much death before."
"Not even…"
"I was too important to risk losing for Alvida, so I was kept away from such things," spoke Coby as he wiped his mouth.
Zoro undid his bandana after sheafing his swords, "That was an interesting movement technique you just did there."
Luffy nodded, "One of the first things I'll teach you when your leg strength gets to snuff."
"Good," said Zoro as he casually collapsed on the ground, "I'm hungry…"
Inside HQ
"Sorry," said Nami as she was tying up Marines, "Just hang in there for a bit."
The Marines were not convinced by her words.
Nami smirked as she made her way towards Morgan's office. Rumor had it that he was one of the few Captains in the East Blue who had his hands on a map of the Grand Line.
However, right as she was about to open his door, she heard a shout.
"WHO THE FLYING BANANA PEELS IS CAPTAIN BUGGY AND WHY THE HELL DOES HE NEED THE MAP OF THE GRAND LINE?"
Curiously, Nami peaked the door open slowly, shocked by seeing a talking monkey rummage through Morgan's office.
The place looked ransacked, everything overturned and searched monkey was looking at something he removed from a wall safe in anger.
Oddly, said monkey took two fingers and touched his ear, talking as if someone was listening.
"Pinky? Tell Boss that some goofball by the name of Buggy has the map. Mhh (nod)… Mhh (nod)… Mhh (nod)… the Organ Island archipelago? That's his last sighting? Well… we should have enough food if Boss didn't use his abilities… Yeah… Yeah, I'll meet you in town when I am done."
Putting his fingers down, Nami watched in bewilderment as the monkey put a few more things away into a PORTAL he made using his tail before jumping out the window.
Nami waked in and checked what the monkey was looking at.
So the map is with this Buggy character huh?
Outside
"Luffy?"
"Yes, Brain?"
"It seems our orange haired associated is after the same map we are."
Luffy smiled ear to ear, "Really? Anything else you can tell me about our little stalker, Mister Brain?"
Said mushi smiled as his eyes began flashing through various lights, staring directly at the HQ.
Next day…
"You know… I only thought it was me who healed right after eating. Didn't know it was a regular thing," said Luffy somewhat shocked as he watched Zoro eat.
"It is? I thought it was just something I had. Although… my sensei did say that one could mentally train themselves to do weird things with their body."
Luffy calmly ate his meal – fifth portion though compared to Zoro's messy eighth – with some surprise, "Your sensei must have been a well-traveled man. He was referring to Seimei Kikan."
Zoro looked up from his pasta, "Seimei Kikan?"
Luffy put down his utensils and calmly wiped his mouth, "It's also referred to as Life Return or Bio Feedback. It's a somewhat… esoteric technique… which people can learn to have full command over one's body and its functions. One of its supposed abilities is the rapid digestion of foods for nutrients to accelerate healing."
"Supposed?" asked an eavesdropping Coby as he was carrying dishes back and forth from the eaters to Rika and Ririka. It was their small reward for saving the town from Morgan.
Luffy shrugged, "I've never met a user. I hope to though, Diddy could get a lot of mileage from such an ability?"
Diddy looked up from his fruit salad, "Really Boss?"
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves hear Diddy. We will start hypothesizing AFTER we find some way to do it. You know how it risky it is to use your fruit in such a manner."
Zoro swallowed, "About that… You said the monkey can only store things, right? How can Bio Feedback apply to that?"
Luffy put a finger to his mouth, "Secret."
As everyone laughed at Zoro's reaction, Commander Ripper entered the bar.
Luffy waved at the man, "Mister Ripper, nice to see you again. Have Morgan's supporters been gathered and locked up?"
"Indeed they have, Mister Luffy," nodded the Marine.
"And Helmeppo?"
"The paperwork he has gathered over the years will definitely help sort the mess he left behind. And to think, all he asked was for us to put a good word for him when he applied to join the Marines."
"Speaking of which," said Luffy as he reached into his vest pocket, taking out two sealed envelopes and giving them to Coby, "This is your and Helmeppo's letter of recommendation. A Marine representative should arrive here tomorrow or the day afterward. Trust me, Coby, you'll know who to give it to."
Coby looked reminiscing at the letters, "Huh… I guess… this is it. I mean, I knew we weren't going to last but still… you've changed my life so much, Luffy."
Luffy put his hand on Coby's head, "Don't start thanking me yet, Hana. The man I recommended you to is going to make the next few years of your life a living hell."
Coby smirked at that, "Its still going to be better than being with Alvida!"
Both laughed at their own private joke before Luffy turned to Ripper. "I any case, I guess you came to tell us that Zoro and I got to disappear?"
Ripper sighed, "It may be rude, and you two aren't technically pirates or wanted man, but I am still legally required to take you in for murdering Marines. You understand?"
Luffy waved his hand, "It's all good Commander. Just give us a decent boat fit for a few people, and we will be on our way."
"Actually Captain…" interrupted Zoro, "you mind waiting until the end of the day?"
Luffy raised a brow, "Why?"
"Well… the only reason I didn't bother escaping from the ropes myself earlier is that…"
The bar doors slammed open, propelling Ripper to the opposite wall.
"RORONOA ZORO! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO TRACK YOU DOWN, YOU CONSTANTLY LOST MANCHILD?"
Everyone observed as a woman with short blue hair and a white hilt sword at her side entered the establishment, shark-toothed fury eyed in on Zoro. She wore a purple floral button-down shirt, blue capris, dark pink gloves with white trim, and dark pink boots.
As Luffy watched amusingly as this woman grabbed Zoro by the neck and rung him near death while screaming at him, he finally asked, "Zoro, you want to introduce me to your friend?"
"Well Captain," choked out Zoro, "this is my childhood friend and bounty hunting partner, Kuina Shizukesa, otherwise referred to as, the Yin Swordswoman and holder of Wado Ichimonji. Or as I like to call her, 'woman who literally can't hold on to money.'
"It's not my fault! It always just… disappears from my hands," wept Kuina, "At least it's not as bad as your infamous lack of direction. Also, Captain? What the hell did I miss while I was looking for you?"
Zoro sighed as he pulled down a chair, "Sit down Kuina. This kid here has an offer you may like."
Two days later…
Helmeppo and Coby both stood at the docks as a ship with a dog for a mast pulled in.
To their shock, a giant of a man jumped straight from the ship towards them, landing loudly but without damaging the ground.
Both quickly realized who the man was, Coby facepalmed himself not realizing the connection earlier.
"So," started Garp. "What's this I hear from my grandson about you two wanting to be Marines?"
A chill went down both teens backs at the smile the old man gave them, suddenly realizing just how serious Luffy was about the training they were about to go through.
Yes, Kuina is alive.
I gave her the last name of 'Tranquility', which goes well with her swords name.
Just to be clear, neither will have a DF.