I don't own One Piece, Luffy, any of its characters, or any references in this story. That Honor goes to Oda! The God of Shonen Manga!
Flashbacks/thoughts
Previously on The Will of the King
As Helmeppo was nearing Luffy so was Luffy's left arm approaching Helmeppo nearing the impact. Luff's left fist struck Helmeppos stomach and instantly reversed Helmeppos momentum forcing him to fly through the brick and mortor wall of the tower. If he was alive or dead, Luffy really didn't care.
"Now to get me a Swordsman" Luffy smiled.
The Will of the King
Luffy, with a calm stride walked upto Zoro. Zoro looked up "Thanks for saving the little gaki... What do you want from me?
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy, a Pirate, and future Pirate King."
Zoro glared at him 'What's this pirate want with me... Doesn't he know who I am?'
Luffy just continued to stare at Zoro for a moment... "Whats your story? They were about to kill you for something... You kill someone in this town or something? Luffy asked.
"No. The damn gaki Helmeppo sicked his dog on the kid that brought me the Onigiris and I killed it before it could bite her. He threatened to punish them for it unless I allowed him to arrest and hold me here for one month. Little bastard stole my swords too. Guess he changed his mind on the month, its only been three weeks." Zoro told him his story.
"Ahhh So you aint a bad guy like everyone says then. You want to join my pirate crew?" Luffy asked the swordsman.
"You do know I hunt pirates for their bounties don't you? Why would you want me anywhere near you, I could kill you when your backs turned and take the bounty..." Zoro deadpanned.
"Naw, you wouldn't do that. I can see it in your eyes, you have honor. I could tell when you tried to save that kid by making her leave. If you were like you just suggested you woulda just let her get what was coming." Luffy replied.
"GEEHAHHHAHHUUHAAHHAAH! You got me Pirate... Yeah I would never strike a man in the back. But still I am a Pirate Hunter, and you are a Pirate so why invite me?" Zoro asked.
"Here's the deal, the marines want to kill you apparently. Your bounty hunting days are done whether you like it or not. So you can die here when ever they get around to killing you. Or you can join me, sail the seas, fight strong guys and get stronger. Your choice." Luffy's eyes calmly locked gazes with Zoro.
Zoro frowned, 'Be a pirate and live to possibly fulfill my dream... Or my journey ends here at the end of some random marines sword?' Zoro looked up at Luffy with a maniacal grin "Where do I sign up Captain?"
"Shishishishis! Yeah that's what I wanted to hear! So you use a sword right? It should be in the tower, I'll go get it!" Luffy cheered and left Zoro at the cross.
"Damn it that guy didn't let me tell him I use three swords..." Zoro sighed, 'Well as long as he gets Wado Ichimonji I can afford to lose the others'
About 5 minutes ago!
"I am Great!" Captain Axe-Hand Morgan, the man in charge of this marine base randomly shouted as his men were heaving a giant statue of himself up to a standing position using ropes.
Morgan is a very tall, intimidating man with white-blond hair and a steel jaw. As his epithet suggests, his right hand is replaced by a huge steel axe, the handle of which seems to go right through his forearm. Like most marines of high rank, he wears a large, billowing coat like a cape. His coat however does not have "Justice" on the back.
"Yes SIR! You are the very best and most noble Marine captain SIR!" A random marine said who was still struggling to lift the oversized statue 'Clearly Captain Morgan is over compensating for something!' Another marine thought, hoping desperately that the fearsome captain could not read minds.
BOOOOOM! Captain Axe-Hand Morgan jumped up and looked down over the side fo the tower. There he seen a kid in a straw hat talking to the prisoner he had left in the open training area.
"I'll go down and take care of this. IF there is any damage to my statue when I get done I will kill each and every last one of you piss-ants! DO YOU UNDERSAND ME!?"
"YES SIR CAPTAIN MORGAN SIR!" The Marines nearly had a heart attack with their fearful response.
Back to the present time
Luffy headed to the tower about to break in when he heard a loud thud behind him. His Kenbunshoku Haki (Color of Observation) told him to duck. Just as he ducked a giant axe blade flew through the air that his neck occupied a moment before.
Luffy jumped away to make some space. "Who are you?" Luffy asked.
"I am Captain Axe-Hand Morgan! I own this town, what is a peasant like you doing on my base?" Axe-Hand Morgan towered over Luffy glaring at him, trying to intimidate Luffy with his immense size.
"I'm Monkey D. Luffy! I'm the man who will be Pirate King!" Luffy responded as though he had said this same thing at least 1000 times before (He probably has at this point).
"You are just another filthy pirate I'll stomp on with my boots and put you in front of the firing squad." Morgan glared at the intruder. Morgan lunged at Luffy trying to trap him between the wall and himself.
Luffy suddenly vanished from Morgan's sight. "Hey lockjaw, where are you looking?" Luffy asked as if discussing the weather.
"Huh?" Morgan asked dumbly, standing up straight and turning around. 'How'd he get behind me so fast, I couldn't even see him moving!?' Morgan growled in anger then charged at him with as much speed as his huge body could produce, swinging his namesake at Luffy erratically and without any kind of form.
Luffy closed his eyes and allowed his Kenbunshoku Haki (Color of Observation) to guide his movements allowing him to perfectly dodge all of Morgans careless swings. Luffy sidestepped one of Morgans wild swings and stuck his foot out in front of Morgan causing him to fall flat on his face. Before he could get up to continue his futile attacks on the rubber man, Luffy grabbed Morgans ankles and started spinning at ridiculous speeds before changing trajectory and launching Morgan straight up into the sky.
'What the hell is this guy? How can he avoid all those attacks with his eyes closed as though he were dancing or something! I need to learn how to do that!' Zoro thought as he watched the fight play out. (not like Zoro can do much seeing as he is tied to a cross at the moment)
'What strength this gaki has! I'm gonna die at this rate!' Morgan was thinking as he flew higher into the sky. When his accent finally halted and his descent started much to his dismay.
Luffy looked up tracking Morgan's trajectory. Luffy Jumped high into the air then launched both arms back behind himself "Here take this Lockjaw, can't way it was nice knowing ya!" "Gomu Gomu no Bazooka"! Luffy shouted as his fists dug deep into Morgans gut which caused Morgan to reverse direction and fly back into the sky completely unconscious and uncaring of his fate.
oOoOo
Top of the tower during the fight.
The Marines were heaving the on the ropes and slowly raising the statue of their most feared and hated tyrant, when they seen a shadow fly over them. They all looked up at about the same time to see a clearly unconscious Captain Axe-Hand Morgan, the real life version of the monolithic statue they have been slaving over trying to lift, fly through the sky to parts unknown.
"Was that the captain?" Random marine #5 asked random marine #7 "Um... Yeah I think it was..." Random marine #7 answered.
Suddenly all the marines lost grip on their ropes causing the giant statue of the debunked tyrant to fall and shatter to a thousand pieces on the ground.
oOoOo
Luffy landed on the ground with a solid thud. Looked around and seen he was surrounded by marines and some civilians from the village. "What the hells up with you! Luffy? How did you stretch your arms to attack that marine, that makes NO SENSE!?" Zoro shouted.
Luffy grabbed both of cheeks and pulled them apart stretching them comically. I ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi, I'm a rubber man!"
"Uh... That still confuses me..." Zoro couldn't really grasp half the things this kid did.
"Hey you marine" Luffy points at some random marine in the crowd. "Get this guys swords out of that stupid Son's room!" Luffy demanded.
"Y-Y-YES SIR!" The poor man dropped his weapon and ran into the tower like the hounds of hell were nipping at his heels.
Luffy heard a familiar whistling sound and looked towards the ocean where he seen Morgan hit the water causing an enormous splash. With no one looking ready to go out and there pull him in, Luffy didn't exactly hold high hopes for his survival. 'Couldn't have happened to a nicer asshole' Luffy thought to himself.
When the crowd seen the impact it was like a dam broke, the marines all threw their weapons into the air and started celebrating with the civilians "YATTA! THE TYRANT IS GONE!" Was the general theme of their shouts. Several of the marines ran up and shook Luffy's hands thanking him from the bottom of their hearts.
"Hmm this is odd, the marines are cheering the death of their Captain? Luffy pondered.
Kobi finally came out from behind the wall and ran up to Luffy "They must have all been too terrified of Morgan to be able to resist his orders!" Kobi proposed.
OooOo
As the marine was running to get Zoro's swords from Helmeppo's room, there was a young woman sneaking through the hallways making her way to the captains quarters. 'Let's see if there is anything hiding in the big boss's room...' She picked the lock on the door slid in narrowly escaping being seen by the marine passing by on his way to Helmeppo's room (not that he would've cared to notice her anyways).
Nami the 'cat burglar' was checking all the possible hiding places when she moved a crate aside and found it 'Bingo! Hehehe an in-wall safe!' She cracked the combination and pulled out what looked like a rolled up piece of paper. She unrolled it 'It's a wanted poster for... Buggy the Clown! He's a heartless demon of a pirate... He's killed entire villages for laughing at his nose!' She shuddered in slightly suppresses fear and the thought of facing such a notorious pirate. Finally she had what she needed so she shut the safe and snuck back out the way she came.
oOoOo
The Marine had picked up all the swords he found in Helmeppo's room ran as fast as he could back out of the tower. With shaking hands barely capable of holding said weapons he ran up to Luffy and said "Here Mr. Pirate! The weapons you requested sir! Please don't kill me!" He pleaded and begged with his face on the ground.
"I aint gonna kill you! Get outa here, you're in the way!" Luffy shouted, disappointed in this mans spirit.
Luffy walked up to Zoro, slid one of the swords out of its sheathe held it up to Zoro's ropes that bound him. "This is your last chance to back out Roronoa Zoro, I cut you lose and you are a Pirate just like me, or I leave you here and look for another first mate!" Luffy grinned at Zoro awaiting his reply.
"Cut it out Captain, I already told you I was ready to join you. BUT let me make one thing clear before we lock this deal down. My goal is to be the strongest swordsman in the world, if you ever step in the way of that dream..." Zoro put his newly reacquired swords back where they belonged on his waist. "I will kill you myself and step over your dead body!" Zoro replied while shaking Luffy's hand.
"Shishishishi! That sounds fantastic! What else could the future Pirate king ask for if not the best swordsman in the world?" Luffy replied to Zoro's strong statement.
oOoOo
In a small restaurant that was run by Ririka, Rika's mother, we find our captain and his newly acquired first mate Roronoa Zoro eating food the village gave them on the house for removing the most even father and son duo in East Blue.
"AHHH! That was so good! Zoro leaned back in this chair, hands on his swollen stomach. "That was worth not eating for three weeks!" Zoro sighed.
"So captain, how many ship mates we got? To become the pirate king you gotta have a strong crew." Zoro questioned his new captain.
"None, just you." Luffy casually replied.
"Uh..." Zoro pointed at himself "Just me? Your kidding right?!" Zoro pleaded.
"Yep, just us two..." Luffy said.
"Where is our ship captain?" Zoro asked desperately hoping his fears weren't about to come true.
"Over there." Luffy points his fork out the window at a small dingy floating at the docks, which just happened to have a small stray dog pissing on at at that moment.
"That... Thing... is your boat, captain?" Zoro sighed in exasperation.
"I'll get a better ship, and more Nakama! I will have a great Jolly Roger too!" Luffy shouted.
"So Luffy-san where are you planning on going after you leave Shells Town?" Rika asked.
"The Grand Line of course! I have to be Pirate King, can't do that sitting here in East Blue." Luffy replied.
Kobi spit his drink all over the bar. "With just the two of you!? No matter what, that's just impossible! It's too dangerous! You'll both get killed!"
Luffy just leveled his gaze at Kobi without releasing ANY Haki "Kobi... How many times do I have to tell you? I aint diein' till I'm Pirate King! So stop crying you're just annoying me!" Luffy sighed as Kobi shut his mouth instantly.
"Luffy-san is the Grand Line really that dangerous?" Rika asked.
"Only to those unprepared or without the conviction to take what they know they want!" Luffy answered.
"Well I guess I got no choice, I signed up for it I gotta roll with it." Zoro interjected.
"You too Zoro-san!?" Kobi shouted in exasperation.
"Why do you care anyways Kobi, you aren't coming with us or anything are you? Zoro asked.
"You and Luffy-san are my friends! Growing up I didn't have any friends... I don't want to lose you two! I mean I think we are friends?" Kobi cautiously asked.
"Yeah! We're friends Kobi, we may be leaving but that won't change anything..." Luffy cheered Kobi up.
"You shouldn't be worrying about us Kobi, you said you want to be a Marine right? That's good and all but even if it wasn't by choice you did serve on a Pirate ship for 2 years... Don't underestimate the marines intelligence gathering networks..."
Kobi looked like he had seen a ghost... "Speaking of which..." Kobi whispered more to himself than anything else.
At that moment the restaurants door opened up and a small group of marines stepped into the restaurant "Excuse me, I have to ask, is it true that you two are pirates?" The marine in the front of the group asked.
"Yeah, we're pirates." Luffy answered.
"I know you have done us a most honorable deed in defeating Captain Axe-Hand Morgan, but as marines we cannot sit by while Pirates occupy our town." This was met with roars of disapproval from the crowd watching the event happening.
"Yeah, we'll take off. Thanks for the food Ririka-san!" Luffy smiled at the nice restaurant owner, giving her a wave as he and Zoro were walking out the doors past the marines.
"By the way Marine-san, Kobi there would like to join the marines... He has no affiliation with Pirates, understand?" Luffy asked while giving the marines in the building a generous helping of his Haoshoku Haki (Color of the Conquering King).
"U-U-Uh Yes sir I understand completely, H-H-He'll be welcomed amongst us. We know exactly what happened. Again, you have our deepest thanks, I am sorry you cannot stay longer." The marines leader finally said.
Luffy and Zoro were filling up their boat with the supplies that Shells Town gave them for removing Morgan from their town. They got in and started sailing out to sea when they looked and seen the entire village at the docks watching them leave, with the marines all lined up in front including Kobi in his new Marine Private uniform and they were all saluting them.
Luffy laughed and gave them all a big wave as they sailed into the distance...
To Be Continued
Thank you for reading, Read and Review if you got the time and don't mind.
Beta = Insanity Lord.