Chapter #4: To the Sea…
Father and son lay on the ground completely down for the count and the marines couldn't believe their eyes, "THE CAPTAIN LOST!! CAPTAIN MORGAN HAS BEEN DEFEATED!!"
Zolo sheathed his swords and challenged, "Any of you still want to capture us!?"
The marines looked at each other then they all shouted in unison, jumping around like kids at a party, "HOORAY!! WE'RE FREE!! MORGAN'S REIGN OF TERROR IS OVER!! BANZAI FOR THE MARINES!!"
"Hmph! They're happy we defeated their captain?" Luffy asked, confused as he watched their antics.
"That means… CAPTAIN MORGAN WAS RULING BY FEAR!!" Coby exclaimed, happy to see that not all the marines were corrupt.
"Well, if you're captain was willing to order you to shoot yourself in the head, I don't think you'd like him much either," you commented as you headed over to Zolo. Just as you predicted, by the fatigue-glazed look in his eyes and the slackening of his muscles, Zolo collapsed. Fortunately, you were there and caught him with your good arm.
"ZOLO!?" Luffy and Coby asked in surprise.
"Was he injured!?" Coby gasped in alarm as he ran up to you.
"He'll be fine, Coby," you replied and threw his left arm over your shoulders so you could move him easier; "Some food and he'll be back to normal."
Back in town, Rika's mother treated the four of you to a feast as thanks for what you had done. You didn't eat much though, since you had just eaten an hour beforehand. Instead, while the boys ate, Rika's mother had given you some fresh bandages, a new shirt and shown you to the bathroom so you could clean yourself up, (you hadn't had a bath since you washed up on the beach a few days ago), and dress your wound. Your wound wasn't severe at all, the bullet had only just grazed your shoulder and the bleeding had already stopped by the time you cleaned and dressed it. Then wrapping the excess bandages around your tattoo once again. The shirt was made of a soft light-blue material with quarter sleeves that came to your elbows and fit you nicely, although it was a little short and thus exposed your mid-drift a little, but that was alright for now.
You came back out and heard Zolo exclaim while patting his stomach, "I'm stuffed! Not eating for nine days was worse then I thought!" Zolo had gotten cleaned up a bit too, well… he'd cleaned the blood and dirt off and he had taken his bandana off and tied it to his left bicep. You also noticed a large crowd staring at you from the windows.
"See, you never would have lasted the whole month!" Luffy said with his mouth full. Definitely needed to try to teach that boy some table manners…
"Funny… You seem even hungrier then me!" Zolo commented.
"It's kind of you to feed me along with the heroes, Ma'am," Coby said while scratching the back of his head sheepishly.
"It's the least I can do. You four saved the whole town," Rika's mother replied, then she noticed you entering the room and said, "Ah! Mel-san! That shirt looks good on you!"
"Um… Thanks…" you replied with mild embarrassment as the guys looked at you. You didn't really like dressing up or showing off your body, even the little bit of stomach this shirt showed was a bit much for you, but… oh well… "I hope you don't mind me barrowing it…" you said.
"Not at all!" Rika's mother replied with a smile and you bowed in thanks.
With that settled, you walked around the table to your seat, draped your damaged shirt over the back, (which you would try to fix later), and sat down. To your left sat Zolo, Luffy was across from you and Coby was at your right. "How's your arm, Mel-san?" Coby asked, worried since you had been injured because of him.
You flexed your arm to test its strength and replied with a smile, "It's fine; the bullet just grazed the side. Nothing serious."
Zolo arched an eye brow and asked, "That's an awful lot of bandages for just a little scrape?"
You knew he'd ask eventually so you answered truthfully, "Oh that's to cover my tattoo…"
"Tattoo?" Zolo asked, his curiosity peaked.
A troubled expression crossed your face as you searched for a way to explain, but Coby cut in. "Yeah! She's got this huge tattoo that looks like fancy letters all along her arm to the back of her hand. It's really cool!" Coby said in wonder. Then he thought back to when he had first seen it and then commented in awe at the memory, "Alvida even said that they looked… royal…"
You sweat beaded as everyone now looked at you in wonder and shock at the possibility that you were royalty or something. Then Luffy asked excitedly, "Are you a princess, Mel!?!"
"What!? No, not that I know of…" you answered, thoughtfully.
"Not that you know of?" Zolo repeated as he thought, "Well, this is getting interesting."
You sighed, looked at your mummy-like arm with a troubled expression and said, "To tell the truth… I have no idea where I got this… or why I washed up on that beach…"
"Really? Weren't you in a shipwreck or something?" Coby asked, but you shook your head.
"I don't remember one…" you said tentatively.
"Amnesia then? That's rough…" Zolo said.
You nodded and said uneasily, "I guess so…"
"Well, don't worry about it, Mel!" Luffy said and everyone looked at him curiously as he continued with his usual grin, "That just means that you have a big goal too! Just like Zolo and me!"
You smiled and said, "Thanks, Luffy."
Then an idea occurred to Luffy and he asked, "Speaking of… Have you made up your mind yet about joining my crew?"
Blinking you asked, "Huh?"
"Remember? You said you would come to the next island with me and tell me then if you'd join up or not," he reminded you.
"Ah… Yeah… I remember…" you replied.
He stared at you and there was a long moment of silence until he finally asked, "Well?"
"You sure you really want me on your crew? I mean… what could I do?" you asked.
Luffy looked deep in thought for a while then he replied, "Well, you're a good person, and you're strong… Can you sing?"
You quirked an eye brow at him and replied, "Yes… But what does that have to do with anything?"
Then he threw his arms up in the air and said, "GREAT! YOU CAN BE OUR MUSICIAN!"
Zolo and Coby face faulted and Zolo demanded, "How would that help our crew?"
Luffy looked at him innocently and replied, "What? Pirates sing don't they?"
Zolo inhaled to start to explain to Luffy his point, but paused when he heard you laughing. You then smiled and said, "I don't know how good of a musician I'd make, but I'd be crazy not to keep going with you if you want me to. I've never had this much fun before and this is only the beginning!"
Luffy grinned and agreed, "YEP!" Zolo stared at you for a few minutes, but finally just smirked and returned to his drink.
The three of you started to finish up your meal, although for Luffy that meant reaching his tenth course. Then Rika came up to Luffy and said, "Wow, you're great!"
"Yeah, I'm kind of great! And I'm going to become a lot greater!" Luffy replied with he mouth full again.
"So… What's next," Zolo asked.
"WE'RE HEADED FOR THE GRAND LINE!" Luffy stated like it was the simplest thing in the world.
"WHAT!? THAT'S SUICIDE!!" Coby exclaimed in alarm, "THERE ARE ONLY THREE OF YOU! IF YOU GO THERE, YOU'LL JUST BE SAILING TO YOUR DEATHS! THE MOST BLOOD THIRSTY PIRATES IN THE WORLD ARE THERE!!!"
"Well, I guess if we're after the 'One Piece'… the Grand Line is where we have to go," Zolo said while leaning on his right arm on the table with an eager grin on his face.
Fit to snap, Coby got in Zolo's face and exclaimed, "ZOLO-SAN!! EVEN YOU AGREE WITH HIM!!"
Zolo sweat beaded slightly and said, "What's it to you? It's not like you're coming with us."
With that as the last straw, Coby slammed his hands on the table and shouted, "NO, BUT I'M WORRIED ABOUT YOU! IS THAT SO WRONG!? CAN'T I WORRY ABOUT MY FRIENDS!?!"
"That's not what I…" Zolo tried to defend himself as he sweat beaded.
Coby calmed down a bit, turned to Luffy and said, "Luffy-san, we haven't know each other very long, but… we're still friends, aren't we?"
Luffy beamed at him and replied, "We're going our separate ways… but we'll always be friends!!"
Coby smiled back then he looked at the floor and said, "You're the first friend I've ever had… No one else ever stuck up for me! Even I wouldn't stick up for me!" Then he looked up with determination and continued, "But the three of you… You taught me to fight for what I believe in!"
"That's why I'm going to the Grand Line," Luffy said.
"Makes sense to me," Zolo agreed.
You sweat beaded and said, "I don't think that's what he's getting at guys…"
"Mel's right! I'm trying to convince you that it's too reckless!!" Coby shouted, but was cut short when Zolo tapped his forehead with the pommel of one of his katana.
"First of all, you better worry about yourself," Zolo said.
"Huh? Why?" Coby asked befuddled.
Zolo rested his sword on his shoulder and explained, "You were a cabin boy on Alvida's pirate ship for two years. Don't underestimate the marines' intelligence. If they find out about your past, they won't let you enlist, even if you were forced." Coby went white as it dawned on him the huge obstacle that now stood in his way that might be even worse then Alvida or Morgan.
"Excuse me…" you heard a marine say as he came in the door and you saw the rest of the marines standing outside. "You are pirates… correct?" he asked.
"That's right," Luffy replied maybe a little too enthusiastically, "I even have two crewmen now, which makes me a genuine pirate captain!"
The marine nervously grabbed his hat and said, "Umm… You saved our base and this town… and we are truly grateful to you. However, we're still marines… and we can't shelter pirates." He then stood up straight in stubbornness and continued, "I'm sorry, but I have to ask you to leave, but to show our gratitude we won't report you to headquarters."
At that news the townspeople shouted disapprovingly, "Marine pigs! What are you doing!? YOU HATED MORGAN AS MUCH AS WE DID!!! THEY'RE YOUR SAVIORS TOO!!!"
You sighed and said, "Well… I was wondering how long they'd put up with us. Guess it's time to go, eh Luffy?"
"Yeah… Tanks for the meal, Ma'am," Luffy said and got up, his eyes shaded by his hat.
"Luffy… You're leaving already?" Coby asked sadly.
The three of you said nothing as you walked past him, you didn't even make eye contact lest that betray any of your real feelings. It was a strained silence.
Then the marine asked Coby, "Aren't you going with them?"
"HUH?!" Coby gasped then stuttered searching for the words, "I'm… I'm… I…" He clenched his fists and shouted, "I'M NOT ONE OF THEM!!!"
Not entirely convinced though, the marine turned to Luffy and asked, "Excuse me, pirates? Is that true?"
Luffy was silent for a bit, then he said, "Let me explain, I know all about his past…"
"Luffy… You're not going too…" Coby thought in terror.
"See there was this secret pirate island… and a big pirate woman… her name was Alvida…" Luffy started to spill the beans and you watched Coby's terror grow. Luffy then tapped Coby in the forehead and continued, "She was really mean… and for two years, this guy…"
"SHUT UP!!!" Coby shouted and punched Luffy square in the jaw, not that it really hurt him, but it looked real enough.
Everyone was stunned, except you, Luffy and Zolo. Coby was the most stunned that he had actually hit someone who had helped him so much. However, that was what Luffy had been counting on and, although he was grinning, he snarled, "WHY, YOU--!!" He punched Coby right back. "Take this and that!" Luffy kept pummeling Coby, but not hard enough to really hurt him.
It was enough to convince the marine though and he shouted, "ENOUGH! STOP DESTURBING THE PEACE!!"
That's when Zolo grabbed Luffy by his collar and dragged him back saying, "Hey… Hey… That's enough." Coby fell to the floor, stunned.
The marine then pointed at you and demanded, "IT'S CLEAR THAT YOU'RE NOT FRIENDS!!! PLEASE LEAVE TOWN! NOW!!!"
In spite of the marine's harsh send off, you still smiled to yourself as you left knowing that Coby was finally on his way. Luffy was smiling too and Zolo even felt like taunting the other marines.
"Catch us if you can!" he said and smirked as the other marines recoiled in surprise. They hadn't forgotten how he's bested their captain so easily and weren't too eager to challenge the swordsman.
When you got down to the docks Zolo said, "That was some pretty bad acting, I wouldn't be surprised if they saw right through it."
"I don't know… I think it went over well," you said.
"In either case, it's all up to Coby now. He'll get in somehow," Luffy said with a laugh.
You helped Luffy untie the boat and Zolo commented as he gazed out to sea, "Well it's a good time to be leaving… Everybody hates us… That's the way pirates should leave a town…"
Luffy laughed at that and replied, "I guess that's true!"
Then you heard a familiar voice cry out between gasps, "LU… LU… LUFFY-SAN!!"
"Coby?" Luffy asked as the three of you looked back at the panting boy.
Then Coby saluted and exclaimed, "THANK YOU VERY MUCH, CAPTAIN LUFFY!! I'LL NEVER FORGET ALL YOU DID FOR ME!!!"
"Well this is unheard of," you said with a grin, "Pirates being saluted by the marines."
Luffy laughed then answered with a wave, "WE'LL MEET AGAIN COBY!!"
"TEN'SHUN!" shouted the marine commander and all the marines on the island saluted you right along with Coby who looked stunned.
"HOORAY!!" shouted the townspeople as Luffy waved farewell to them and the three of you set off.
"WE'RE ON OUR WAY!! TO THE GRAND LINE!!!" Luffy exclaimed ecstatically while you and Zolo each grinned with the infectious excitement of your captain.