One Piece - Lionheart of the Sea

by streetlife34

The Great Pirate Era, it is a time in the world where every man with a Ship sets sail and calls himself a Pirate, everyone man aims to find the greatest treasure on the sea. During this Era, one man with the heart of a lion aims to stand at the top of this age of Piracy. This is his journey. (OC MC)

8. Enter Pirate Hunter: Roronoa Zoro

Hey everyone and welcome to my new One Piece fanfiction. Here's the chapter you've been waiting for. This is the chapter that will officially begin on Episode 1. I hope you're all as excited about this as I am. As you can imagine Light's battles will be pretty uneventful during these early parts of their adventure but the story will have enjoyable moments that will hopefully make up for all that. Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit fan-based parody, One Piece is owned by Funimation, Eiichiro Oda, Shueisha, Toei Animation and Fuji TV. Please support the official release.

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"Pirate" Regular speech.

"Pirate" Thoughts.

Finger Pistol Attack names.

(Pirate) Words said previously.

"PIRATE!" Shouting speech.

[Pirate!] people talking at the same time.

"Pirate" people talking over communication

---

Enter Pirate Hunter: Roronoa Zoro

---

It was a bright sunny day out on the bright, clear-blue ocean. The familiar sea stretched on forever on all sides, sparkling from the hot sun from above—But there was also a gentle breeze that blew over with clouds drifting lazily across the sky. A large and luxurious ship sailing by. Considering the history of the East Blue, there are a lot of cruises and traveling done here. On the cruise ship, two members of the crew were standing by on the deck and looking around, making sure things were secure.

But just as the men were about to go back inside, the crewmate in the crow's nest suddenly screamed out something about pirates. Looking up and over the deck, their jaws suddenly fell open in horror at what was coming towards them. Sneaking out from the cover of a nearby island was a large Pirate Ship.

The Pirate Ship is a large pink ship, with four sails, one higher than the other three. Each sail has a pink heart, and the ship herself has two hearts on each side. The figurehead looked like a duck, or swan it was hard to tell, while its flag was of a sideways skull with a heart.

It wasn't long before the Pirate Ship closed in on the cruise ship and the crew aboard loaded their cannons as they open-fired on the ship they planned to raid. Sailing a small distance away from both ships was a medium-sized boat, one that could probably only fit a few people. Right now only two people were aboard and they were watching the attack on the cruise ship.

"Looks like they're under attack."

"Do you recognize the Jolly Roger?"

"Not really, meaning they're probably not a big named Pirate. Regardless we better stop them, I doubt the Marines will arrive on time if we just leave them.

"Should we board the Pirate Ship?"

"No, it'd be better to board the cruise ship and wait for them to come to us."

After deciding on that, Light and Silk began sailing toward the cruise ship. It has been one year since the two of them began sailing together and in that time they've been able to establish a strong bond of teamwork and comradery. They were truly Nakama now. Though their appearances have hardly changed at all, Silk's eyes were sharper and had more confidence which came from how much stronger she had become.

---

In the lower parts of the ship. The sounds of fighting above deck and it was dead quiet down here in a room filled with food, among some destroyed tables, china, and a spilled pot of soup showing that it must've rolled over and spilled out over the floor.

"Um… Hello?" Squeaked a voice from nowhere. At first, there wasn't anyone around until a boy's face cautiously sticking his head into the room. He was a chubby boy with pink hair, a sailor shirt, black pants, red and white shoes, and round glasses, his face was timid and he was glancing around fearfully as if he expected someone to jump out and attack him.

The boy continued to look around. "I sure hope no one's in here." He said to himself as he walked in.

The boy sighed in relief, his hand over his heart, glad to see that he was alone. "That's a relief."

But then a voice suddenly called out. "Hey, you!"

"Aaaaagghhhhhh!"

The boy shrieked in fear and terror as he lost his footing and fell down, he slowly turned around to see Light and Silk standing a few feet behind him in the hallway. Seeing that they weren't a part of the Pirate crew considering he didn't recognize them, he calmed down.

"Problem?" Light asked, surprised by his outburst.

"I'm pretty sure he was just surprised." Silk figured.

"Oh, I'm sorry." The boy apologized as he dusted himself off and stood up. "I scare easily." He then looked at them with urgency. "You two need to hide, all the other passengers are being held in the ballroom, but if no one sees you you should be able to get through this raid safely."

Light raised a brow. "Hmm, aren't you also a passenger?"

"Uh… Well, I…" The boy seemed hesitant to answer that question.

But as he struggled with it, a voice suddenly growled out. "It's our favorite coward."

Glancing up, there were three Pirates poking their heads through the next door. One of them was clad all in blue and white stripes, including the bandana on his head. There was a man with a blue tattoo that stretched from his forehead to the bottom of his cheek. The third man had shoulder-length hair with a green headband holding back his bangs.

"Trying to hide in here and duck out on all the action again?" One of them snarled at the boy who jumped back. They quickly turned their attention over to the other two. "Ah, looks like you found some leftovers who were trying to hide."

"Not bad for a coward." Another of them grinned and cracked his knuckles. "Now, hand over everything you got, and then go join the other hostages."

Neither of them felt intimidated as Light ignored his threat and turned to the cowering boy next to them. "Tell me, what's your name?"

"Ah, Coby?" The name named Coby answered, both confused by his sudden question and afraid of what was happening.

"Well then Coby, are you a member of this crew?" Light asked curiously.

One of the Pirates pointed a sword at Light's face as he demanded. "Shut up! Are you messing with us? Don't you know that we're vicious Pirates!?" He growled, angry at being ignored.

"I noticed." Light brushed him off. "What crew do you belong to?"

He sneered as he answered almost like he was bragging. "We're part of the Alvida Pirates, led by Captain Alvida, Lady Pirate of this sea."

"Alvida?" Light stared up and tapped his chin before turning to Silk. "Ring any bells?"

Silk shook her head and shrugged. "Doesn't sound familiar."

"Do you seriously not know what's going on?!" The Pirate yelled, furious that neither of them was taking them seriously.

"You damn kids!" The second shouted as they attempted to attack them with their Swords. However, the fight was over so fast that to the untrained eye, it would be impossible to see what had happened… The only thing that was apparent was that the Swords were snapped in two, and the halves were now embedded in the ceiling while all three of the Pirates were laying flat on their backs unconscious while Silk resheathed her Sword and Light lowered his fists. Though Coby who was too afraid to look had no idea what was going on as his mind couldn't rationalize what he was seeing.

"Those were some cheap Swords." Silk noted. "Really why would anyone want to use just a couple of dull blades like that? Those things were barely sharp."

"Not so hard to figure really." Light argued. "They're just run-of-the-mill Pirates, any Sword can get the job done when you're attacking ships like this one."

Coby, who was cowering on his knees behind Light was now gawking up at him, as he peeked through his trembling fingers.

"So ah… What just happened?" Coby stuttered, not understanding what.

"Well, Silk moved in to cut their Swords off their hilts before they could attack and I finished it up by knocking them out with quick blows to the head." Light casually informed him like it was something simple.

Coby blinked before he suddenly started to freak out and yelled. "Quick, you gotta run! If those guys don't come back soon, their buddies will come looking for them and when they get here they'll kill you guys on the spot!"

Light shrugged with little concern. "If they come to us it saves us the trouble of looking for them."

"Not really." Silk argued, seeing a flaw in his logic. "It'd be faster to go to them considering we know where they are and it could take a while for them to notice these three are missing."

"Maybe, but this way we can take our time." Light pointed out while stretching. "We've been sailing for a while so it's nice to have some elbow room."

"How can you just blow this off like that!?" Coby continued to panic, now screaming. "There are hundreds of them up on deck and they're waiting for an excuse to kill anything!"

Light looked at an open door to another room and decided. "Let's go in there and talk."

"Huh?" Coby seemed flabbergasted by their lack of panic but followed as the two walked through the door. They found themselves in a large, wide storage room filled with crates of foodstuff. Light sat down on one and Silk sat on another as Cody carefully peeked through the door to make sure they weren't seen before closing it. "Who knows, maybe we'll be safe in here as long as no one gets hungry."

Coby then sat next to them on the floor. As Coby continued to stare at them, just as Light asked. "You never told me, are you one of the Pirates or one of the passengers."

Coby suddenly flinched and looked down in shame as he explained that he had been Alvida's prisoner after he had accidentally mistaken a fishing boat and a Pirate boat together. So in order to live, he had been forced to work as a cabin boy for the last two years. He said that the only reason he was still alive was that he did whatever they told him.

"I see, so you made a mistake." Light summarized.

"Basically." Coby muttered as he lowered his head pitifully. "If only I had been more careful."

Silk frowned. "But still, it's not like Alvida's holding anything over your head, so you're not obligated to stay. In that case, Haven't you tried to escape from this ship these past 2 years?" She wondered.

"Are you kidding?" Coby cried out, shaking his head violently from side to side, "No way! Na'ah! Not a chance! Just the thought of Alvida finding me scares me so bad I wanna throw up!"

Silk groaned at him, finding that line of thinking annoying. "Seriously, you won't even try because you already believe you'll fail?"

"Well, at least he's not recklessly doing something beyond him like someone else I could name." Light jokingly defended him while making a dig at Silk.

Silk closed her mouth and looked miffed before looking embarrassed. "That was a year ago, just let it go already!"

Light grinned before looking up and smiling. "I get what you're saying though and she has a point, Coby. I won't yell at you for being scared considering you're just a kid, but it's been 2 years already. If you don't even try to leave you might be here your whole life."

Coby kept crying. After a few minutes Coby regained control and rubbed his swollen eyes as he muttered, "Hey, you're right… If I had the courage, I could drift alone in a barrel and be rid of this place. I actually have my own dreams! Someday… I'd like to live out all of them."

Coby stayed quiet for a few more seconds before he finally looked up at Light and asked timidly. "Hey, I never really asked you what your name is." He looked at Silk. "You're Silk, right?" He asked before turning to Light. "What's yours?"

"Light. Monkey D Light." He introduced himself.

"So what about you, Light, Silk? What was it that got you to first set sail on these seas?"

"Right now, we're looking to form a good crew." Light answered him.

"A crew?" Coby repeated curiously.

"We've been sailing around for about a year and have been to a few places around East Blue." Light explained, thinking all his past adventures. "But now we need to move on, to start that we need a real crew instead of just the two of us."

"We need a cook, a navigator, and at least one strong fighter." Silk listed down. "Those are the immediate positions were hoping to fill."

"I see, that makes sense if your planning to sail for a long expedition." Cody understood before asking. "And what's your dream, what are you hoping to achieve in the end?"

Light smiled confidently as he declared. "To be nothing less than the Pirate King.

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Coby's mouth fell open in horror and his face was contorted in absolute panic—Like he was close to having another freak-out episode.

Coby's mouth was moving, but he didn't seem to know how to speak. Finally, he croaked out, "The King…?"

Light nodded. "That's right."

"Are you serious?" Coby asked in disbelief.

"I am." Light said confirming it.

"But…" Coby hissed. "But that would mean you're a Pirate too!"

"If you want to be the Pirate King, that would help." Silk smiled.

Coby froze… As though had become a statue. Coby stood up suddenly finding his voice and he began yelling. "King of the Pirates is a title given to one who has attended everything the world has to offer! You're talking about seeking out the great treasure of wealth, fame, and power! The treasure that you seek is the One Piece!"

Light rested his chin on his palm. "I know all that, no need for a recap."

"Recap… That's it?" Coby demanded sounding close to hysteria. "Pirates from all over the world are looking for that treasure you know!"

"So what?" Light asked predictably.

"No way! It's Impossible, impossible, impossible! There's no way someone like you could ever reach the top in the Great Pirate Age!" Coby yelled frantically as he shook his head rapidly. Coby kept screaming out, getting louder with every second. "There are just too many out there who are meaner and better and—"

BOINK!

But before he could finish saying what was on his mind, Silk finally gave him a sharp boink to the top of his head, so that he did a face-plant on the floor.

"Why'd you do that?" Light asked, though his tone suggested he didn't care all that much.

"He needed to cool his head." Silk reasoned. "And his screaming was kind of annoying."

Coby slowly sat up, his hand still on the spot where Silk hit him. "Oh well, I'm used to that stuff. My crewmates smack me around a lot. All the time in fact."

"Listen, Coby, I get that it's important to want to live, but that doesn't mean you also shouldn't consider how you should live." Light softly explained to him. "Instead of thinking "I can't because I'll die" I see it as "I'll do it even if I might die" and as long as I'm living the way I want without a single regret, that's all that matters to me."

Coby didn't say a word—He only continued to stare long and hard at him as seeing something that he had never seen before.

"But… Aren't you afraid?" Coby asked as though he truly needed to know.

"'Course not." Light said without any doubt or fear. "There are some things in life that you feel like you have to fight for and in times like that, you just can't help but feel like you're not afraid of anything for the sake of it, I've felt that way ever since I decided I'd be the Pirate King."

"It was the same for me." Silk joined in, in complete agreement with Light. "Having something to fight for, even if it seems small or trivial to others. If it means something to you enough that you're willing to fight for it, regardless of the danger or risk to your life, that can make all the differences."

Here, probably for the first time, Coby was thinking about what he wanted and wondering if he was willing to fight for it. There was just something about Light that did that. Right now… Light—And to the same extent, Silk—Stood for everything that Coby was against, but already it was clear to tell that Coby was beginning to see them both as friends.

"I guess I never thought of it like that." Coby said to himself as he thought over everything they said. "If I put my mind to it… If I'm prepared to die for it… Could I do something like that?"

Light must've heard him, even though it was hardly more than a whisper. "Like what?" He asked curiously.

"Do you think…?" Coby asked hesitantly, as if afraid that Light would laugh if he said what was on his mind, "Do you think I could ever join the Marines?"

"Marines?" Light repeated in surprise.

"Yes!" Coby yelled, standing up, tears in his eyes as he proclaimed his deepest wish of becoming a Marine and hunt down criminals. "Catching bad guys is all I've ever wanted to do! It's been my dream since I was a child! Do you think I can do it?" Coby asked Light.

Light shrugged his hand and said idly. "There's really only one way to find out."

"Then I'm gonna do it!" Coby exclaimed as he pumped his arms up, his confidence going up by leaps and bounds. "I'm not gonna get stuck here as a cabin boy for the rest of my life! I'll break out and then turn right around and catch Alvida myself!" Coby proclaimed loudly…

But almost as soon as he said that the ceiling above them suddenly exploded.

Just then, the form of what looked like, at first, was a giant blob crashing from the upper decks and landed with a bang in front of them. Coby was screaming and moved back, all the confidence he once had vanishing on the spot.

"Who is that you're planning on catching, Coby?" Demanded a harsh voice, definitely female, however. "And you actually think these runts are gonna help you?"

Coby only shrank back to the corner, shaking in terror, covering his face with his hands as if hoping that would hide him. Light and Silk stood up, now more serious, not out of concern but out of awareness.

"Alvida?" Light questioned, not looking away.

Silk calmly replied. "Looks like it."

"Well?" The voice demanded and the smoke cleared enough for them to see who it was and several of them gasped. "Answer me!"

Suddenly, several Swords came through the back wall, but neither Light nor Silk paid attention to them. Glancing at them in mild surprise, Alvida glared at Coby before she turned her attention back up at Light—Looking him up and down. She suddenly smirked. "Well… My guess is that neither of you is Zoro the Pirate Hunter."

Light didn't seem fazed. "Afraid not."

Alvida didn't go on as she glared back down at Coby. "Coby!" She barked and he jumped in terror. "Who's the most beautiful of all on these seas?"

Coby tried to answer her but stuttered the whole time… Unable to form any audible words.

Light crossed his arms. "What is she expecting him to say?"

Silk looked at her with half-lidded eyes. "I'm guessing she believes it's her."

"And we all know that's not true." Light said bluntly as he shook his head.

.

.

.

There was stunned silence for a fraction of a moment. Coby and Alvida were both gaping at him, as the Pirates who were sticking their heads down through the hole were staring at him in shock.

Oh no!" one of the pirates above them croaked out, knowing that their Captain wasn't going to take this sitting down.

Alvida looked like she was really going to burst blood vessels as she glared at Light—Her face contorted with fury. "YOU RUNTS!" She roared as she brought her mace swinging down at him, who along with Silk, easily jumped up and landed light as a feather next to Coby once Alvida smashed the floor where he had been standing a moment before the attack sending the shrapnel everywhere.

"Let's go!" Light said excitedly as he grabbed Coby's arm, and together, the three of them went flying through the hole, Coby clinging to Light in terror.

Once they arrived on the deck of the cruise ship, the three of them found themselves surrounded by a horde of Alvida's crewmates who all looked ready to attack.

"Silk, you take half." Light ordered her, for the first time.

"Got it." Silk complied, unsheathing her Sword.

As the Pirates charged at them, Silk stood still and waved her Sword around with a level of sharpness and finesse that hardly any of the people aboard this ship besides Light could actually see her blade. But all of them became aware that they had been cut the second cut marks appeared on them with the pain that went with them. The ones that weren't cut didn't even have time to comprehend what had just happened as they were instantaneously punched by Light and knocked out cold one after another.

In the span of just a few seconds, every Pirate on the Cruise Ship was beaten and floored everywhere, now Coby and all the remaining Pirates who were on the Pirate Ship gapped at the two of them while their eyes bulged out in astonishment. Coby staggered to his feet and took a few shaky steps towards Light, staring at him with his jaw wide open. "Light… Silk… What are you guys?"

Light glanced at him and grinned. "Just two people who know what they're doing, what else?"

Alvida cleared her throat from behind Coby, who squealed and went to hide behind Light as she gazed at Light and Silk with new interest.

"Interesting, you're both different than the average deck swabber." Alvida said idly, and then she asked. "Are you Bounty Hunters?"

"We're Pirates." Light corrected.

"Pirates?" Alvida scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Just the two of you on these waters?"

"Well, we all have to start somewhere." Silk added.

Alvida only laughed again as she demanded. "Tell me. If we're all Pirates and we're not under the same flag… Then that makes us enemies am I right?"

"If you want to see it that way." Light then put his hat on his head and stepped forward as he told Silk. "It's customary for the Captain to fight the other Captain, so leave this to me."

"Aye, Aye." Silk idly responded with a smile.

Coby, however, was filled with fear and panic. "Wait, you can't let him face Alvida by himself, we should just run." He whispered fearfully to Silk, hoping to convince them. "I mean, you saw how powerful her club is. And of all the villainous cheats in all these waters, she's easily the most dangerous."

"It'll be fine, just watch." Silk assured him without a hint of concern.

Coby persisted. "But—"

Silk cut him off. "Coby, watch carefully." She told him evenly. "You're about to see something that will make all the villainous cheats look like nothing."

Coby was stunned by her words and so he watched quietly. Light stood directly in front of Alvida who was towering over him and looked down at him with an unhidden desire to kill, having complete confidence in himself Light boldly spoke. "How about it, I'll you have the first move."

"I think I'll take you up on that generous offer." Alvida answered gladly as she raised her giant metal spiked club. "Now, DIE!"

Light didn't bother to move as Alvida brought down her weapon and smashed down upon Light's head. As he landed, Coby screamed in horror, Alvida smirked victoriously, and Silk just looked amused—Knowing that this was nothing.

"Not a bad try." Light taunted as Alvida's eyes widen in disbelief. Upon closer inspection, it was apparent that her club never made contact with Light's head as he held up a hand and used it to catch the club, now holding it in place, just inches above his hat.

"T-There's no way." Alvida uttered completely shell-shocked which increased when she realized that she couldn't pull back her club from Light's grip, no matter how much strength she used, it felt like it was locked in a vice grip.

"That club isn't a bad weapon, but…" Light smirked pulled back his free arm. "It's not as strong as them; These Knuckles o' mine."

"Gaaaaahhhhhh!"

Light's fist punched straight into her gut. His Knuckles dug deep through her fat, blubbery stomach and damaged her so much she forcibly let out a scream. The power behind this blow was so great that it lifted her off her feet and sent her flying forward like a cannonball. Off of the deck, away from the ship and all the way into the open sea, she was sent so far away they could barely see her, but they could see and hear a large splash in the distance.

Everyone on the Pirate Ship was once again gaping at Light… Unable to believe that he took out their Captain in one hit. But he turned to the rest of the crew on the opposite ship and Spoke.

"Hey, I'm taking this guy with me if none of you mind." He told them, gesturing to Coby.

[…Yeah, sure.] They all said together fearfully, sweating dropping from all of them.

"Thanks, Light…" Coby thanked him, his voice filled with sincerity.

Not a moment too soon though, there were the sounds of cannon fire and the ship was tossed violently as they all turned to see that the Marines had finally shown up.

"Right on time, they arrive after the problem's been dealt with, like always." Light sighed.

"This is bad!" Coby started panicking again. "If the Marines see us like this they'll arrest us too!"

"Then let's not stick around." Silk suggested, turning to Light. "The boat is still hooked to the port of the Cruise Ship."

"In that case, let's go." Light proclaimed they moved out.

---

The cannons kept falling and there were shouts of panic as the ships rocked and rolled. Light, Silk, and Coby went back to steering their fishing boat, and soon. With their attention focused on rounding up the Pirates, the Marines didn't notice the small boat making a break for it.

Thanks to their small size, they were able to slip past them all, and soon the turmoil was nothing but distant shouts and booms in the distance. Coby, Light, and Silk were all sailing through the calm water, with Light looking pleased.

Coby was staring around him as if he couldn't believe where he was. After two years of near-slavery, he was finally free. "We actually managed to get away." He whispered.

"Well, this battle was one of the easier ones, but we got more out of this than I was expecting." Light said to himself as he stared at the waves.

Silk looked through a sack and informed Light. "We're starting to run low on provisions."

Light brushed that off. "No worries, we'll pick up some more in the next town we arrive in."

"So Light?" Coby asked, suddenly turning his attention back to him. "If you're searching for the elusive One Piece, then that would mean you guys are heading to the Grand Line. The guys I've talked to all call that place the Pirate Graveyard."

Light shrugged. "It can't be all that bad, especially if you're as strong as we are."

"But regardless, we'll still need an actual crew before we think of going there." Silk pointed out.

"Yeah, that's true." Light agreed monotoned before looking at Coby. "On another subject. Tell me, have you heard any rumors on where the Pirate Hunter has been spotted recently?"

"Oh, you mean Zoro?" Coby asked before thinking. "Yeah, I actually have heard somethings about that. Last I heard he was being held prisoner at some Marine base."

"And which Marine base would that be?" Light went on with his quarry.

"Oh well, Branch 153, that's on an Island called Shells Town which is in the Yotsuba Island Region." Coby told him all he knew,

Light became satisfied by that answer. "Good, it's close by."

Coby blinked as if realizing what Light just said and asked carefully, "Why are you asking about him anyway?"

Light only grinned back as he answered. "I've actually been wanting to meet him for a while now, so I could ask him to join my crew."

Once again, Coby's mouth fell open and he froze up—Just like how he had done when Light told him about his dream of becoming the King of the Pirates. Silk leaned in and informed Light. "You need to stop always being so blunt."

"Hmm, why's that?" Light asked, honestly not seeing the problem.

"Chasing him down is just plain reckless!" Coby yelled at him.

"Don't be so pessimistic." Light waved off his concerns. "For all you know, things might turn okay."

"There's no way looking for someone like him can be anything close to okay! He's a bad enough guy that the Marines caught him!" Coby shouted out and began to shout out how impossible it would be, much like before. "No way! Not a chance! Forget it! No! No!"

SPLASH!

And once again it ended in a similar way. This time Light reached his hand in the ocean and splashed a handful of seawater into Coby's face. As he spits some out he asked. "Why'd you do that?"

"To cool you off." Light told him, nonchalant.

---

It had been about a day since the three of them started sailing after leaving behind Alvida's ship and now the sun came back and they were still out at sea. Light was sitting up near the figurehead of the little boat while Silk rested against the side and Coby held onto the sail.

"If we continue on this heading, we should reach the Marine base in no time at all." Coby told him, looking happier than they had seen him yet.

"That's good." Light replied. "We were lucky that it just happened to be nearby."

"Who knows, maybe your luck is starting to turn." Silk jokingly suggested.

"I wouldn't bet on that." Light joked back. "Fate always finds some way to prove that wrong."

"I really don't know if I would consider this luck." Coby fixed his glasses as they gazed back at him. "Because at the Marine base they're holding the great Pirate Hunter… Roronoa Zoro. This is the man who has diced up his bounties like an animal bent on carnage. A blood-thirsty beast! He's been called nothing less than a living, breathing Demon in human form!"

[Yeah, we know.] They both responded at the same time.

"If you then why are you both so calm about it!?" Coby demanded fearfully. "He's been known to brutally slaughter his victim before he drags them in to collect their bounties!" Coby went on. "Anyone who had been crazy enough to stand up to him had ended up cut to pieces!"

Light looked up at the clouds. "But you've never met him and those are just rumors, so you have no way of knowing if any of that is true."

Coby stopped. "Well, no but…" He wanted to go on but couldn't because he couldn't argue with his logic.

"Anyways." Light went on. "His personality or whether he's a beast or not isn't really an issue for me, what I'm really concern about…" Light than had a smirk of anticipation. "Is if he's really as strong as all the rumors say."

"Huh? Why would you want to know that?" Coby asked, seemingly afraid to hear the answer.

"We told you before, we were looking for crewmates." Silk reminded him. "Among the list of positions we want to fill before going to the Grand Line, we need a strong fighter."

"When I heard that the Pirate Hunter Zoro is arguably the Strongest Swordsman all the East Blue, I decided I wanted to meet him and hopefully have him join me." Light explained before frowning. "But even though I hear about where he might be every now and then, whenever we arrive he's always gone without a trace."

"Well, they say Bounty Hunters never stay in the same place for long." Coby noted before bringing up. "By the way, how long have you been sailing anyways?"

"About a year." Light informed him. "Almost right after I set sail I met Silk, after that we went sailing around East Blue in order to help her get stronger. We went to all sorts of places and fought a lot of different opponents, likes Bounty Hunters, Bandits, and other Pirate crews."

"Through it all, I was able to become a lot stronger than before." Silk said proudly. "I'm confident that I won't lose to anyone I go up against now."

"I wasn't expecting that. I thought Silk was always strong, but she only got that way after fighting and sailing for such a long time." Coby thought while looking at her, he then looked at Light. "Does that mean that Light also…?"

"No Coby, I was this strong even before I set sail." Light told him.

"Huh?!" Coby gasped in surprise. "How did you know what I was thinking?!"

"It was written all over your face." Light pointed at him. "You're gonna have to work on that."

---

Before long they finally sailed far enough where Shells Town was right in front of their eyes. Once they were close enough, they could get a good look at the Marine Base on the Island. The Island was made up of tall cliffs, and the town was built right into it. At the top stood the Base, towering over them all, and separated by a wall that looked similar to the one on Goa—Though much smaller.

Coby was staring up at the Marine Base, his own eyes bright and as big as coins as he stared up in wonderment.

Light didn't even wait to tie the boat up as he jumped ashore, thus Silk tied the boat to the shore.

"We made it." He exclaimed happily, now looking around before walking into town as Coby and Silk followed after him. "The Marine Base City."

And so they began following the two through the crowded market, wondering just when and how they would meet up with Zoro. Speaking of which, Coby was still following him, trying to convince Light of all of the reasons why he shouldn't recruit the Swordsman even if he did find him. "Seriously though, you two are out of your minds if you think the right thing to do is to get this guy to join you."

But neither of them was listening to him as they looked at the food stalls and markets in town. "We told you were just looking for him." Silk pointed out. "Besides, the Captain can be pretty stubborn about these things so it's better to just roll with it."

"I'm not being stubborn." Light denied before confessing. "I just wanna see what type of guy he is."

"He's in prison because he's obviously a bad guy!" Coby screamed out, stopping dead and yelling in the street.

"Don't forget that we're Pirates, Coby." Light reminded him. "Yet you don't think we're bad."

"I know that, but you can't just assume the same would be true for Zoro." Coby tried to reason with him.

As if he spoke a curse, they all jumped back in fear, terror on each and every one of their faces. The three of them looked around, puzzled.

"Maybe we shouldn't mention the name Zoro around here, okay?" Coby whispered quietly. Naturally, they quickly put it out of their minds and set off again, Coby right on their heels.

"Anyway, Let's go check out to the base." Light went on as if nothing happened. "You wanna be a Marine, right?"

"Well, of course, I do Light, but I really don't think I'm ready yet." Coby said timidly. "From what I've heard the man in charge of this place is named Captain Morgan."

Coby finished. But the words were no sooner out of his mouth and townspeople who heard, leaped away in alarm once again—Just like they did when Zoro's name was mentioned.

Light blinked before they started walking again. "…I'm sensing a pattern."

"That was odd, I mean I get that they're scared of Zoro, but why'd they flip when I mentioned the Marine Captain's name?" Coby asked, now looking completely lost. "I don't know I've got a bad feeling about this."

Silk looked around. "At the very least, there's something strange about this place."

"Since we're on the topic, I've been wondering something; Why is Zoro imprisoned in the first?" Light asked as though this has been on his mind for a while. "I mean, he hunts Pirates better than anyone in these waters, wouldn't the Marines want him out in the world to keep doing so?"

"Well, that's because… Ah… Well…" Coby stuttered, unable to think of an excuse.

"I suppose the way to find out is to ask him personally." Silk reasoned, also curious as to why.

"But how are you going to speak to someone who's already been captured?" Coby asked.

Light merely shrugged. "Meh, we'll figure something out squirt."

"Did he just call me, squirt?" Coby thought with a cringe.

---

It wasn't long until they stopped at the Marine Base's gates near the top of the Island.

"Whelp, here we are." Light said as they stood at the entrance.

I made it." Coby said with tears in his eyes as he started crying into his arm. "This is where we part ways you guys, we didn't have long together but—"

As he was talking, Light and Silk went over to the wall beside the gate and both jumped up, Light landed on the wall and sat on it while Silk hed onto the edge and kept her torso above the wall.

"What are you guys doing!?" Coby screamed at them. "Get down there! They'll see you!"

"Hey Coby, I think I see Zoro out there." Light informed him, mildly surprised.

"They wouldn't keep him out in the open." Coby said sweatdropped. "He's probably locked away in a prison cell underground."

"No that's definitely him." Silk argued, also seeing him.

"Come see for yourself." Light urged the boy.

Coby jumped up and struggled to get himself to look over to see what Light was talking about.

"I'm telling you, he's not…" But he gasped as he looked out.

Over the wall, there was the Marine Base but outside the base was a far, wide courtyard with nothing but flat ground. In the center of that courtyard, there was a muscular man of average height with lightly tanned skin, cropped green hair, and three identical gold earrings on his left earlobe. He wore black trousers tucked inside black boots, a plain white shirt with three undone buttons at the collar, and a green haramaki.

There was no doubt about it. It was Zoro…

He was tied to a cross-shaped post in the center of the yard with the hot sun beating down on him… He was filthy and looked exhausted as he hung there… Very thin with his black bandana overshadowing his eyes so that they couldn't see his expression. Though weak and obviously starved, they could sense that there was something very dangerous about this man.

"That hood on his head and a haramaki…" Coby thought fearfully. "It's Roronoa Zoro."

"So that's him, that's Zoro?" Silk spoke as she saw him.

Light stoically stared at him like he was trying to access the person he was looking at from afar.

Light didn't answer as he merely nodded.

"So… So what do we do now?" Coby asked still afraid. "Even tied up he's still probably dangerous."

Just then, Zoro sensed that he was being watched and looked up to see the wall where Light, Silk, and Coby were. "You three!" He growled at them, clearly irritated. His eyes were exhausted, but they still glared fiercely up at them, hearing Coby squeal in fear. "You're an eyesore, get lost."

Coby hid behind him, once again begging Light to just leave. "Light trust me, there's no way you'll survive with someone like him on your crew!" he cried out.

Silk looked to Light and was slightly taken aback at the thoughtful expression on Light's face. Normally, it was easy to tell what was going on inside his head, but here… He had the perfect poker face as he looked at Zoro. Zoro was wearing the exact same expression that Light had. Like they were both thinking the exact same thing.

"Even if he agrees to join your crew, he'll always be your enemy, your life will be in danger!" Coby continued on, but still Light wasn't budging as he looked.

Their attention was so focused on him that, at first, they didn't notice that someone else had appeared. Coby had stopped talking and looked back in time to see that a little girl had climbed up beside them.

She was a cute little girl with big black eyes and her brown hair tied back with pigtails and wearing a simple dress with red shoes as she looked at the three of them. She put a finger to her lips, silently telling them to be quiet as she glanced around cautiously and lowered a rope down the other side, and climbed down.

Coby had been so stunned, that it wasn't until she had reached the ground on the other side did he snap out of it and screamed. "We gotta stop her! She'll be killed! Either by the Marines or the Demon himself!"

But yet again they both ignored Coby as they watched her ran to Zoro, holding a tiny package to her chest. They could see her come up to him with a kind smile.

"What'd you want?" Zoro asked her impatiently.

"I thought you might be getting hungry now? So I made you a couple of rice balls." The girl told him, as she held up the wrapped package and began to untie it.

"You've got a death wish kid?" Zoro said bluntly. "Just scram."

"But you haven't eaten anything the whole time you've been tied up." The girl said persistently as held up the two rice balls for him. "Here, I've never really made them before…" She went on so that he could see them. "But I did my best and I think they're fine."

It wasn't hard to see the hungry look in Zoro's eyes as he stared at the food before he turned his nose up at them. "Listen kid I'm not hungry! Now stop irritating me and get out of here!"

"But…" She started with a hurt expression and Zoro seemed to lose his temper.

"Do not make me kick your ass little girl!" he yelled at her.

As if on cue, an obnoxious voice drifted over the courtyard.

"Now now, no one likes a bully."

Called a taunting voice that entered through the gate. Everyone glanced up to see a skinny and lanky-looking young man with light blond hair shaped like an oval on top of his head and wearing a complete purple suit coming towards them with two Marine soldiers walking at his sides. He had a smug smile on his face as he tugged at the collar of his shirt—Acting as if he owned the town.

Zoro who was tied to the post gave them all an angry look as he slowly came towards him. "Roronoa Zoro, you seem to be handling this well." The man said still in that mocking tone. "Don't you agree?"

"Who's that guy?" Silk asked, wondering why she felt irritated for some reason.

"That's great. He must be with the Marines." Coby said smiling. "Now we know the girl'll be safe."

"I'm not so sure about that." Light said with a frown.

The blond man walked over at the girl, looking at the rice balls. "Oh, lookie. Some tasty rice balls." He said and he snatched one up and took a big bite out of it.

"HEY!" She cried out. "That's not for you!"

He stopped and made a face of disgust as he spits it out.

"Too sweet!" He screamed dropping the rest of the food to the ground. "They're packed with sugar! You're supposed to use salt you idiot salt!"

"But I… I thought it would taste better sweet." She said, blinking in surprise, not really understanding what she did wrong. And then the blonde man knocked the other ball to the ground and stomped it into the dirt.

"No, stop!" The girl pleaded, trying to grab it, but couldn't get close without her risking her fingers getting stomped on. "I worked so hard!" The girl sat there on the ground staring at it, tears welling up in her eyes. "But I…" she choked out, "I worked so hard… to make those…"

"Too bad." The blonde sighed, looking like he couldn't have cared less for her feelings as he took out a piece of paper from his jacket. "You must not have read the notice that was posted. 'Those who assist criminals in any way will be executed. Signed Marine Captain Morgan'."

The girl turned pale and looked up at him in fear. "Captain Morgan?"

"It seems even little brats fear my daddy?" He asked cockily.

"So that guy's father is Captain Morgan?" Coby repeated in astonishment.

"And he's using his Father's influence to make others fear him?" Silk surmised with displeasure.

"Judging from the way that girl reacted, this Morgan is probably more bad news than Zoro." Light theorized. "That explains the way the townspeople were acting before."

The blonde turned towards one of his men. "You, toss this kid out right now." The soldier suddenly stepped back, looking terrified at the order. When he didn't move, The blonde grabbed him by the front of his shirt and yelled. "I said, throw her over the wall soldier! Now if you're not gonna follow my orders, I'll tell my father."

"Yes, sir, I'll do it!" The Marine stuttered as he walked towards the girl.

The soldier picked the girl gently up and quietly told her to curl up into a ball as he tossed her over the outer wall.

Light turned with the quickness of a snake leaping up and into the air. Catching the girl he somersaulted with her to land easily on his feet without even a bump. Coby and Silk went over to them as the girl got up. "Thanks, mister."

"I'm not 'mister', I'm Light." Light corrected her.

"Light! Are you two okay!?" Coby asked with concern before going over to the girl. "What about you little girl, are you alright? I can't believe how wretched a person he is."

While Coby was worrying about the girl, Silk looked to her Captain and asked. "What do you want to do now?"

Light looked back at the wall, thinking about who was on the other side, and told with a tone that had authority that Coby hadn't heard from him until now. "You two, take the girl and go back into town, I meet up with you later."

Silk nodded in confirmation and gestured Coby to do the same, soon the three of them walked down the hill and back into town. Back in the courtyard, Zoro was scowling at the blonde man while he cackled.

"You're just dead set on staying alive aren't you?" He asked.

"That's right." Zoro snarled at him. "I'm gonna make it through the month without any problems."

This only caused him to laugh again. "Right, good luck with that." He sneered as he walked away.

"Only ten days left!" Zoro called after him.

"Oh, you still assume you'll make it to the end of those ten days." The blonde replied smugly as he left the prison yard.

Shortly after he left, Zoro leaned his head back down but soon sensed that he wasn't alone and looked up to see that Light was now standing before him. They both looked hard at each other as if sizing each other up.

Zoro had no idea who this boy was, and he wasn't interested. But he was curious that he had come in after seeing the little girl get thrown out… At the same time, he couldn't help but feel as if he was on display and anger had boiled in the pit of his stomach as he watched the kid looking at him.

While at the same time, he was also thinking that this kid wasn't like anyone he'd met before… What it was, he wasn't sure. But he was struck by how unafraid that the punk was of him. Light honestly didn't seem afraid of him. It could've been that he was tied to that post and half-dead… But still… That had never happened before.

Light, on the other hand, though he felt something strange about Zoro, strange but not unfamiliar. The feeling he sensed from Zoro was unlike any man he had come across. This Swordsman felt more like one of the wild, predatory beasts he often fought as a child. In fact, Zoro felt exactly like a starving beast that was biding his time and waiting for the moment when he would be free to hunt his prey. Possibly another reason he was called the Pirate Hunter.

"So, you're Roronoa Zoro?" Light finally asked, breaking the silence.

"You're still here?" Zoro asked in a bored tone, clearly telling him to get lost.

"You know, I've actually been hoping to meet you for a while?" Light informed him, walking closer to lessen the distance between them. "But you're a lot harder to find than you'd think."

"And, what do you want with me?" Zoro asked with mild curiosity.

Light smirked before answering. "I just wanted to see if you were as strong as people say, whether or not you're really the best Swordsman around. Unfortunately, you seem pretty tied up at the moment."

Zoro smirked back. "Well, you caught me at a bad time. Come back in 10 days and I'll be happy to show you how strong I am."

Light then frowned. "Yeah, about that. What were you guys talking about before, about surviving through the month and 10 days, all that stuff?"

Zoro frowned as well with dismay. "Ask the girl or someone in town if you really want to know."

Light could tell by his expression and the change in his tone that the reason was either a sour subject or just something he didn't want to talk about. Not one to push a matter when someone didn't want to talk about it, Light decided the only thing he could do was leave for now and so he turned to do so.

"Wait, hold on." Zoro suddenly called him back. Zoro gazed down at the rice ball. "Could you, pick that up for me?"

Looking surprised at the request, Light did so, picking up what was left of it. "You wanna eat this?" He figured out, looking over the rice, and picking out a few pebbles.

"Yeah, give it to me." Zoro demanded.

Zoro still sounded calm but looked serious. Light stared at him momentarily as brought the rice ball closer and blew on it a bit to blow away some of the remaining dirt. After that though, instead of giving it to Zoro like the man in question expected, Light opened his mouth and helped himself to the rice ball, causing Zoro to gasped incrediously at him.

"Y'know, the sugar actually kills some of the taste of dirt?" Light informed him as he chewed the rice.

"You son of a…" Zoro was now greatly annoyed and didn't do much to hide that fact.

"If you're really hungry…" After swallowing it, Light reached into his pocket and took out an apple which he got from town. "Eat this instead."

Zoro blinked, his annoyance now turning to confusion. Instead of questioning it though, Zoro opened his mouth as Light threw the apple into it. As he was eating it Light explained himself.

"If you really want to eat a rice ball then have the girl make you some after you get out of here." Light advised him which made Zoro's eye widen. "I'm sure she'd want to be there to hear you tell her how it tastes and for it to be fresh when you taste them."

"Hmph, I guess you're right." Zoro whispered. Zoro's voice had gratitude as he said. "Thanks for the food."

Light's eyes suddenly softened and he was smiling in an oddly kind way… As if seeing something that no one else could see.

---

Things moved on to a little while later as Light met up with the others back in town, still with the girl whose name they learned was Rika. They were all piled in what looked like an alley with the same girl. Light had just sat down on a barrel as he told her how Zoro ate the apple.

"Really?" Rika cried out, her eyes wide with relief.

"That's right." Light nodded smiling at her ecstatic expression. "I don't know if it was as good as a rice ball but at least he was able to eat something."

"That's great." she said in relief, truly happy by that.

"I wonder if Zoro really is as evil as everyone thinks that he is?" Coby said softly to himself, stunned by what Light had just told him. "Still, everyone says he's a beast."

"He's not!" Rika defended loudly, looking angry for half a second before she looked down at her hand and finished. "He's good… Because… He got himself punished… For us…"

They all paid attention to those words with mixed reactions as Silk leaned over to her. "Rika, tell what happened."

Silk's request spoke for all three of them as they each wanted to know. And that was how she explained what was going on. Almost a month ago, Helmeppo—The son of Captain Morgan—Had owned a vicious dog that he brought with him everywhere as it terrorized the whole town. But when the dog entered her mother's restaurant and started scaring everyone, Rika had enough and tried to get rid of it herself. That was when the animal tried to kill her… However; she was saved by Zoro, who just happened to have been in there enjoying a meal. After he had killed the hound, Helmeppo saw this as a crime towards himself, so he ordered Zoro to stay imprisoned for thirty days otherwise he would execute Rika and her mother. And Zoro accepted the offer…

"It's been three weeks since that day. Helmeppo keeps punching and kicking him while he's been tied up." Rika said, sounding upset. "He's being so unfair!" That was when she started to cry. "I don't know… I don't know how to help him."

"I can see why you're upset," Coby whispered, as all this sunk in. Like his dreams of becoming a brave Marine were shriveling up as they spoke.

Light saw it differently though. On some level he could admit that he knew why Zoro had agreed to this… the truth was, he was a born killer capable of showing no mercy during combat… and he had killed before, Light could see it in his eyes. However, those people he killed had probably deserved it… but a little girl who didn't do anything wrong didn't deserve to die. If he stood back and did nothing, his own honor would've been at stake. Light wondered if he would have done something similar if it had been him instead of Zoro.

"So do we do now?" Silk asked, getting his attention. "Should we break Zoro out?"

"That's probably not the best idea." Light shook his head. "He's doing this for his honor. Zoro has already committed himself to survive the month and honoring his end of this agreement. And if someone else were to interfere and forcibly make him break that deal, especially when he's been at it for this long, it'd only anger him more than anything else."

"So you're just going to wait the 10 days?" Coby asked curiously.

Before Light could answer, there were crashes going on inside the building behind them. Rika's eyes were wide and she went running in, crying out anxiously for her mother.

They followed her inside. It was a comfortable-looking little restaurant inside, similar to Makino's bar or the restaurant Silk ran back in her town, and there was a woman who looked a lot like Rika, who could only be her mother, was standing behind the bar. She was looking fearfully at Helmeppo who had sat down and put his table up on the table, messing up a bowl of fruit.

"I'm hungry, bring us whatever you have and keep the check for yourself!" He called obnoxiously. "And bring me a bottle of your finest moonshine or whatever crap you serve. And put some speed to it, lady, I don't have all day."

Helmeppo just laughed as they poured him some wine, turning his attention to the townspeople in the restaurant. "I've sure been thinking about something interesting to do since I've been bored out of my skull here." He told them all, and that was when he dropped the bombshell. "I've decided to execute Zoro tomorrow. Look forward to it everyone."

Light's eyes widened as he stepped forward. "Hold on!" He interrupted Helmeppo's laughter. "You said you'd let him go if he survived the month."

Helmeppo stopped and then laughed louder as he started slapping the table. "Yeah, he actually believed that!" He mocked shamelessly. "All you have to do is say things like 'a deal between men' and his types will always fall for it!" He continued laughing.

Light's eyes turned dangerous. There was a wave of deep anger burning in them, leaving no trace for mercy. And then instinctively, he went charging ahead, and before anyone else could tell what happened, Light punched him so hard that he was sent flying across the room and smacked against the door behind him, shattering it.

"You… You just hit me!?" Helmeppo demanded as he grabbed his swollen cheek, sitting up, unable to believe it as everyone stared at them, stunned that anyone would have the guts to attack him. "You actually hit me!" Helmeppo yelled like a little kid. "I'm Captain Morgan's son you know!"

"You're point?" Light condescendingly asked like he was looking at a bug.

"My point is that he's going to execute you for this!" Helmeppo shouted angrily as tears built in his eyes.

Helmeppo got back up before running, crying from the room like a two-year-old would do when he didn't want to go to bed.

After he was gone Light looked over to Silk. "My bad, I didn't ask if you wanted to hit him."

Silk shook her head, showing she wasn't upset. "I did personally, but your punches are heavier than mine so it works for me."

"What is wrong with you guys!" Coby yelled at them, ready to freak out. "Why are you trying to get on the Marine's bad side?!"

"The situation has changed, we're getting Zoro out of there." Light said as his eyes hardened, fierce determination now burning. "Today Zoro will join my crew!"

---

After coming to a decision, Light and Silk were already heading up in the direction of the base when they heard Coby calling behind them. "Hey, wait up!"

They glanced back to see him bursting through the door with Rika right on his heels. It was clear that he was going to try and stop them—However, he didn't know that once Light made up his mind—No one and nothing could stop him.

"Don't stop me, Coby!" He called back as they stopped running. The two of them were standing side-by-side in the alley with Light's back to them. "My mind is made up!"

"What are you going to do?" Rika asked fearfully, wringing her hands fearfully. "Helmeppo isn't going to let this go! He's going to have you killed! Captain Morgan executed people for less than that!"

"Let him try." Light told her crossly, as he stared down at his fist. "There's no way I'm going to let them keep going around acting like whether everyone lives or dies is something they can just decide on a whim. I'm going to go and bursting Zoro out of that dump and putting an end to all this."

Coby turned to Silk in hope of her saying something to sway him. "Silk, please say something."

"What can I say?" Silk didn't agree with his sentiment. "It's the Captain's orders so I'm going along with it. But, even if that wasn't the case, I'd still go as well. I can't stand what they're doing and I'd be nothing but scum if I stood back and did nothing after seeing for myself what's been going on in this town." She answered determinedly.

"But…!" Coby yelled but fell silent at the angry look on Light's face when he turned back to glare at him.

"Coby, you told me that you wanted to join the Marines and catch bad guys right?" Light asked him. "But, tell me; in this situation who are the real bad guys, I know you know the answer to that."

Coby was silenced, the truth was he did know but he was just too hesitant to say it out loud. How could he say that a man said to be a vicious killer was a victim while the Marines he always looked up to were unjust and filled with cruelty…

Light wasn't finished. "I'm a Pirate so I know a lot of people believe I don't have any moral high ground to speak of. But I'm not driven by righteousness or laws or any other baseless thing most people can come up with. I only have one creed; fairness. Why should someone who did nothing wrong be put to death, it's not right and not fair, so I won't stand for it. What's wrong with that?"

The seriousness and deep emotion in the way he spoke his mind was something Light didn't do often but it was something that could make anyone who heard realize that Light is much more than he initially appears. Coby was trying to figure out what he should do. But Light didn't seem to expect an answer as he gave them both a smile and tipped his hat and without another word, he and Silk ran ahead, heading for the direction of the Marine Base.

---

Soon they reached the wall and easily jumped it to stand on top so that they could look around. After passing through the wall, they saw that Zoro was still tied there—And apparently sleeping.

"He can sleep like that?" Silk asked offhandedly.

"He has been there for three weeks." Light reasoned.

Light jumped down next to them and stood in front of Zoro, much like how he did before, only this time Silk was there him. They didn't do anything but watch, they not wake him up and untie him yet. However, Zoro seemed to sense that he wasn't alone anymore. His eyes snapped open and he stared ahead of him, breathing a little harder than normal… At least until he saw who it was who woke him up.

"You again, don't you have things to do?" Zoro huffed in annoyance, clearly wanting to be left alone before noticing his other visitor. "Oh, you were also by the wall that time."

"Zoro, join my crew." Light stated bluntly.

Zoro stared at him. "Your what?" He said, sure that he heard wrong.

"I'm the Captain of a Pirate crew, the two of us are looking for people to join up." Light explained as he walked closer. "Right now I want you to join.

Zoro blinked before he understood. "I see, that's why you were looking for me." He deduced. "But forget it." He said coldly, stopping Light. "I'd never stoop to joining a criminal. Screw that business."

"You of all people are looking down on criminals? What's so bad about being a Pirate?" Light demanded, hands at his sides, and looking at him interestedly—Wondering what he was going to say.

"They're despicable like I'd ever want to join up with one?" Zoro retorted honestly.

"For what it's worth, I get where you're coming from." Silk joined the conversation. "I've always hated run-of-the-mill Pirates because they're always the worst kinds of people. But the Captain here is different from any Pirate probably in the entire sea, one could he's the least Pirate-like Pirate there is." She explained.

"Hey, them's fightin' words!" Light jokingly threatened her.

Silk cracked a smile and so did Zoro. "I can see that neither of you are ordinary Pirates, in more ways than one." Zoro was referring to how he was able to feel that both of the people in front of him were very strong fighters, as a Master Swordsman he can always get a good read on the level of strength of others to an extent. "But my decision stands, I have standards you know."

"Is that right?" Light spoke up. "I'm kinda surprised that you seem so against Pirates yet you're fine with being seen as a vicious blood-thirsty Demon."

"People can say whatever they want about me." Zoro said to him firmly. "But there isn't a single thing I've done in my life that I regret." His exhausted face then split into a rather twisted smile that could send chills up the spines of weaker foes. "I will make it through this challenge." Zoro said, without any trace of hesitation or doubt. "And after that, I'll accomplish what I want."

"I see, you might be the same type as me." Light said, impressed by the willpower of Zoro. "We're both Prideful and never compression on the things that we want, especially our goals. And just the fact that you're still alive proves you're tenacious."

"That's one way of putting it." Zoro answered back, but then Silk broke the bad news.

"Unfortunately for your pride, Helmeppo has been playing you this whole time, you're set to be executed tomorrow."

"What!?" Zoro shouted angrily. "We had a deal!"

"I doubt he cares. He was saying he's going to have you killed because he was 'getting bored'." Silk went on, shaking her head. "Just a few minutes ago in town he was boasting about how he was going to have you killed."

Zoro began to strain at his ropes in an attempt to break free, looking angry enough to kill a man. But instead of him breaking the ropes, Light pulled out a knife from his sleeve, and in seconds, cut apart the ropes binding Zoro to the post. Freeing him.

Zoro stared up at him in surprise and they locked gazes, Light explained himself. "I won't force you to join me if you honestly have no desire to do so. But, I'm guessing you wanna take care of things with Morgan and his son, not to mention get your Swords back. So since we have the same goal right now, why not work together?" He offered.

Zoro kept his gaze locked on Light, intensity against intensity as Zoro didn't acknowledge his newfound freedom yet. Things were silent before Zoro laughed loudly. "Ha! I can't really say no to that, can I? Alright, you have a deal."

Light nodded. "Okay then, let's go."

---

With their negotiations complete, the trio made their way to the large Marine base and simply walked in through the front door. Ironically due to the tyrannical reign of Captain Morgan, there haven't been any attacks or even petty crimes in this town. This any reason or need to keep guards posted at the front base became non-existent, and so they entered the base with no resistance at all.

The three of them walked around the always of the ground floor of the base and still found no Marines around, Zoro just grew more confused.

"I'm not the only one finding this weird right?" He voiced his confusion. "This is a Navy base, why's it such a ghost town?"

"Most of the soldiers are on the roof, I'm pretty sure Morgan is there too." Light informed as they kept walking.

Zoro blinked. "How do you know that?"

"I just do." That was the only answer Light gave him.

Before Zoro could go on, Silk spoke. "Don't ask, an explanation would take a while so just go with it for now."

Zoro seemed reluctant before pushed the matter aside. "Fine, but you better tell me later."

"Sure, but for now you can tell me where your Swords are." Light stopped walking. "Do you even know where they are?"

They all stopped walking as Zoro answered. "All I know is that Captain's son took them."

"Then we'll just have to get him to tell us where they are." Silk turned to Light. "Is he also on the roof?"

"He is." Light confirmed it.

"Then we better head up there." Zoro decided. "Now we just need to find the stairs."

"I have a faster way." Light told them.

Light then clenched his fists and jumped up to the ceiling.

SMASH!

As he reached the ceiling, Light punched a hole through it and pushed through, immediately getting to the next floor, once there he jumped again and breaking another hole in the subsequent ceiling to ascend to the next floor. Zoro stood there on the ground floor gapping at what he was seeing as Silk got his attention.

"Word of advice, don't be surprised by every little thing." She advised him as though she was speaking from experience. "Anyways, let's go."

Silk jumped high and leaped through the hole made by Light as she ascending after him and Zoro watched before he sighed.

"Well, it's not the weirdest thing I've seen." The Pirate Hunter comment before jumping after them.

---

At the top of the base, the Marines were working on another project of theirs: a statue of Morgan. Said commander was currently commanding his subordinates to straighten the stone statue out properly.

Morgan is a notably tall, muscular man with tanned skin, blonde hair, and a steel jaw etched with the word Möwe (the German for "seagull"). As his epithet suggests, his right hand has been replaced with a huge steel ax, the handle of which is not only bolted through the bones of his forearm but sticks out where his elbow should be.

Like most Marine officers, he wears a large, ornate overcoat. However, this coat notably lacks the usual "Justice" (正義?) insignia, and is completely sleeveless; it is also worn conventionally, instead of being draped over the shoulders like a cape. His trousers bear a striped pattern reminiscent of Marine Bases and battleships.

While he was overseeing the statue of himself being lifted up by the Marines who were pulling it up by ropes, Helmeppo was loudly whining to his Father.

"Well, Dad! Are you gonna get revenge on this guy or what!? I mean he just outright struck me in public! You never hit me before! Why should he be able to?!" Helmeppo shouted. This made Morgan stop what he was doing.

"Do you have any remote idea as to why I've never hit?" Morgan asked, his tone was calm, almost chilling, and Helmeppo felt uncertainty creep up his spine. "Well?"

"Ah… Is it because you think I'm great?" He guessed.

"No. It's because…" Morgan smirked, before delivering a punch to the boy's face, shocking him and sending him failing to the edge of the roof. "You're a stupid fool that isn't even worth hitting." He clarified before towering over his son, causing Helmeppo to scream in fear as used his ax to lift him by his collar. "I don't want you getting the wrong idea. The only great one around here is the man you call your Father!" The Marine Captain informed his son. "Which reminds me, I heard a rat snuck into the crucifixion yard." Morgan changed the subject.

"Yes… That's right, the little girl… But I had dealt with her." Helmeppo assured him.

"I hope that means killed?" Morgan said it like a warning.

Helmeppo was horrified at this "N-No! I didn't kill her, she's just a kid!" Even with his attitude, Helmeppo at least has some morals left in him. The same did not go for Morgan, however…

"You there!" Morgan barked at one of the marines, "Go into town, find this girl, and kill her!"

"But, Sir? You can't be serious! She's just a little girl, Sir!" The Marine protested.

"I don't care if she's a child or not!" Morgan loudly walked up to him. "Anyone who disobeys my orders is a traitor."

"No, Sir…" The Marine looked down at the floor but held his ground. "I can't do it."

Instead of responding, Morgan raised his ax and brought it down on the Marine, slashing through his chest and letting his body fall as everyone looked on in horror while Helmeppo screamed.

"AAAAHHHH!"

[Lieutenant!] The other Marines cried out.

"You-YOU KILLED HIM!" Helmeppo cried out in shock.

"My strength is what I used to rise up to the rank of Captain. Listen, in this world, titles are what matter! Morgan declared to all of them. "That means that by being the Captain of this base and the highest-ranking officer, I am the most superior person as far as the eye can see! This means that I do everything right! AM I CORRECT MEN!" Morgan shouted.

[S-Sir! You are correct, Sir!] The remaining Marines shouted out, not wanting to end up like the Lieutenant.

"Let's put killing the girl on hold, for now, observe, the greatest symbol of my unending authority." He looked at his statue lying on the ground. "It took years to make but here it is! Now stand it up! Display my greatness at the top of this base for all to see!"

BREAK!

It was at that moment that Light finally broke through the floor of the rooftop and arrived there. Unfortunately, the spot he broke in from was beside some of the Marines that were holding the ropes for the statue and the sudden shock caused them to lose their grip on the rope and that caused the statue to fall. With a cracking sound that seemed to echo around them, the statue's upper-half cracked and fell to the ground below them.

By then, Zoro and Silk also arrived on the roof as all the Marines on the roof were left speechless as they stared at the ruined statue—too scared to move—And it was clear that the truth hadn't sunk in yet. But they all knew that wouldn't last for much longer.

As the three of them saw what just happened, Light noted. "For the record, I'm not sorry for that."

"I'm not sorry either." Zoro agreed bitterly.

"I agree." Silk added.

Morgan jerkily turned his massive head towards Light, in particular, his face contorted with such fury that he looked ready to kill. In fact…

"Seize him so I can kill him myself!" He bellowed, his eyes practically popping out of his head, almost foaming up like a rabid dog would.

The Marines looked like they were gonna wet themselves as they hurried to obey.

"That's him!" Screamed a familiar whiny voice and that was when Helmeppo appeared behind some of the Marines, pointing at Light. "That's the guy! He's the one who punched me, daddy!"

As soon as he saw him, Light actually smiled. "Ah, perfect." He said happily, moving so quickly that Helmeppo didn't realize how close he was until he was right in front of him. As soon as he realized Light was talking to him, he started to scream and attempted to run, but Light quickly grabbed him by his shoulder and easily held him back.

He put Helmeppo in a headlock and dragged him across the roof to the hole that he made. "I got him."

"Great let's go." Zoro urged them.

And with that, the trio jumped down the hole this time to make their getaway as the Marines gave chase, choosing to use the only open door.

"After them! Don't let them escape!" Morgan shouted. Another marine then reported that someone.

---

After jumping down for a while, they arrived on the second floor and Light held Helmeppo to the wall.

Light dragged Helmeppo through the base while the wimp screamed in terror the whole time.

"Okay spill it. Where are my Swords?" Zoro finally asked, threateningly as though he was letting out his frustrations from being tied up and abused for so long. "Answer me!"

"I'll tell you, I promise. Just please don't kill me!" Helmeppo begged. Now having a genuine fear of Zoro since he was no longer tied up. He squirmed as he was hanging like a rag doll in Light's hand.

"Fine, so tell us." Silk told him as Helmeppo weakly pointed above them.

"My room. You just passed it, it's on the floor above here on the left, the door has a sign on it so you can't miss it."

"I should've known he had them." Zoro said in deep annoyance. "Figures this idiot would've wanted to feel like a big man by keeping my Swords in his sights at all times.

"Gah!"

Light then threw Helmeppo to the side like a child does with a toy they lose interest in. "Alright, we now know where they are."

Light announced as they took off again and jumped back up to the third floor, leaving a dazed Helmeppo behind. They ran back down the hallway but this time, they spotted a flowered sign on one of the doors that read: "My Room".

"Don't tell me…" Zoro said, feeling close to gagging as Light stopped and opened the door.

"This looks about right." Light said, looking around.

"I don't think right is the word I'd use." Silk added once she got a good look at the place.

"I think I'm gonna be sick." Zoro said looking at it in disgust. "And he calls himself a man?"

If they didn't know whose room it was, they would've sworn that it belonged to a young girl. The room had pink walls decorated with flowers… Pink curtains at the window with flowered plates up on the wall… Even with a vanity complete with matching pink furniture.

"Is there make-up at that?" Silk pointed to a nearby desk. "Why would he even need that?"

"I'd prefer not to know." Zoro responded, just wishing they could hurry up and go.

Light seemed like the only one who was unfazed by the room and glanced over the room as he spotted the three Swords up against the wall. "Found 'em." He said going up to them.

There were three Katana-Swords laying against the wall, all three were the same length, two of them had had black-hilts and black sheaths while the third one had a white hilt with a white sheath.

"Those are your Swords?" Silk asked for confirmation.

Zoro nodded. "Yeah, all three of them." He confirmed, placing them back on his hip where they belong.

"I heard rumors that you use Three-Sword-Style, but unless I can actually see it, I don't get how that would work." Light admitted.

"I show you sometime." Zoro assured him. "Anyways, now that I got back my Swords, what's next on the plan?"

"I can pretty guess that Morgan is going crazy trying to hunt us down, meaning they probably set up a blockade at the front gate." Light deduced, still not concerned. "Since we also came here to crush Morgan, we might as well go through them."

"You think Morgan will be there?" Silk asked.

"It's a pretty safe bet." Zoro answered that question. "His ego is so big that he won't be satisfied unless he kills us himself or at least sees it happen."

"Then I guess we better go and end this." Light decided.

With that settled, the three of them exited Helmeppo's room and went back to the hallway as they intended to go back to the holes in the floor to immediately reach the ground floor before going back outside.

Surprisingly though, as they approached a corner in the hallway, someone else ran by and almost bumped into them before she stopped and took notice of the group in front of her and they did the same to her.

She was a slim young woman of average height with orange hair and brown eyes. Most people consider her to be very attractive or even beautiful. Her overall physique his slim and curvy with an hourglass figure with breasts that were easily D-cups, and curves that were visible even through her clothes. Her outfit consisted of a white and blue striped shirt, an orange mini-skirt, and brown high-heeled boots.

This girl wasn't a Marine, that much was obvious. But that only raised the question as to what she was doing here and who she was. The girl, however, was the first to voice her confusion after a blink.

"What the—What are you guys doing here?" She questioned them.

"Wha…What do you mean what are we doing here? Who are you?" Silk questioned her back.

"None of your business." The girl rudely answered back.

Before anything else could be said, Light stepped forward. "I'll tell you what. How about we pretend we didn't see you, you pretend you didn't see us, and we all just act like this didn't happen." He offered.

The girl was quiet for a few seconds before sighing. "…Fine, whatever."

With that, the girl ran past them and dashed down the hallway until she was out of sight. At the same time, Light, Zoro, and Silk continued their way down the hall to the hole as Light comment.

"Seriously though, I wonder who she was."

"Who cares who she was?" Zoro brushed it off. "We've got more important stuff to worry about."

Figuring that Zoro was right, Light led them back to the hole as they jumped down to the first floor, and following that they reached the front door, exited the base, and arrived back in the crucifixion yard where just as they thought, Morgan was there waiting for them.

Standing with his men lining up into a firing squad aiming towards the prisoner and the two Pirates who were helping him Morgan bellowed out his fury. "One after another, all of you questioning my authority, acting against me! I am a Marine Captain, my authority, my rank is everything! You, mere civilians try to go against me!? For the crime of treason against me, I sentence you all to die!"

"As if you could kill us!" Zoro growled at him. "You're just a coward who hides behind a wall of his expendable cronies."

"Roronoa Zoro, don't you dare underestimate me." Morgan warned him with a murderous glare. "You may be a strong fighter but under my authority, you're just a rat we throw out with the trash."

"Ha! Trash that throws out the trash, never heard that before." Light taunted him.

Morgan pointed his ax at Light. "You as well, I don't know who you two are, but you'll both be executed as traitors who rebelled against me."

"We're Pirates, rebelling against Marine's authority is what we do." Silk informed him.

"Then I have one more reason to kill you." Morgan declared. "Take aim!"

Silk stepped forward as the Marines shifted their guns into place. "Let me."

"Go ahead." Light approved her request.

Zoro didn't say anything but looked more interested in what she was about to do than the guns pointed out them.

"FIRE!"

By Morgan's command, the muskets fired, but before they hit their target Silk flashed into action and seemed to disappear for a second. Silk's purple-hilted blade came out, sending a few tiny slivers of sharp air pressure forward, cutting into a few bullets. She deflected the bullets with his Sword and slashed them out of the way in a show of strength and coordination that was astonishing. In all, not one of the bullets got through to reach the to that was right behind her.

Morgan and his Marines looked at her with pure disbelief, their minds not sure how to even react to the sight of someone deflecting a hail of bullets using nothing but a Sword. Zoro looked much less surprised but still impressed.

"If I wasn't paying attention I might have missed it." Zoro reviewed. "She's sharper than I thought."

"She was only decent when I met her, but she picked up her style a lot faster than you'd think." Light informed him, watching her with pride. "Silk's not only razor-sharp but her speed and control are also deadly weapons, she could thread a needle with that much control."

Silk soon lowered her Sword and went back over to Light. "I doubt they'll try using guns again. That'll make it easier."

"In that case, let me handle them." Zoro unsheathed his white-hilted Sword. "I need to work out some of the rust that comes from going three weeks without my Swords."

"That's fine, but save Morgan for me." Light requested. "The Captain has to face the Captain, that's an unwritten code."

"Hmph, fine by me." Zoro agreed to those terms.

In the background the whole time, the Marines listened to Morgan who then finally order his men to charge in and kill them. As they ran towards them with Swords, Zoro put one of his Swords in his mouth while holding the other two, one in each hand.

Though he had been kept there for three weeks, he was more than able to hold them all back. Once the Marines got in close he stopped the Marines Swords effortlessly and stopped them from taking a step forward.

"Roronao Zoro…" Morgan gasped.

"Amazing!" Silk added, amazed that someone could be this strong despite being starved and exhausted.

"So that's how Three-Sword style works." Light noted, pleased at what he was witnessing.

Zoro still had no problem holding them where they were. "You make one move and you die." He warned them all as the Marines froze, tears in their eyes.

"He's scary." One whimpered.

With the Marines now too scared to move, Zoro looked up to Light and said. "Today I officially become a criminal, having fought the Marines. So I will become a Pirate…"

Light's eyes widen with excitement. "Then are you saying you'll join my crew?" He asked, hoping he was right.

"Yes." Zoro confirmed his suspicion. "That I can promise you." He narrowed his eyes as he glared at his new Captain as he added, "But I want you to know one thing! While I'm with you, the only thing I dedicate myself to is fulfilling my own ambitions!"

This peaked Light's interest. "And that is?"

"To be nothing less than the World's Greatest Swordsman." Zoro proclaimed, his shadowed eyes seemed to give him the look of a man possessed. "If somewhere along the way I have to give that up, I then want you to accept responsibility. After which you get to apologize to me at the end of a Sword."

Light only smirked at proclaimed. "That's fine by me. Besides, if you weren't at least the World's Greatest, you wouldn't capable of joining me to the end of our journey."

Zoro returned Light's smile. "Big talker. From this point on, no matter if I'm a criminal or not; I will spread the name Zoro throughout the world!"

"What are you standing there frozen for!?" Morgan yelled, once again forgetting he was here. "I want you to kill all three of them right now!"

The Marines seemed completely lost to what they were supposed to do; it was hard to say who they were more afraid of. They seemed terrified of what Morgan would've done to them if they didn't obey, but they clearly didn't want to risk moving with Zoro's threat over their heads.

"So, do you plan on finishing them or do you want me to?" Silk offered, a hand on her Sword.

"Nah, I can handle it." Zoro assured her before putting tension on the hands and jawline that was holding his Swords as he unleashed his attack. "Tatsumaki!"

A growl left his clenched teeth, and a very small tornado appeared, slamming through and throwing the Marines this way and that. None of them were injured much, but they were surely out of the fight for now. With the grunts dealt with, this time Light stepped forward.

"Looks like it's my turn." He let his hat hang around the back of his neck.

As Light began to approach Morgan, one of his subordinates looked up and exclaimed. "Captain, we don't stand a chance against them."

"Yeah, just look at them!" Another one added, pointing. "They're insane!"

"We couldn't even take Zoro on by himself!" They pleaded with their Captain, and it wasn't a secret. These guys honestly didn't stand a chance against the three of them.

With every word they said, Ax-hand Morgan's face seemed to grow angrier as he glared at them all; looking angry enough to kill each and every one of them. "This is a direct order!" He bellowed out. "Every Marine who sprouted weakness pull your guns out and shoot yourselves!" Morgan kept his ax raised threateningly. "I can't do anything with weak soldiers!"

Here, the subordinates were looking angry, and their eyes were filled with something other than fear… Hatred.

"What babies." Zoro said, holding up his Swords. "This'll be easy."

"Not exactly, this just be the same as usual." Silk corrected him.

As Light stood directly in front of the Marine Captain, Morgan readied himself for action.

Zoro for his part took the Sword out of his mouth. He was watching… Wanting to see what his new Captain could do.

"Rankless, lowlife-bums!" Morgan yelled as he threw off his jacket, finally snapping completely. "You have no right to defy my superiority! I am Marine captain Ax-Hand Morgan!"

"Superior rank doesn't mean superior power." Light told him in a demeaning manner. "Let me show you."

"Die!" Morgan yelled bringing his ax down, leaving a deep crack in the ground from the impact. Thankfully, Light dodged the attack, spinning around to Morgan's left side to avoid it—And then, Morgan tried a slashing attack with his ax but Light just leaned back and dodged without moving from his spot.

Morgan then grabbed the handle of his Ax-hand and brought it down at Light, but Light jumped up ad dodged as the ax hit the ground and this time created enough to leave a fissure. Light graceful did a mid-air lunar somersault over Morgan's head and this time land behind him.

"Just so you know, I'm not even using 1% of my strength." Light bragged with a smirk and a hand in his pocket.

"The Captain's just being toyed with out there!"

"It's unbelievable."

While the Marines watched in disbelief, Zoro turned his attention to Silk. "This is 'normal'?"

"It is." Silk confirmed, showing no kind of reaction whatsoever at seeing Morgan being treated like an amateur against her Captain. "From the day I met him, I have never seen the Captain fight someone who was actually able to make it qualify as a fight. So this just business as usual for him."

"Is that so?" Zoro looked on, now with a look of acknowledgment. "Looks I made the right choice to join him."

"Silk! Zoro!"

While everyone else was paying attention to Light's fight with Morgan, the two who heard their names being called looked to see none other than Coby appear in the courtyard and ran towards them.

"Coby, what are you doing here?" Silk asked, not expecting to see the pink-haired boy make an appearance.

He stopped in front of them and caught his breath before speaking. "I kept thinking about what Light said and decided. I can't stand to watch the Marines act this way, Marines should be honorable, so I wanted to come here and help you guys." He explained before looking timid again. "But, honestly I doubt you guys would really need my help."

"Listen, kid, whether you can or can't help isn't the point." Zoro spoke out, getting his attention. "The fact that you came here at all and were willing to fight proves you've got more honor than any of these would-be Marines."

"He's right, I'm pretty sure the Captain would say the same thing." Silk added in agreement.

Coby was looked up at with surprise before a wide smile came to his face, showing he was greatly touched by their words.

Light was still casually dodging Morgan's attack but now his condescending smile had changed into a frown of contempt, as though he felt this fight was no longer worth the effort, not that there was any, to begin with.

"I've danced around this guy long enough." Light thought while moving. "It's about time I end it already."

Hey you! Stop right there! Look at what I got!" Someone yelled. Neither Light nor Morgan paid attention to them and continued with their scuffle, but the Marines and Zoro looked, Coby even yelled in worry. Helmeppo was standing there with a gun to Silk's head.

"Are you stupid or something? I said stop!" Helmeppo screamed. "If you'd pay attention to me you'd see I have a hostage here you might want to look at!?"

"Hey." Zoro in the past said, which finally got Light's attention.

"If you value your friend's life then don't move a muscle!" Helmeppo ordered. "I'm serious here! One move and I'll shoot her!"

"Helmeppo's crazy…" One of the Marines gasped.

Silk didn't seem too concerned about being at gunpoint and just Helmeppo the same look Light gave Morgan. "You've got to be kidding."

Light merely stared emotionlessly at him—But then he looked at Silk who stared back at him. She gave him a calm expression with a winning smile as if to say she had the situation under control and so Light smiled back and nodded—But suddenly Morgan was back on his feet and was standing behind him, ready to bring his arm down at him.

"Light!" Coby warned cried, But Light didn't bother with him, just as Zoro told him to relax.

Helmeppo grabbed Silk and held the gun closer to her head. "Daddy! Hurry up and kill him already!" He cried out in panic.

"Time's up! For I am the fearless captain, Ax-Hand Morgan!" Ax-hand Morgan bellowed ready for an attack that surely would've sliced Light right in half…

Except it didn't.

His ax-like arm was just inches from Light's head but it stopped short of touching him as Light reached out and caught the ax with one hand, a feat that left Coby, Helmeppo, and all the Marines jaw-dropped in bewilderment.

Light confidently looked up at the shell-shocked Morgan. "I don't get why everyone is so afraid of such a rusty old ax. After they're probably stronger—These Knuckles o' mine."

Just as Light finished that sentence, he used his free hand to throw a strong punch right into Morgan's midsection. Morgan stood there for a fraction of a second before his eyes rolled into the back of his head and he fell back, landing with a crash on the ground. With that, everyone witnessed the defeat of Captain Ax-hand Morgan.

"Not too bad." Zoro thought with a smirk.

"Incredible." Coby thought, shaking in awe.

Before everyone could fully process what they had just seen, Light turned and now faced Helmeppo.

Helmeppo was completely panicked now, watching him coming closer. "Don't you move! I said don't move or I'll shoot! I swear it!"

At that point, Silk spoke to him. "You know, it's dangerous for little kids to be playing with guns."

Then what happened was so quick that if you blinked you would've missed it. Silk held the hilt of her Sword and used it to hit Helmeppo in the hip like a blunt object before he could pull the trigger and die to his weak body and nonexistent tolerance for pain, that hit was enough to take him out as Helmeppo was now out cold on the ground.

Coby went up to her with relief. "Silk, thank goodness you're okay."

"She was never in danger squirt." Light casually informed him.

"He's right." Silk looked down at the unconscious Helmeppo and picked up his gun. "While he had a gun, he was never going to fire it. He just didn't have the nerve for it."

The Marines still standing began to murmur to each other and they were dumbfounded by the scene in front of them. The unfathomable happened. The strong Captain Morgan that had ruled the island with an iron fist was defeated.

"If there's anyone else who wants to step forward to fight us then do it now!" Zoro demanded.

The men looked at each other and then a loud cheer burst forth. They threw their weapons and hats in the air. "Hurray! It's over! It's really over!"

"Huh, they're celebrating." Light shrugged.

"They must have been afraid of him for a long time before we showed up!" Coby cheered, also in a celebratory mood.

"Ahhh." Zoro sighed as he fell unto his back.

"Zoro! Are you okay?! What's wrong?!" Coby cried out fearfully.

"Relax. He's just hungry." Silk told him.

"In that case…" Light hoisted Zoro up and placed his arm around his shoulder. "Let's head back into town and get something to eat." He decided as he took off to the gate and the other two followed.

---

Time marched on as the crew was now back in the restaurant where Rika and her Mother worked. As Zoro sat down and was wolfing down plates of food to cure his long extended hunger, almost all of the townspeople were outside and looked through the door to see the people who were responsible for ending Morgan's reign.

"Ahh! I am stuffed!" Zoro shouted as he happily rubbed his stomach after finishing his fifth plate of food. "Having not eaten for three weeks I was ready to gnaw through my boot-strap!"

The others laughed merrily as Light drank down a bottle of ale. "Well, here's hoping we never go that long without food at sea."

"Since neither of them is going to, I'll say it—Thanks for fixing up all this food." Silk thanked Rika's Mother.

She smiled back gratefully. "My pleasure, after all, you guys did save the town."

Rika looked up at Light with admiration. "You're the most amazing man I've ever met."

"Which isn't a surprise, no one shines brighter than Light." Light proclaimed, not being humble.

"So, how many others have you gathered for your crew besides me?" Zoro decided to ask. "You told me were looking for people to join the crew of your ship, and considering how strong you are, I gotta assume you have some people you have in mind."

"Afraid not." Silk dismissively corrected him. "You're the only one."

"Gah!" Zoro's eyes went wide. "Just…" He pointed to himself.

"That's right, we three make up the whole crew." Light confirmed it.

"So the three of us are what amounts to an entire Pirate crew?" Zoro questioned.

"Well, the 'three of us' are stronger than any Pirate you find in these waters, so it works out." Light pointed out, not worried. "Besides, the idea is to find qualified crewmates as we sail."

Zoro narrowed his eyes. They definitely were strong, he could admit that. And if he was being honest, the two who were sitting in front of him did seem like a much bigger threat than any crew he faced while Pirate Hunting lately. So he could put that matter aside. "Okay, but please tell me you have a ship."

"All we've got right now is a boat. You can see from the window." Silk pointed to the nearby window.

As Zoro looked through it he could sail that there was a medium-sized fishing boat parked in the harbor of the Island. When he saw it, Zoro sweated a little. "You're kidding me."

"Don't worry about it. I've got it all planned out." Light waved off his concerns.

"Oh, and how's that?" Zoro questioned, sitting back down.

"We have a huge sack of treasure and valuables on that boat and there's an Island in nearby waters that has a shipyard on it." Light explained. "All we need to do is sail to the next Island and have them build us a ship."

"Huh, guess that works out." Zoro admits, now more at ease knowing that they at least had a plan. "And what are we going to do after we get our ship?"

"We'll pick up without crewmates we need along the way, as we sail to the Grand Line." Light declared.

Coby spat out the orange juice he was drinking. "No! Have you completely lost your mind! You have only TWO crew members! There's no way you're equipped to handle the Grand Line, Light!" He started another freakout.

"I've heard about it but I never knew it was such an awful place?" Rika noted, surprised by his outburst.

"It's worse than you think!" Coby added before he looked down and with a grim expression, he explained. "You know that this world has four oceans right? There's an enormous landmass that cuts across them, this is called the Red Line. The Grand Line cuts through the Red Line and stretches all the way across the world. The story goes on to say that Gold Roger—The King of the Pirates, had once obtained everything this world had to offer. Before he died, he said that he left the great One Piece treasure somewhere on the Grand Line. Ever since Pirates have set sail for the Grand Line. Today, that place is nothing but a battlefield, some even call it the Pirate graveyard."

"I've heard stories about it from people passing through." Rika's mother added. "The customers say that no one who has ever entered the Grand Line comes out of that place alive."

"That might be what they say, but that doesn't scare me at all." Light answered but, completely unhindered. "I'm still going to the Grand Line, that's where my ultimate dream is."

"Your ultimate dream?" Zoro repeated surprised.

"Oh, that's right, I never told you what my goal was did I?" Light noticed. "Just like how your goal is to be the World's Greatest Swordsman, I have grand ambitions as well. I aim to be the King of the Pirates." He declared without hesitation.

Zoro just stared at him. Finally, finding his voice he demanded. "You're gonna be King of the Pirates!? Do you have any idea as to what that means!?"

"Strength, freedom, and greatness, how can it mean anything else?" Light listened down with a smirk that could challenge the world. "The Pirate King is unrivaled in all those categories and that's who I'm gonna be!"

Silk leaned back in her chair. "The Captain is doesn't just dreamer, he dreams big. Even if someone said they want to be the best Swordsman in the World or even something like they were gonna take over the world, I doubt they'd want it as much as he wants to be the King of the Pirates."

Coby was now smiling, his eyes bright as explained to Zoro. "Yeah, when he first told me it was shocking but he's completely serious! That's how he is I guess. 'Cause he actually seems to have every intention of becoming King of the Pirates!" He then looked to Zoro and finished, "And obtaining the world's ultimate treasure the One Piece!"

"Zoro." Now Light addressed Zoro. "Both our ultimate dreams are things that can only be done on the Grand Line, so let's go together and achieve them, and along the way, we'll have the greatest adventure in the world."

Zoro stared at him for a second and then laughed loudly as he seemed satisfied and said. "Dreamers together." He then looked at Silk. "What about you, what's your dream?"

"Like he said, to have the greatest adventure in the world." Silk answered. "And the Grand Line is where it'll happen."

"I guess we have to live with it." Zoro said nonchalantly.

"No!" Coby got up from his seat as if he suddenly remembered why he was worried. "You can't agree!"

"What do you care? You're not going with us." Zoro reminded him.

"No, but I still worry." Coby reasoned. "Is it so wrong to care about the three of you? He slumped down. "Light and I haven't known each other for years or anything but I still consider him a friend. Wouldn't you say?" He looked to Light.

Light cheerfully agreed. "Why wouldn't I? Besides, adventures have goodbyes here and there, but we don't stop being friends."

Coby had a sad smile, looking relieved that Light saw him as a friend. "When I was just a little kid, I never had any friends, much less anyone who would fight on my behalf." He admitted. "So, I always tried my hardest never to fight for anything. But you all taught me a lesson I could never learn on my own; how to live for what I believe in!" He proclaimed emotionally. "So, I decided to make my one childhood dream a reality and I'm going to join the Marines!"

Just then, the front door of the bar swung open and a group of Marines came marching in. "Hey, you there." The leader of the group said, walking straight up to where Light was sitting. "We heard that you people are actually Pirates. Is this rumor true?"

Light nodded. "It is." He said good-naturedly. "We just gained another member so now the whole thing is official."

"We appreciate everything you did to save our town from that horrible tyrant who terrorized us all for so long. However, now that we know you're Pirates, as Marines, we cannot stand idly by and watch you go about your business. Therefore, you and your crew will need to leave this town immediately." The Marines announced. "But out of respect for what you've done, we will not report you to Headquarters."

The townspeople nearby were not so agreeable with this outcome though.

"Are you crazy?!" One man protested. "How do you find the nerve to talk like that?!"

"Before these "Pirates" came along, you guys were as scared of Morgan as we were!" Another man reminded them.

"Without them, we'd still be under his reign, we owe them our lives!" A woman pointed out.

All the other townspeople shouted in agreement, not wanting their saviors to be forced to leave in this manner. However, Light stood up and spoke. "That's enough." He told them, silencing them before smiling. "Settling down and staying in one place isn't how Pirates do things, we might as well go."

"Hey wait a second, you're living already?" Rika asked disappointedly as the three Pirates got ready to depart.

"That's right." Light grabbed a satchel of food and looked to Rika's mother. "If we end up coming back here, mind keeping a table open for us?"

At his request, Rika's mother nodded. "I'll keep one reserved for you." She promised.

Light then looked to Rika. "By then, hopefully, you'll have become a better Cook."

Rika smiled, looked up, and promised. "I'll practice every day."

Light gave her a wide grin as he, Silk, and Zoro all headed for the door to leave. Coby only stood there nervously, wondering what he could even say or do in this situation as his friends were leaving. The leader of the Marines narrowed his eyes at Coby.

"Aren't you part of the crew as well?" He questioned, startling Coby. He turned to Light who was halfway out the door. "Hold it, is he with you or what?"

Light stopped and faced him before he shook his head. "No, we only met the other day." He answered honestly before elaborating. "I found him on a Cruise Ship that was being raided by Pirates. After that, since he also wanted to come to this Island we sailed together, but he's not a member of my crew."

"Is that so?" The Marine asked, now looking at Coby.

"Ah, yes, it is!" Coby vouched for Light's explanation.

"Actually, the reason he wanted to come to this Island was that he wanted to enlist in the Marines. Which reminds me—Coby, do you still want to be a Marine?" Light questioned, getting his attention. "I mean, the first real Marine you met was Morgan and even then, you're not really that strong, you honestly think you're cut out for this?"

"I… Well, I…" Coby stuttered, hesitating to say how he felt. Coby suddenly stopped himself in mid-sentence. He stared long and hard at Light, and they could see that his mind was working hard. Here was his chance… To either turn back on his dream or to finally start fighting for it… And himself. "I do! I've wanted to join the Marines my whole life. That will never change no matter what." He declared with aburst of courage.

Seeing that made Light pleased as he turned back to the Marine. "Listen, you said you wouldn't report use to Headquarters as a favor. But instead of that, how about you let him join. That'd be a real favor." He offered.

The Marine considered things for a moment before coming to a decision. "Very well, we'll see what we can do with him." He then turned to look at Coby. "Permission to join granted."

Hearing that made Coby's eye light up with join, the first thing he did was salute the man. "Thank you very much, Sir!"

With that do, Light and the others continued on their way out.

---

Meanwhile, the sun started to set as Zoro, Silk, and Light were heading down the street towards the docks, Light carrying a sack over his shoulder, and Zoro placing his Swords back to his side.

"You know you were just taking a chance back there." Zoro said to him. "Marines have dealt with new recruits turning out to be Pirate spies before. I wouldn't have been surprised if they had turned him down."

"Well, I didn't technically lie back there when I said all that." Light said confidently. "Besides, even if it didn't work out we could've always looked for another base where he could join."

"I think that might have made things harder for him." Silk pointed out.

"At any rate, it's a pretty unfitting way to leave this place." Zoro said as they came to the small boat. "Departing from a trail of smiles filled with praise and gratitude. Not very Pirate-like, it's more like a Hero's sendoff…"

"You better get used to that." Silk jokingly warned him. "On this crew, we're probably going to experience plenty of things that aren't Pirate-like."

Light laughed as he untied the rope. "What's wrong that? It keeps life interesting."

"LIGHT!" Called a familiar voice and they looked up to see that Coby, Rika, and her mother were there.

Coby stood there for a moment before he sprang into a salute. "I can never thank you enough! You've done more for me than anyone ever has!"

"I've never heard of a Marine thanking the pirate who beat him up before, now there's one for the history books." Zoro laughed.

"You were right, Captain. Times like these do make life interesting." Silk added.

Light grinned as well as they spread the sail and shoved off. With Light calling out to them all. "We will meet again! Someday!"

"Bye Light…" Coby mouthed as Rika cried out happily. "Hope to see you again someday!"

"All hands! Salute!"

Coby cried out, looking back and they turned to see that the Marines had come too. They sprang into salutes like Coby did to see them off.

"SET SAIL!" Light bellowed as their boat sailed far away.

As Coby watched them go, the leader of the Marines told him. "That's a good friend you have there." He said with a warm smile.

Coby looked up at him as tears threatened to stream down his face but he stopped himself from crying and smiled. "Yeah!"

"Men! Seeing as our current salute is in violation of Marine law! We will all go without food three days!" The leader of the Marines announced. "Do we all understand this!?"

[Yes, Sir!] Coby and all the other Marines responded immediately.

"I know that we'll meet again someday." Coby thought as their boat was almost too far away to see. "Deep inside I feel as much as I've ever felt anything. Even if we're divided as Pirates and Marines, I still look forward to that day!"

---

Now with nothing but the winds and the waves of the sea surrounding them, the boat that carried three Pirates sailed forth. Light sat at the front of the boat, leaning forward to see the horizon. Silk was on the side in the middle and Zoro sat on the back also at the side.

"At last our journey can finally begin in earnest!" Light cried out.

"And it only took a whole year." Silk said also excited.

"I've got the feeling some interesting adventures are waiting for us." Zoro said coolly from the back of the boat.

"Now that we have the time, I've decided." Light points to Zoro. "Zoro, I want you to be this crew's First-Mate."

Zoro blinked, not upset with that idea just surprised by it. "Hold on, me? I thought that'd be you." He pointed to Silk.

Silk waved her hand dismissively. "No, truth is I'd rather have someone else fill that role. I'm not interested in a position like that."

Zoro shrugged. "In that case I accept." He decided before looking at Light. "So then, Captain. What's our next move?"

"What else? Getting ourselves a ship." Light answered.

"And what comes after that?" He asked.

Light smirked as they headed towards the setting sun. "We gather a strong crew, then find the World's Greatest treasure, and I become the Pirate King."

---

And that's the chapter.

First of all, I originally wanted to get its chapter out sooner but I've been dealing with some issues that kept distracting me. I keep getting calls from that bank who keep informing me that somebody is hacking into my account and spending my money, I took a while to deal with all that.

Now onto the story. If you're curious about how strong she is, think of her as being on the same level as Zoro but with a different skill set. Zoro is about strength, brute force, and tearing down enemies like a tank. Silk is about speed, procession, and finessing her opponents without taking any hits. Each style has its own strengths so they have good or bad matchups depending on who they fight.

This chapter covered three episodes worth of content because I wanted to cover the entirety of Zoro joining the crew in this chapter. Also since the beginning of the story has Arcs that aren't too long and pretty straightforward, I planning on covering the next two Arcs in a single chapter as well. So yeah, they'll be long but cover a lot.

And in case you're wondering, Silk and now Zoro and everyone else who joins the crew will always address Light as Captain instead of his name, it'll be like an unofficial rule. It's like how in Seven Deadly Sins where all the others Sins always call Meliodas, Captain. Even if they've known him their whole lives or really close to him. Even his Best Friend still only calls Meliodas, Captain. I really liked it so I do the same thing in my story.

Anyways thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed, if you want more leave a review, if you like the story click the follow/favorite, and as always have an awesome day.