WARPING BOUNTY HUNTER LUFFY
CHAPTER 4:
FEAR AND LOATHING IN SHELL TOWN
The trip from Alvida's base to Shell Town was, thankfully, uneventful. Coby seemed to think that Luffy was insane for wanting to recruit Zolo. Nami was a bit more enthusiastic about the idea, as Zolo was said to be a master swordsman as well as a bounty-hunter. And while manning a ship as large as Alvida's was hard for three people, the clement weather and decent winds helped matters. That, and many pirates who had a habit of killing their crew also made it a point to obtain ships that at least could be theoretically sailed by a skeleton crew, Alvida included.
It was halfway through their journey that, while Coby kept a lookout, Luffy went into the captain's office, where Nami was checking their journey against a map and a compass. "The weather should hold for some time longer," Nami remarked. "I doubt we'll get anything bad before we head to Shell Town. Luffy…those portals of yours…can you use them to…well, spy on things?"
Luffy giggled. "Shishishi…Worried I might be becoming a voyeur, Nami? Hey, you're a good-looking girl, but I try not to peek at girls while they're in the shower."
Nami scowled. "Not like that, Luffy!"
"Shishishi…Just kidding. I can, but unless I know where I'm opening up the portal, it's a bit random, and people tend to notice the portals anyway. Why do you ask?"
"Well, the reason why I ask is that I heard there's a good map of the Grand Line at Shell Town, in the possession of the local Marines branch. But we're obviously not looking for trouble if we can help it."
Luffy nodded, but he said, "I agree, I don't want to cause trouble unless I have to. But I have a better idea. The floating restaurant Baratie patrols the seas between here and Cocoyashi, and I heard the proprietor is an ex-pirate called Red-Leg Zeff. He used to sail the Grand Line, and it's said he has a logbook. Maybe he even has charts. Maybe we can sweet-talk him into helping us. And I heard of this pretty rich family in Syrup Village that might have charts of the Grand Line in their library."
"How do you know these things?" Nami asked.
"One thing you have to know as a bounty-hunter is information. I talked to people, asked them about things, about the East Blue and the Grand Line. Admittedly, I didn't know about Arlong invading Cocoyashi. I guess the Marines there covered it up. Anyway, why do you want a chart of the Grand Line, Nami?"
"A good map of the Grand Line is hard to find. And using that, we are going to be better able to find any pirates who have bounties on them, as well as steal their treasure. And if truth be told, this is also a potential bargaining chip with Arlong."
"…Why?"
Nami looked pensive as she finished plotting their course on the map, and rolled it up. "As I told you, Arlong conscripted me into his crew because he realised I had a knack for creating the best maps. Now, Fishmen know the oceans like the back of their hands, but they aren't as good at turning that knowledge into maps. A couple of times, out of anger because of my mother's murder, I deliberately wrote in errors, but he spotted them straight away, and I was punished. I hate him, Luffy," she admitted. "Pirates, most of them, they take and take and take and give nothing back. You were lucky to know that Red-Haired Shanks guy. He's probably in the minority. Pirates in general, I hate them. And I hate the Marines too. Most of them. My mother was a former Marine, but she gave that up when she raised my sister and I. And there are good Marines out there. But the World Government is corrupt, and so too are too many of the Marines. Those who aren't in the pockets of pirates, or else tinpot tyrants themselves, they believe in this 'Absolute Justice' rubbish, and persecute anyone they think has done wrong."
"Gramps isn't like that. Well, not as much," Luffy said. "But yeah, I know where you're coming from, Nami. In a way, I take after my father quite a bit."
"Your father?"
"Yeah. I once managed to get Gramps to tell me who he was." Luffy, after a moment, said, "This is seriously secret shit, something you can't tell anyone, especially in the Marines. You've told me about your connection with Arlong…so I'll tell you my secret. The truth is…my old man is Monkey D Dragon."
Nami's first reaction was to yelp in surprise, an impulse she hastily smothered before she could act on it. Instead, she hissed, in surprise and awe, "You're the son of Dragon the Revolutionary? The World's Most Wanted?"
"Yeah. Like I said, this isn't something you can tell anyone."
"I can imagine," Nami murmured. "But that means that he's Monkey D Garp's son."
"Yeah. It's a bit of a sore point with Gramps. But the thing is, I don't want to be a revolutionary, to be branded a criminal all the time. I want to help people from the ground up, become something the pirates fear. Doesn't mean I wouldn't kick a Marine's arse or a Celestial Dragon's arse if I needed to, and if getting branded a pirate because I did that is the price I have to pay for protecting someone who needed it, then I'll pay it. But I chose to be a bounty-hunter because I can get rid of a bunch of pirates who hurt people without having to answer to the World Government. And one day, I'll get revenge for Sabo. Of course, I've got a few pirates I'm not going to target. Red-Haired Shanks and his crew are some of them. My brother, Ace, is another."
Nami nodded. "Well, just be careful, Luffy. I don't mind helping you catch pirates and occasionally sticking it sideways to the Marines…but I also want to have a long and happy life."
Luffy giggled. "Shishishi…don't we all? Don't worry, Nami. I don't take unnecessary risks. Besides, I'll be sure to protect my crew, and as far as I'm concerned, you and Coby are part of my crew. Well, for now, anyway."
Luffy didn't know it, but Nami was touched by the sentiment. It was more than Arlong had ever said to her…
They had expected a somewhat fractious welcome in Shell Town, and they were right. A couple of Marines were present at the dock as they arrived. "What is your business here?" one of them demanded.
"My name is Monkey D Luffy, bounty-hunter. This is my associate, Nami. We have the crew of Captain Alvida, along with the not-so-good captain herself," Luffy said from the side of the ship. "Do you have Seastone restraints at the ready? Captain Alvida has eaten the Slip-Slip Fruit."
The Marine shook his head, before he barked out an order to his comrade, who scurried off. They soon had the ship tied up at the dock and a gangplank ready, and the Marine boarded the ship. He then noticed Coby. "And this boy? Is he a member of your crew?"
"No. He was taken prisoner by Alvida," Luffy said. "He wants to become a Marine."
The Marine glared down at Coby, scrutinising him. Then, he said, "I want to see your prisoners."
The man, whose name turned out to be Ripper, was checking the prisoners, who were disgorged from the Space Prison. They were all unconscious, the shock of entering the Space Prison doing this. He frowned when he saw Alvida, though Coby's corroboration that this was Alvida had him nodding, especially when he touched her exposed face, and his hand slid off the slick surface.
Ripper nodded, and said, "I will have my men transfer the prisoners to our brig and have a promissory note filled out for you. If I were you, though, I would take this boy and find another Marine base to take him in for training."
"Why is that?" Luffy asked.
"I would be punished for mutiny just for telling a new arrival, but the truth is, the current leader of the Marine base, Captain 'Axe-Hand' Morgan, is a tyrant. He demands 'taxes' from the citizens as tribute, like he's some king, and he doesn't care that the money is running out. Anyone who defies him, civilian or Marine, he executes without mercy or pity for mutiny or treason or whatever charge he thinks fits the crime. What's more, he has a son called Helmeppo, who's a vicious, cowardly piece of shit who throws his father's name around to get his way. If anyone defies him, he runs off to his father, and his father punishes the offending party, though I get the feeling that that's more because Morgan doesn't want any dissidents than he wants to help his son."
Coby's eyes were wide with horrified disbelief, and Nami was scowling, as was Luffy. "Bastard. How many people has he killed?" Nami asked.
"Too many, mostly my men, but many civilians too. He was only assigned here relatively recently, about six months ago. He's been riding high on the reputation of having captured Captain Kuro three years ago."
"He was the one who captured Kuro of a Thousand Plans?" Luffy asked, astonished.
"Supposedly, though I don't know how," Ripper said. "I personally found it a bit odd. Morgan was a good fighter, true, but Kuro was infamous for being both a skilled fighter and a brilliant planner, and Morgan should have suffered more than a broken jaw. Anyway, the upshot is, Shell Town is not a good place for you guys to linger. I'd suggest getting whatever supplies you need and getting the hell out of here. Buggy the Clown recently managed to infiltrate the base and steal a map of the Grand Line, so Morgan's in an especially foul mood."
"What about Roronoa Zolo?" Luffy asked as Nami considered the news about the map. "We heard he was in town, and we wanted to have him join our crew."
"Zolo? If you can get him to come with you, that'd be great. He hates what's happening here too. Sooner or later, he's probably going to kill Helmeppo or that damned pet wolf of his, and that'd bring down more trouble than this town needs…"
Once Ripper had taken the pirates out of the ship, thankfully not checking the ship for any treasure, Luffy and Nami convened while Coby watched what was happening in the town. "Buggy has that map," Nami muttered. "And I'd put money on him raiding Orange Town. That's the closest settlement that he could raid with less of a Marine presence. It's said he has powers, so he may have eaten a Devil Fruit. And he's ruthless and murderous besides. I heard once that a girl in a village he raided made fun of his nose, so he used his cannons to raze that village to the ground. His cannons are amongst the most powerful on any pirate ship in the East Blue. He's also said to said to once have been part of Gol D Roger's crew."
"Like Shanks," Luffy mused. "Never mind. We'll have to go and see if we can find Zolo."
"Luffy, we shouldn't start trouble," Nami said.
Luffy gave her a look. "Of course. I'm finishing it. If what Ripper said is true, Morgan's just like Arlong, lording it over this place like a would-be king. The only difference is, he's using the Marines to claim legitimacy. I'm not going to stir up unnecessary trouble, Nami. But if someone's life is threatened, then I'm not going to stand by and let it happen. Come on."
They had Coby stay on the boat, as they hoped they could find another Marine branch to take him in. As they walked through Shell Town, Nami grimaced. "Can you feel that? There's a major pall of fear hanging over this town. It's like Ripper said," she murmured.
"I know. We'd better find Zolo and deal with Morgan," he said quietly. "I can just freeze him in the Space Prison, never let him out. The Marines might get suspicious, but frankly, if his own men hate him so much, I think they'd help cover things up. And they should be able to ship someone decent in, in theory. Or maybe Ripper will take over. For someone with that name, he seems like a decent guy. Even if he's a bit of a coward where Morgan is concerned."
They soon found Zolo. It was hard to mistake him. Tall, with short-cropped green hair, a black bandanna covering most of said hair, three earrings dangling from his left ear, and handsome, if stern and intimidating features. He had no less than three swords with him. He noticed Luffy and Nami approaching. "What do you want?" he asked.
"You're Roronoa Zolo, right?" Luffy asked.
"Yeah. I don't do autographs."
"Actually, I wasn't asking for one. I'm Monkey D Luffy, and this is Nami. I wanted to ask whether you wanted to join me. I'm looking to become King of the Bounty-Hunters, and I could do with someone more experienced to show me the ropes."
Zolo stared at him, before scoffing. "You what? Yeah, real funny."
"He's serious, believe me," Nami said. "Didn't you see Alvida and her crew being carted through here? We captured her."
"Wait, you two did that?" Zolo asked, apparently having seen Alvida captive. "That woman was Alvida?"
"Well, I did most of the fighting, but without Nami's plan, we wouldn't have gotten the element of surprise," Luffy said. "Plus, she's no slouch as a fighter anyway. But that was Alvida, she had used a Devil Fruit."
"I see." Zolo seemed to consider this, before he said, "I'll consider coming with you once my business here is done, if you're serious, anyway. I don't always work alone. But I…"
Whatever Zolo was going to say was cut off by a scream of fear, and a rather high laugh. Luffy, Zolo and Nami whirled to find a massive wolf threatening a young girl, while a rather strange-looking young man with a bizarre hairdo looked on and laughed. "What's wrong, little girl? Soro only wants to play!" he jeered, before laughing again.
It was Zolo who reacted first, lunging forward and drawing one of his swords, slashing the wolf's belly, eviscerating it, the intestines spilling out in a bloody heap of fleshy ropes. With a howl of pain, the wolf collapsed, dying. "Soro! No!" The young man glared at Zolo. "You bastard, Zolo! I'm telling daddy about you! And you will suffer!"
"Says the man who set his wolf on a little girl," Zolo sneered back.
"I don't care what you think! You should be on your knees begging for my forgiveness!" the man snarled, before running off.
A woman went over to the little girl, and held her, while staring at Zolo in horror. "What have you done?"
"Saved your daughter's life from that damned beast."
"I'm grateful, but it's going to be for nothing when he comes back with his father's Marines in tow. That was Helmeppo, the son of Captain Morgan…and you've just signed your death warrant…"
CHAPTER 4 ANNOTATIONS:
So, yeah. Luffy and Nami have made it to Shell Town shortly before Zolo killed Helmeppo's wolf. Now, let's see if they can deal with Morgan before he can kill them…
Now, Luffy knowing who his father is is one of the AU elements here. But Garp could have told Luffy, and told him why it was necessary to keep quiet. This was one of the factors contributing to Luffy being different to what he was in canon.
You'll also notice I put in some foreshadowing of the Kuro arc, as well as more of the Buggy arc. I guess with this story, I am reconstructing One Piece to a certain degree. While there will still be comedy, it's somewhat more serious, albeit without sacrificing the essential nature of One Piece. I hope so, anyway.
No numbered annotations for this chapter.