Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece, but I do own Apollo, Futai, Kiwamae, the Camans, and the village. Lots of nameless people in the village and pirates so eh, but still! No stealy! If you've seen Rurouni Kenshi, trust me, you will get the Futai and Kiwamae jokes later!

Enjoy and send reviews please!!!

"That was seriously cool!" Luffy cheered running over to the young man. "You just hit all of them and whammo!" he made a pretend punch into the air, still grinning like the loveable idiot he was.

"Thanks a lot!" the young man called Apollo smiled. He balled his fist in front of him, "I've been practicing a lot you know! Those guys were lame anyway."

Both young men laughed insanely as if some inside joke were shared between the two strangers. Luffy's stomach grumbled and he sat on the ground screaming, "Hungry!!!"

"Oh," Apollo blinked. He laughed with a friendly, yet soft, smile on his face and said, "Then let's get you some grub! Anybody who visits this village deserves a good meal, it is after all a long trip from here to the nearest island." He pulled Luffy to his feet and shook his hand, "I'm Apollo."

"Captain Luffy!" the straw hat wearing boy cheerfully greeted. He gestured back to the others, "This is my crew."

A realization came over the older boy's face as he spotted his hat, "So that was your ship I saw pulling in towards the cliffs! Didn't you guys know that the dock was right over here?"

"No." Nami glared at Zoro and Usopp's simultaneous response. Apollo shrugged it off and gave a crisp order to Futai and Kiwamae to lead the pirates to their home and make sure they were comfortable.

He looked back at the young boy who had aided him in the fight, "Go give the all clear for me huh?" The little boy nodded furiously. "Oh yeah, and get me some rope, I need to tie up the captain then we can pile 'em up and give the marines a call." The boy nodded again and tossed him rope that was hanging from his belt. Zoro and Sanji strayed behind to watch as Apollo tied up the Captain to a large flagpole in the square, dusted his hands off, and nodded to the group of elder men that started to convene in the square. "Right, get these boys chucked onto their boat, we only need the Captain for the reward. He ain't much, but he deserves worse."

"Right Apollo!" most of them nodded. One of the clapped him on the back as he passed, "Nice punch Apollo, you got balls huh?" Apollo lowered his gaze, but chuckled good-naturedly.

Sanji turned to Zoro, still watching the fighter. "Seem off to you how easily they handle pirates, or was it just that they're really crappy?"

"Could be a combination of the two," Zoro added. Apollo looked up seeing them watching and jogged to catch up with them. Zoro waited for the boy as he caught them with a small smile lighting his feminine face. He narrowed his eyes a bit at noticing this: for a tough kid he looked a little girly, but then again, Luffy could be confused for a girl if you slammed a wig on his head too. "This happen often?"

"Not really," Apollo shrugged. He let one hand rest idly in the pocket of his pants. Sanji thought they were pretty strange pants for they were baggy enough to hide the real shape of the leg and yet hung in a non-conforming way like his own slacks. "Guys like that appear every so often, but we haven't had any serious trouble for a few years, just jerks like them who think they own all East Blue." He suddenly laughed, "I mean, it isn't like their Arlong or something!"

"You've heard of Arlong?" Zoro asked as they approached an average looking cottage at the end of the street.

"Heard he got his butt kicked," the boy answered. His eyes glazed over in awe, "Man, if I met the guy who knocked him down, hell, I'd bow to him or something."

"You already did," Sanji laughed. Apollo turned to him in curiosity and confusion as he opened the door for him to the cottage. Luffy was seated at a table past the doorway fork and knife in hand already. The chef rolled his eyes jerking a thumb at him, "That's your man." Apollo's jaw dropped, but his eyes still lit with a smile as if knowing that he was in for an adventure already.

"You're here!" Luffy cheered shooting to his feet. "Feed me!"

Nami gave him a decent wallop on the back of the head, "Please ya moron!"

Apollo smiled broadly at him and pointed into the kitchen, "I got just the idea of what I can make you guys! Shouldn't take long either," he mused thinking about it. He turned to his two friends, "Futai, Kiwamae, you two amuse them until it's ready ok?"

"Mind if I lend a hand?" Sanji asked. Apollo turned to him in confusion. "I'm kind of the official chef on the Going Merry, besides, I need something to do."

"Great!" the slightly older boy answered. "It'll go twice as fast." He led him into another room with a promise of good food in a short while. Nami and Usopp settled at the table about to discuss how long they should stay, what supplies to stock up on, and so forth. Luffy just looked around him curious as to why there was no food yet. Zoro glanced around the room studying the setting. It was peaceful looking, but obvious that three males lived there since it seemed like something of each boy was left somewhere. Resting his elbow placidly on the hilt of his sword he sighed; hopefully it wouldn't stay too calm around here.

That sudden motion of his seemed to set off their two hosts. "Oh my god!!! It's Roronoa Zoro!"

"Why didn't we see that earlier?" Kiwamae gasped. Zoro turned to them with a raised brow. They both were standing in total shock and admiration staring at him like he was a piece of history. "Are you really Roronoa Zoro?"

"Yes," he responded slowly wondering if he was developing a fan club. Both automatically cheered and jumped up and down.

"WOW!" Futai hollered, blonde hair nearly coming loose from his ponytail. "Can we show you something? I mean, we've been following you and your work ever since you started hunting pirates!" The other man nodded fiercely as if he couldn't express it in words. "Please Mr. Zoro? We'd feel very honored if you came to look?"

"Yeah Mr. Zoro," Nami teased batting her eyes at him. "Won't you?"

"Shut up stupid woman," he growled. He turned to them as they smiled and pleaded with their eyes, "I guess so, why not?"

There was a pause of silence in their shock, but both Futai and Kiwamae burst into shrieks of joy as they dragged him into another room and led him up a stairwell. It was almost exactly like having a younger version of Joni and Yosaku around again, he even found himself smiling. They babbled about how long they had been watching for his works and how they knew about every single capture he had made so far, and how cool he was, and blah blah blah. They opened up a door, obviously to their room, as Futai announced, "This is our Wall of Roronoa Zoro's Accomplishments!"

"And some of our own," Kiwamae added, "and others we haven't gotten to yet but know someone will." Along one entire wall was wanted poster after wanted poster. There wasn't a space on it that didn't have a poster somewhere. Many of them had a green slash across them: ones Zoro had defeated. Others had a blue slash: most of those faces he recognized as having been captured by marines. A few, but not very many had a red slash through them and dates written on them. Kiwamae noticed his attention on them and smiled broadly, "Those are the ones we captured, with a little help from Apollo sometimes."

It was very obvious, just by having met the three, that Apollo did most of the work.

"Who's this?" he asked pointing a ma with a black line accenting his bounty and name.

"Oh him," Futai whistled. The man had a dark, sinister, and twisted smile on his face. Many of the others did too, but this just seemed like it would send shivers up the spine easier. The fact that he also had a giant spider standing behind him didn't help. "Some freaky guy that came here a few years ago. We almost had him, but we're not sure if we should go after him again. Apollo doesn't know that we still have this one."

Zoro nodded half paying attention. The smug look on the pirate's face just made him want to slap him, and the creature towering in the background screamed trouble. "Interesting."

"Oi Luffy quit being a pain in the ass!" Sanji snapped from the kitchen hearing his precious Nami whining at his presence. Instantly going back to his sweeter side he crooned, "Nami why don't you come in here with us?"

"Sounds good," she huffed jumping at the chance. Apollo was peeling whatever Sanji handed him, no complaints and no questions. Sanji threw him a potato, and Apollo peeled it; tossed him an onion, peeled and sliced by Apollo. The bandana-covered head was concentrated on whatever his black clad sleeves held. He was almost amazed at how helpful the boy was without actually doing anything, and the fact that he was the one who was supposed to be cooking in the first place. Nami looked at the two cooks with slight annoyance; usually Sanji would be so busy flirting with her that it was a shocker that he ever finished cooking. While he might not do her every will since he was so engrossed, perhaps Apollo would bend to her will. She sneaked up next to him playing coy, "Hey Apollo?"

"Yeah?" he asked not taking his eyes form the knife he was using.

A thought struck her, so she giggled. "You don't even know our names, except for Luffy of course." He smirked and gave her a friendly smile before going back. "I'm Nami, the unofficial navigator."

"Good thing to have on a ship," he nodded.

"Could you do me a favor?" she cooed clinging to his arm. He paused for a moment; she was weakening him! "Can you get me something to drink? I'm really thirsty." Sanji didn't even seem to realize what was going on, and Apollo just blinked at her.

And turned back to his work helping Sanji load the chopped bits into the frying pan. "There's a cooler over in the corner, help yourself."

"But could you get me one?" she pleaded batting her lashes at him. He just scoffed and pointed to where the cooler was.

"It's right there," he laughed as if she were being ridiculous. "Not even ten feet, go on and help yourself Nami." She tried not to smack him for his insolence, but stormed out of the kitchen for her failure. Apollo just blinked and turned to the blonde cook, "Did I say something to offend her?"

Zoro attempted to concentrate more on his clunking footsteps down the stairs then on the two men behind him babbling over and over about his great conquests and whatnot. When he hit the bottom of the stairs, Apollo came out of the kitchen wiping his hands on a towel. "Sanji said it should be done in a few. So not much longer eh?"

"APOLLO!" Futai and Kiwamae screamed rushing for him. "Do you realize who that is?" they shouted pointing to Zoro.

"Uh no," he shook his head tossing the towel over his shoulder and looking Zoro over. It felt slightly odd to have those violet eyes tracing him, even if it was a quick glance. Like something was wrong about them, or about him. "Why?"

"Think man," Futai egged. "Who's our favorite pirate hunter?"

A long moment of recognition passed over the younger man's face. Then his jaw dropped. Then he attempted to point at Zoro. Then he attempted to form words. "Oh my god, you're Rora-Rore-Roronah…" he trailed off realizing he couldn't say it. "ZORO!"

"Yes I am," he nodded in return. A smile replaced the look of shock, a lazy half smile that made him look like a delinquent. Then again, that wouldn't have surprised him in the least if he were a delinquent.

"Sweet!" he cheered leaping into the air. "I can't believe it! Of all the pirates that could come by I get the guys who beat Arlong, and Zoro the Pirate Hunter!"

"Fan club," Usopp snickered. Before anything else could be said, there was a knock at the door. Apollo stopped in mid cheer and everyone turned to the door.

"Oh shit," he muttered, dread coming over his face. "I totally forgot!" He looked at the Straw Hat Pirates apologetically, "I'm supposed to baby sit these kids today and I got so busy I forgot. Anyone want to cover for me, I swear they'll have a captive audience." Zoro looked at Usopp with a smirk, Luffy with a grin, and Nami with a glare. Apollo and his two friends just looked hopeful.

"Captive audience eh?" the sniper mused scratching his chin. Apollo reached for the door, "I'm your man!"

"Ok!" Apollo cheered ushering them both outside. Instantly they were greeted by the cheers of at least fifteen kids, all younger than ten years old. They called out Apollo's name a few of them trying to jump on him; one little girl succeeded and clung to his leg. He smiled and picked her up, pecked her cheek, and set her down. It was very obvious that Apollo was popular amongst the village and that he loved them all back. He threw up his hands silencing them, "Kids, I got good news and bad! Which is it?"

There was a pause amongst the rag tag kids before an older one shouted, "BAD!"

"Alrighty," Apollo smiled hands on his hips. "Bad news is that I can't watch you guys today." Moans, groans, and angry noises spurted from the kids. "Good news is this! I got one of the pirates from the ship that pulled in at the cliff today to talk to you!"

"Really? Wow! That's awesome!" The kids were all babbling together now about the fearsome and cool pirate. One of them, a young girl of about six stepped forward and asked, "Where is he?"

"Right here!" Apollo said laughing and pointing at Usopp. The kids stopped talking and stared at the now posing Usopp.

"He doesn't look like a pirate," another boy whined. Apollo whacked him in the head.

"Watch your manners!" he growled. Usopp was actually very impressed by his command over the motley crew. "This guy here, boy you should just hear some of the adventures he's had, I mean wow! This is some amazing stuff I'm telling you!" Usopp's grin widened as Apollo played up his image for him. "And now, without any further ado, I give you…"

He trailed off looking to Usopp for some kind for introductory name. Usopp leaned over and whispered to him. Apollo straightened up and shouted, "The Great Captain Usopp!"

Cheers rang out from the little kids as their storyteller was announced. Apollo patted his back and muttered, "Good luck."

"Huh?" Usopp gulped, but the villager was gone. He turned back to his audience seeing some very untrusting and unimpressed faces. "Hey there! I'm sure none of you have ever heard of me!"

"Nope," the chorused.

"Well then, none of you heard about how my crew and I defeated Arlong the Merman and his fearsome Merpeople?" The kids' jaws all dropped in shock; Usopp had them hooked.

Apollo closed the door behind him looking quite pleased with himself. He dusted his hands off as he approached the dining room, "Guess your buddy Usopp really likes telling stories. Just hope the kids don't decide to reenact them."

"Why's that?" Zoro asked taking Usopp's old place at the table.

"They can get pretty violent for little guys," Apollo chuckled nervously. He rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment and tried to change the subject, "So Sanji! How's the grub coming?"

"Came and went," the cook sighed wiping his hands off on a towel as he came into the dining room.

Apollo looked about the room slightly curious as to what his guests meant. "Uh, what does that mean exactly? I was only gone for maybe a minute tops."

"Yeah, and Sanji finished cooking about ten seconds after that," Nami explained dragging Luffy behind her from the kitchen. The pirate captain let himself be dragged as he gnawed on one last piece of the snack. "You pig, you didn't even offer any to your host!"

"I'm not hungry anyway," the host scoffed. He sat down in a chair across from Sanji, "He ate all of that, that fast?" Zoro, who was next to him, nodded grimly. Apollo whistled leaning back in the chair casually. "Now THAT is an appetite. And I thought Futai was a big eater!"

"Hey watch it!" Futai growled whapping the younger boy on the back of the head. "Just because you're smaller doesn't mean I can't smack you around a little." Apollo just laughed rubbing the back of his head. "Kiwamae's washing dishes my the way."

"Kay," the boy nodded propping one of his ankles on his knee. As Futai settled himself in an old plush chair in the living room, Apollo turned to the remaining pirates. "What brings you to our sleepy little town?"

"Didn't look that sleepy," Zoro chuckled reminding him of the pirates.

Nami sighed throwing Luffy into the remaining chair while she paced back and forth. "We really could use some supplies. Food, water, and the like. Do you think we can buy some from you guys?"

"Well," Apollo wondered staring off at the ceiling. Luffy began tilting his head up wondering just what it was their gracious host was looking at. "Food and whatnot you can get here, but if you want anything special you might have to go to the town at the east end of the island. Since this town is pretty much unknown, no one ever bothers to stock up for supplies that people might want to trade for beside the essentials. But if you go to the big town, they should have everything you're looking for." As an added thought he leaned over and added, "Especially if you're looking for trouble."

"Why do you say that?" Sanji asked lighting a cigarette up.

"Big Town, well, on the maps it's called Sorentha," Apollo explained resting his elbows on the table. "Sorentha has the nasty habit of picking up some of the scum of the earth. Not the big names like Arlong or Buggy, but more like their lackeys and grunt work men. Some days there won't be anything out of the ordinary, and other days people won't even dare to step a foot towards their door." His voice lowered along with his eyes; the crew could tell he was upset by the condition of the town. "What's even worse is that many times they'll come here. Not all of the people in Sorentha are good people either; so those jerks will send pirates down here, thinking we'll be an easy kill. When they don't hear back from them, they just assume that they left for Grandline."

Luffy leapt up slamming his hands on the table. "GRANDLINE?!?"

"Uh yes," a slightly intimidated Apollo answered leaning back.

"We are going to Grandline!" the captain announced plastering a grin on his face. The boy laughed out loud and started dancing around the room. "Grandline, we are going to Grandline! Yes we are, to Grandline! Whoo!"

Apollo leaned back laughing, almost appreciatively, at the antics of the captain. "Just you guys? Going to be an interesting trip. I've considered going there before," he added wistfully.

"Why haven't you?" Sanji asked. "If so many pirate crews come by, there's had to have been some willing to take you along. You probably could have made it in." He was slightly impressed by the boy's abilities and his easygoing attitude; it scared him a little though, he was a bit too much like Zoro for his liking.

"Dunno," he shrugged in response leaning his elbows on the table again. Luffy was still bouncing and dancing around singing his little tune, that is until Zoro grabbed his collar slamming him into a chair. "But I wish you folks all the luck you can get. Famous swordsmen can help you sure, but you're going to need more than that."

"How about a Chef from Baratie?" Zoro offered with a wry grin.

"A Navigator who bested some of the more fearsome pirates?" Sanji smiled with hearts in his eyes.

"Or a Captain who ate the Gomu-Gomu Fruit?" Nami sighed sounding slightly annoyed.

"The what?" the blood red redhead asked staring in disbelief at Luffy. "Is that a Devil Fruit of some kind? I mean, I've seen some pretty weird ones before but that's a new one."

Luffy stopped his moping, which had ensued once he was chair bound, and perked his head up with a devilish grin. "Na? Wanna see? It's fun and you should see it! It's really cool I swear! Come on, let's go!"

"Huh?" That was all that escaped the host's mouth before Luffy scrambled up and out of his chair, grabbed Apollo's arm, rushed out of the house, past Usopp and the kids, and out into the middle of the street. The rest of the crew sat stunned for a moment then Zoro and Sanji shot to their feet taking Nami, Futai, and Kiwamae with them outside.

The words, "And that's how I defeated the ghastly Worm of South Blue" drifted by as they ran.

"What the hell is that moron doing?!?" Nami squealed as they met up with them down the street.

"Watch this!" Luffy laughed winding up his arm.