How fast a month went by (and I know I upload a day early then I had written on my FF-profil, but well don't care^^). It was seriously surprising and I feel like I get kinda impatient when I write this story. I already mentioned it in an another AN that I have notes in which I already reached the Grandline and now also the New World already(the notes are mostly keywords nothing I could publish, yet). My baselines for the chapters are in chapter 7, which will be a longer one. In my plans, at the moment in chapter 9 or chapter 10 (more likely 10) will be the last chapter before they leave the East Blue. So I just hope that the chapters don't feel rushed at some point because I really really want to get to the Grandline. Because so many stuff can happen there, I'm really excited to write the stuff that's going to happen on the Grandline and what you will think about it. Please, no hype. I don't do well with too much hype, I get really conflicted about the chapters some time then...

But well I got some free time so I'm working on having a little chapter cache (can I call it that way?). Chapter 4 and 5 are already completely finished and Chapter 6 is at work. They just might change a little depending on your comments, but they are already in my word doc. Before you ask, I won't change the upload plan for this story. Because I don't want to give you chapter after chapter and then have to do a three or six months break because I lack the time to write the chapters and well... I feel kinda bad to keep you waiting that long then. So monthly updates until I know how many chapters this story will have and until I know I will be able to keep the promised dates.

Also, I may creative sometimes with pairings. But I also like to include some more unusual ideas from you guys. At the moment, I have three pairings on my mind who will appear and have some kind of influence in the story. One, I already spoiled in the first chapter. The other two... well let's just say one is directly connected to the crew (and in my plan at the moment it will be the first to appear) and the other will happen later a lot later and is not directly connected with the crew. So pairing suggestion? I'm open for nearly everything. Even if you choose a character, I have already romantic plans for, it can be possible that, if I liked the idea/concept behind it very much, I will include it as a onesided pairing or as a short-time relationship(don't know the ideas I will get^^). You can give a suggestion until I say the story is close to the end or when I think it won't fit any longer.

But enough rambling. I also think some of you skip my rambles because it gets too long xD I'm sorry about that, but I have a tendency to write more than needed sometimes to explain something^^'

Guest(04.07): Nice guesses. But I won't say anything until it is spoiler free ;) But that are only two, the two others you didn't want to guess. Well now, only one more guess is needed after this chapter^^

~Chapter 3 - A new Nakama~

Luffy grinned brightly at Zoro. Getting the swords was to easy. This excuse of a man had also been at the top of the marine base. Since the blonde had been the one who was to blame for Zoro's arrest, he should know where the sword of the green-haired one was. And Luffy had his "stupid luck" like Law always called it again.

He had borrowed the blonde as his guide to the other's room to fetch Zoro's swords. Luffy hadn't cared that he had accidentally knocked the excuse of a man out when he entered the room. It had made the straw-hatted boy cringed. It had looked like one of these Nobel rooms, he had visited with Ji-chan. He had felt an urge to destroy it. But he hadn't come for that.

The three swords, he had taken with him, had seemed all out of place. So one or two definitely belonged to Zoro. Perhaps the other would be more pleased to join them if Luffy offered the other swords as some sort of buffer.

Then knocking the marines over who seemed ready to shoot Zoro and Coby was the easiest thing of the whole stunt. These guys weren't even close to the level of the ones which worked directly under Ji-chan. Maybe that's the reason why Ji-chan and his men were mostly in the Grandline.

So now Luffy was standing in front of the green-haired swordsman who just stared at him. The boy tilted his head a bit. Did he fetch the wrong swords or was something wrong with the swords? There hadn't been any other swords and the idiot had better not lie to him. They also didn't look damaged. But then Zoro started to grin.

"They are all three mine", the swordsman said. "Okay. Don't know how you fight with three, but here you go. So you join me, right?" Luffy looked at the other curiously while he waited for an answer.

"Attack them!"

"Give me my swords and you will see my answer."

Luffy grinned. He liked this answer.

The ropes were gone faster than he could look. But he was sure Zoro had cut them the sword, Luffy should hold to close to the mouth. Th swordsman carried it in his mouth. So cool. He also blocked all the marines at the same time. Yep, Ace and Law would agree that Zoro would be a great addition to the crew.

"Fine, brat. I'll join you. But if you get in my way of reaching my goal, I'll cut you down." Luffy giggled while Coby shrieked slightly and dodged behind him. "A goal. That means you have a dream. That's great. Does it fit with reaching the end of the Grandline?" He looked curiously at Zoro. What could be this man's goal?

Did the other smirk? It was a bit hard to tell with the sword in Zoro's mouth. "I'm going to be the world's best swordsman." Luffy grinned. "That's a fitting dream for a member of a crew which will reach the top. Now dodge, Zoro", he chirped cheerfully and jumped to attack.

He used his hands to push him slightly higher from the swordsman's back to kick the marine in the face. With each kick, he got a little higher and closer to the axe-guy until he was able to punch him directly in the face. Sending this one flying to the wall.

"Captain Morgan!"

The marines seemed a bit lost without their captain. Or was that relief in some of their eyes? Well, Luffy could only grin about easy this had been.

"S-Stop right where you are or I'll shoot."

The straw-hatted boy turned his head to see who had spoken. There was the blonde idiot holding a gun to Coby's head.

Luffy tilted his head. Hadn't he knocked the excuse of a man out?

"Don't worry about me, Luffy-san. Just do whatever you had planned." Coby's voice sounded a bit shaken. But there was something in his eyes that told Luffy the pink-haired one was serious. So Coby had grown a bit of a backbone while he had been with them.

"Okay", Luffy simply stated and took a little step towards the duo.

He had noticed that the booze-guy wanted to attack him, but Zoro seemed already prepared to take care of him.

The blonde was shaken and threatening him again that he would shoot. This would be interesting. Luffy sidestepped so that Zoro could directly attack the marine captain.

A grin appeared on the black-haired boy's face. Now would be the perfect timing to do this. He had wanted to say it for a long time.

"Ne, are you ready to bet your life on it?"

This seemed to confuse the idiot. But also the whole body started to shake more. Did he scare the idiot with the question?

"Luffy, don't be an idiot and asked people that question if you already can see that they are not ready", Ace scolded him. His big brother appeared with Law behind Coby. His step-brother/cousin didn't look very happy.

"Hi, Ace. Hi, Torao", Luffy just chirped happily and speeded over knocking the blonde idiot, who had shrieked when he noticed Ace and Law, out in progress.

Law groaned and flicked his forehead. "Don't go against a whole marine base yourself", the surgeon scolded. Luffy pushed his lips slightly forward.

"But I wasn't by myself. I have Zoro with me. Zoro is really strong and he is our new Nakama", he said with a grin while he pointed at the swordsman who had beaten the corrupt marine captain and was coming towards them.

"Zoro, this is my big brother Ace and my step-brother/cousin Torao. Ace, Torao, that's Zoro, he is our new Nakama", Luffy introduced them happily. "It's Law. Call me Torao and I will dissect you", Law threatened while Ace looked quite curiously.

"Roronoa Zoro, huh. So that's the pirate hunter demon we heard about", his big brother said. Luffy chuckled when he that Zoro only had lifted an eyebrow at the two older black-haired men.

"Well, if Luffy says he should join, it will probably be fine", Ace shrugged and grinned. But Law studied the green-haired one a bit sceptical. "Before you join for real, one important question. Can you swim?", the oldest of the three black-haired ones asked.

Luffy laughed out loud about Zoro's surprised face.

What did he only signed up for when he said he would join? His well… crewmates were an interesting bunch but they also seemed to attract chaos. Even when they were on the sea and no other except them around.

He had already jumped into the ocean ten times to fish out the youngest, Luffy. Zoro highly guessed that they had a rope around the boy before he joined because neither Law nor Ace could swim. The last crew member was a talking polar bear named Bepo who could swim but couldn't dive very well.

Seriously how did they intend to travel on when their future-captain liked to jump in the water without being able to swim and also without being able to learn to swim. Something he only learnt after some trips into the ocean.

After the first two times, Luffy went overboard, Zoro had offered to teach the boy the basics of how to swim. So he would be able to stay over the water until they let a rope.

Luffy had only stared at him confused before he stated that he wasn't able to learn how to swim. This was the point when Law explained that no one of the three black-haired crew members would be able to learn how to swim as they all had eaten a devil fruit.

A fact that should be kept a secret until they are on the Grandline and they only wanted to use in the East Blue against other Devil Fruit users.

Zoro didn't really care about the explanation why they intend to handle it that way. Law seemed like a person who wouldn't do anything without a good reason and the most responsible one from the others. So he was going to trust the surgeon, who was at the moment the captain of the crew.

That was also a detail that surprised Zoro a bit. The swordsman had guessed that Luffy would be the captain as both older one listened to the younger one when the swordsman was introduced as their new Nakama.

"There is a promise we have to fulfil at first before we go full force after what we really want. Then Luffy will be our captain official. Because then we will go after the One Piece. Hope that you are ready for that when the time comes."

That was the explanation he got. The One Piece. That meant they would become pirates at one point. He didn't know when. But he got a feeling that with Luffy on board. It would be sooner as planned.

Even if the two older one seemed protective over the straw-hatted boy.

Especially Ace. Luffy's older brother and first mate(now and later) had corned him with some question that did confirm that the cowboy-hatted one had a brother-complex. The black-haired had even threatened him that he would be burned alive if made one wrong move at Luffy, betrayed him, hurt him or just look at the boy wrong.

Seriously, the complex was a bit annoying. But Zoro could see why. Luffy was easy-going, cheerful and slightly naive, even if Law had hinted that the boy also had a manipulative, devilish side. Something that sounded a bit unbelievable if Luffy hadn't tried to blackmail him into joining the crew.

"Ready for some medical questions?"

Law interrupted his thoughts. Zoro looked up. The black-haired one had some paper and a pen in his hand.

"Why do you need that?" "I mostly agreed to come with them because they will need someone who knows about medicine and can patch them up. So I'm in charge of everyone's health who will travel with us and also in charge of the medicine and suppressant", Law stated simply.

Zoro sighed and nodded.

"Also now would be the best time as Ace had fallen asleep again. Luffy is napping with him and Bepo is focused on the map to plan our route. So there is quite and no comments from the others."

So that was the main reason why this happened now. Well, there was nothing better to do. Maybe sleep or he could train. But better to do this now before the timing could be worse.

"Just ask already what you want to know?"

A grin ghosted over Law's face and the other sat down next to him. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see how the surgeon wrote 'Roronoar Zoro' at the top of the paper.

"Age?" "Nineteen." "First and second gender?" Zoro looked at Law. The first part of the question had to be a joke. But no. The surgeon had a serious expression. "Male. No second gender is known." He could hear the other sigh but didn't comment on it. "Before you asked, I have no interested in this second gender topic. I just hope these two years get over quick and I stay a Beta. It always sounded the easiest", Zoro added. He could see a smirk on Law's face.

"You're right there. It is the easiest. But you said it. You still have two years until it is final. In that two years, I want you to immediately inform me if you feel some changes. Changes that can't explain via training or wounds or medicine", the surgeon said. Zoro nodded.

"When you ask about the second gender… with the way Ace acts… is Luffy an Omega? I mean, Luffy doesn't act like an Omega… but with Ace's behaviour." Law lifted his hand to stop him. "No, Luffy is a Beta. Well, he is now. Luffy became seventeen a few days before we started our journey from Dawn Island. So there are still four years left until we know if that is final or not. But I can see why you are thinking that Luffy is an Omega. Ace does have serious brother-complex. Pray that you never see his full brother-complex. But since you mentioned Luffy being an Omega. Would that be a problem if the captain presented as an Omega?"

Zoro opened his mouth to say that he didn't care about the second gender stuff again, but was interrupted when he heard Luffy SCOLDING Ace for saying something to Bepo.

His mouth hung open. He was sure that he had misheard the tone and words Luffy used. He couldn't really imagine that the straw-hatted boy scolded his big brother.

The surgeon next to him groaned slightly before he turned his head. "Oi, Ace, leave Bepo alone!", Law shouted. "What exactly is Bepo? You can't tell me you taught a polar bear to wear clothes, talk and navigate, right?", Zoro said carefully.

Law threw a paper ball in Ace's direction before he turned to him again. "Bepo is a polar bear mink. Minks can be described as humanoids with animal features. It is rare to see one as they tend to stay on their island which is located in the New World, the second part of the Grandline."

"Wait, the bear is from the Grandline?"

"Don't call Bepo a bear. He has a name", Luffy, who suddenly appeared next to him, scolded him and poked his side. Zoro also felt a glare from Law's side. What exactly…

"Ignore it. Luffy and Law have some complexes if Bepo is involved", Ace said and hit his younger brother lightly. Okay… so Luffy and Law had a Bepo-complex, Ace had a brother-complex… now, what kind of complex would Bepo have?

"That is for drawing on my face", the cowboy-hatted one told his little brother and looked angry at him. The freckles on Ace's seemed a bit darker than before. It looked like someone used a marker to paint them black.

"Torao, Ace is being a meanie again. I didn't draw on his face", Luffy whined. Out of the corner of his eyes, Zoro noted how Law had bent his head so his face was shadowed.

"Shut up both of you or I will throw the meat overboard."

"Not the meat!" Both brothers looked shocked. So they both liked meat very much?

"People on a little boat sighted", Bepo's voice stopped whatever chaos was going on again and had all four of them at the railing to look.

Luffy nearly jumped overboard again, if Ace hadn't held the boy back. The older one hugged the little one to stop the smaller probably from doing something stupid. The anger towards Luffy seemed forgotten in favour of keeping him safe.

"They don't look friendly. Do you think they would be more friendly if we party with them?", Luffy suggested innocently. "No, we won't party with them. The only thing they get is their asses kicked", Ace grumbled and laid his chin on Luffy's head.

Zoro narrowed his eyes and saw a jolly roger. "They belong to the crew of a big shot in the East Blue if I remember right. The bounty was a bit over 10,000,000 Berry", the swordsman said. Trying to remember the few bounties which interested him because they meant he would be able to pay the repairments of his sword and food and so on.

The idiots didn't look strong. So a fight could be a waste of time.

"A bounty around 10,000,000 Berry is low for someone who wants to survive the Grandline", Law said. "Well, if they attack, we shouldn't have any problems with them. I saw that the man-lady has a bounty around 7,000,000 Berry and the fight against her didn't last a minute. So even if we met this captain we should be safe", Ace guessed with a yawn.

A grin crept on Zoro's face. Looked like he made a good decision to with them. It would definitely be fun. Also, he would be able to grow stronger and met the man who he had to fight.

"If I remember right from the short look over the bounty in the East Blue. Don Krieg with 17,000,000 and Arlong 20,000,000 have the highest one of all wanted men who are known to be in the East Blue at the moment", the swordsman leant against the railing and watched with only mild interest how Luffy and Ace argued if they should fire the cannon.

The three men on the other boat seemed to notice them now and seemed to want to attack them. A loud boom and the other ship was blown apart. "Hey, I wanted to beat them in a fist fight", Luffy pouted. Ace just patted his hair. "Next time. I bet they weren't even worse the time. Now they are swimming and, Luffy, look positive. Maybe some fish will come to eat them and then we can eat the fish", the first mate said.

The bounties didn't seem too interested them really. Well, for some reason it didn't surprise him. Their topic was food now. Food seemed to be one of the most interesting topics for the two brothers.

But Law seemed more interested.

"Arlong? Don't tell me you mean Arlong the Saw or also called Saw-Tooth Arlong. The man is worth more than 20,000,000 Berry. There has to be something fishy about him if the number is correct", the surgeon said while the brothers started to laugh.

"He said there is something fishy about a Fishman."

Law hit both of them on the head. Zoro must have had a slightly confused look on his face because the surgeon explained: "Fishman normally live on the Grandline. Well, to be more precise in the Grandline under the Red Line. They are quite strong. Much stronger than a normal human and if you fight against one make sure that you don't do it underwater. Because there they are nearly unbeatable without the right preparations."

Now that sounded very interesting. Fighting with a Fishman sounded like a really good training.

"The problem with Arlong is 20,000,000 Berry isn't much. If I remember right, he did belong to the Sun Pirates. A pirate crew which travelled on the Grandline and which was quite famous for taking out entire marine ships on their own. The captain was a Fishman named Fisher Tiger. His bounty had been 230,000,000 Berry. But he died around ten years ago. The other one of the Sun Pirates and now Shichibukai is Jinbe. He has a frozen bounty from 250,000,000 Berry. In comparison to that Arlong's bounty seems low. Too low if he was with them and if my information is correct he was one of the merciless fighters and even was in Impel Down for a short time", Law mumbled.

Zoro knitted his brows. Why should they be worried about that? People could be on a strong crew without getting high bounties. He didn't see this first hand but he had heard friends talking about bounties. Arlong and his crew were a good example. Because there were no bounties known from his crewmember. At least, as far as Zoro knew.

"Do you know where Arlong exactly is?", Ace asked. Zoro could only shake his head. "No. I only found people with bounties randomly most of the time. I did learn the one who had high bounties so I could fight them to get better. I often only turned the people in when I needed money", he said as an explanation.

"Don't worry, Torao. I'm sure we will find out if you are worried", Luffy chirped. "I don't think you should say it in that voice. It only gives the feeling that this is really something to worry about…", Law said, but the straw-hatted boy ignored the statement.

So yeah, Zoro is part of the crew. Because well, I like Zoro and I needed someone strong to fish Ace, Luffy or Law out when they fall into the water by accident. The thing that Bepo can't dive well is a bit made up from the facts I have found about polar bears. They are good swimmers but they only dive for around two minutes and then it is rarely deeper than two metres. Therefore, Bepo's ability to fish the three out in case something happens is limited. I hope you can live with that explanation^^

Also in this chapter marks the first where I answer an opened question I didn't answer, yet because well "spoilers".

Lex (AO3): Who's the captain in this situation? - Answer: At the moment, Law is the captain until they either fulfil their promise to reach the New World without getting into trouble because Law is the responsible one. But if the trouble finds them and they become pirates earlier then Luffy will become captain.

Hope this answers your question ;)

So until next month on this story or on a Oneshot, I will upload until then.