Disclaimer: All the characters herein, with the exception of some random extras, are the intellectual property of Eiichiro Oda and all the companies involved with publishing and production of the One Piece manga and anime. I just twisted 'em a bit.
Spoilers/Warnings: This story will eventually encompass the entire first season of the anime, which is up to about halfway through volume 11 of the manga, just so you know. This is an AU, so many things have been changed/altered/warped to suit my needs. Also, there is some language and violence.
Pairing: None. However, I like subtext, so you can probably find hints of just about anything, if you look for it.
Dedication: To the OP at the fanforall at LJ, for requesting a cowboy AU and spawning this in my brain. Many thanks to dandy wonderous for beta-ing. While I'm at it, to my brand new, and very first, nephew, born Monday night. Also, happy birthday, Zoro!
A/N: Name order for all characters has been westernized. Don't like it? Tough cookies! I do not claim to be an expert on anything involving gun fighting, the old west, or the cavalry. I did some very basic research for some of this, but I probably got lots of stuff wrong. Humor me! You will doubtless notice some major changes to many things in this part. Probably inadequate explanations can be found at the end.
Part 2- The Lady Thief and a Jailbreak
"Captain Morgan will deal with you tomorrow!"
Zoro was roughly shoved into a small holding cell. A figure in the corner stood up indignantly.
"Hey! You said I could have my own cell! You can't leave a helpless, young thing like me alone with," the other occupant paused to give the gunman a quick once over, "whoever this is!"
Zoro eyed his new cell mate like he might a poisonous snake. The angry, red haired woman was probably no innocent, judging from the rather scandalously form fitting dress she was wearing and the fact that she was imprisoned; then again, the gunfighter had never been all that comfortable around any women folk- least of all in his underwear! Also, there was an air about this one that made him very wary.
"Shut up, thieving wench! You probably deserve anything you get," the soldier with the keys sneered as he locked the door. The sound of a bugle call for assembly prompted the soldiers to leave. The key ring hung tauntingly on a nail by the doorway across the room. Zoro situated himself as far away from the woman as physically possible.
"Rough day?" she asked, one eyebrow raised.
"Maybe." Zoro Roronoa was not known for his skills as a conversationalist.
"It's too bad you're not fully dressed. A belt buckle would be rather handy right now."
"Huh?"
"For the lock," she elaborated, rolling her eyes. "I already bent my hairpins."
"That's right, that soldier said you were a thief, didn't he?" He was suddenly glad he didn't have any of his belongings on him. They were probably safer with that blonde idiot Helmeppo!
"I'm not ashamed," she sniffed. "I'm quite good, actually. I only got caught because everybody suddenly went on alert on account of some fool causing a ruckus in town." Her eyes narrowed and a sinister grin spread across her features. "You wouldn't be that fool, by any chance?"
"I'm no fool," he grumbled, meeting her glare for glare. "Ain't my fault you didn't have a solid backup plan."
She humphed airily and returned to her corner. Zoro decided to make good use of the sudden quiet and stretched out for a nap.
The area surrounding the fort was generally peaceful, and townsfolk were permitted to enter and exit the cavalry post freely. In fact, the brass preferred that tradespeople come to them rather than the other way round. It was significantly easier to keep your men under your thumb if they weren't allowed to leave often.
As such, the half asleep front gate guardian gave the young fellow in the straw hat only a cursory glance as he strolled past. Evening assemblies here were notoriously long affairs, so Luffy found most of the buildings to be practically deserted, since most everyone was still out on the parade grounds. He peeked curiously through each door he passed, hoping to locate Zoro. He had already started to pass the room with the holding cell before he registered that he had seen a shock of familiar, green hair.
"Hey, Zoro! There you are!"
Zoro cracked one eye, grunted, and sat up with a joint popping stretch. He wanted to stay angry, but there was something about Luffy's broad grin that was disturbingly contagious.
"Thought I told you to lie low."
"Always used to get told I never listen," the boy chuckled. "In one ear and out the other!"
"What'd you do with my gun?"
"It's safe. I left it with the horses, just outside of town."
"How'd you even get in here?"
"Walked in through the front... Turns out they're having some kind of meeting, so most everybody's there."
"This is all very interesting," Zoro had forgotten about the woman until she spoke in a irritated tone, "but the keys aren't going to walk over here on their own."
Luffy cocked his head to the side and frowned slightly in confusion. "Who's this?" He directed the question to Zoro.
The gunman shrugged. "How should I know? She was here already. Some kinda thief or something."
Luffy thrust out a hand in the woman's direction. "I'm Luffy! Nice to meet ya!"
She made no move to take the outstretched hand, but when Luffy gave no indication whatsoever of pulling back, she rolled her eyes and shook hands with a firm grip.
"You can call me Nami. Heck, you can call me whatever you want, as long as you get those keys and let me out of here!"
"Okay!" Luffy grinned broadly before turning and heading for the nail by the door. Moments later, the cell door was open. "Let's go!"
"Can't." Zoro and Nami had spoken simultaneously and they eyed each other warily.
"Not leaving 'til I get back my other guns," Zoro scowled. "Wouldn't mind getting my clothes back, either."
"There's something here I want, too." Nami kept her face carefully blank. "I might be able to help you find your things, if you make sure I actually make it out of here this time."
"Okay!" Luffy readily agreed.
Zoro groaned and put a hand to his face. Great... Now he couldn't refuse or he'd look like a horse's ass! Why in tarnation was this kid so dang friendly and happy all the time?
"Fine," the gunfighter conceded, "but we'd better get moving. That assembly won't last forever."
It turned out that Nami had the layout down by heart. She had clearly put a lot of research into her initial plan, and Zoro almost felt bad for taunting her. Almost. They side-tracked briefly to some offices, into which the thief disappeared and then reappeared with several carefully rolled documents. Then, they headed for the private living quarters of Helmeppo.
"He's not even in the army," Nami explained, "but his father is his only family. His mother was rather wealthy, so thanks to a very generous donation, he's allowed to live here. Some of the, er, 'ladies' in town said he could pretty much get away with murder, if he wanted."
"Yeah," Zoro growled, "I know."
The captain's son lived in a small house of his own, situated behind some of the administrative buildings. The door was unlocked. There was a modestly furnished front room with a small kitchen area and a door leading to another room in the back.
Zoro found his missing guns in a cabinet full of other weapons. The thought of how the man had probably acquired them fueled the gunman's already burning rage. It was a lucky thing for the blonde that he wasn't currently home...
"What do you think you're doing?" The door to the back had opened, revealing Helmeppo. After having his scalp laceration dressed, he had come home to lie down. What did an assembly matter to him? He wasn't cavalry! Now, he found himself with the barrel of a gun under his chin and a very angry gunman in his face.
"I'm taking back what's mine," Zoro informed him. "Where are my clothes?"
"If you shoot me, you'll never get out of here alive!"
"Neither will you."
Helmeppo swallowed audibly. "They're in the back room." Zoro eyed his two companions and then passed off his second gun to Nami. She probably knew how to use one.
"I'll be right back. If this scum tries anything, wing 'im."
"Can do," the redhead chirped, grinning wickedly. Moments later, Zoro emerged from the back, fully clothed. Nami reluctantly returned the weapon.
"If you let me go, I swear I won't sound the alarm until you're long gone," Helmeppo made a last ditch attempt at bargaining.
"Like I'd trust your word again," the gunfighter sneered. "You're going to get us out the front gate with no questions asked. After that, well..." Zoro's decidedly evil grin was very fitting for a man known as the Devil's Gunman. "I've got plans for you!"
The gate guard had waved absently as Helmeppo left with a rather odd group of folks. Nami, having decided that staying in this town was too risky at the moment, had announced that she would be traveling with the boys at least as far as the next major city.
"I don't have a horse of my own, and you gentlemen wouldn't abandon little, old me, would you?"
Zoro had opened his mouth to say that, yes, he very well might, but Luffy beat him to the punch again.
"'Course not! The more the merrier!"
Nami rode behind Luffy on his horse, and Helmeppo was tied across the rump of Zoro's gelding. The town had disappeared over the horizon as the sun set.
"This is kidnapping!" Helmeppo complained loudly. "I'll make sure you're all wanted criminals after this!"
"Outlaws?" Luffy grinned broadly. "Great!"
"Don't worry," Zoro chuckled as he reined in his horse, "I'm about to let you go."
"Just like that?" Nami asked incredulously.
"It's about time you came to your senses!" Helmeppo scoffed. "Untie me at once!"
Zoro smirked at the restrained man. "Are you familiar with the phrase, 'turnabout is fair play?'" He didn't wait for a response before giving Helmeppo a sharp strike to the back of his head with the butt of one of his revolvers.
When the blonde awoke, it was dark and chilly and his clothes were missing.
End Notes:
I do realize this is not canonically how they meet Nami. I completely omitted Buggy from my Western AU, since:
A) I decided not to use devil fruit abilities, and there isn't much to him without the Bara Bara attacks.
B) I simply cannot see him fitting in a Western setting.
C) I squished some bits together and he didn't really fit.
D) He's kinda creepy and I don't particularly like him. (No offense, if you're a fan!)
Similarly, I didn't include a confrontation with Captain Morgan because I was stumped over how to handle the axe-hand. However, I might write an alternate scenario extra incorporating him. You may thank dandy wonderous for prompting that idea. As long as you're doing that, wish her a happy birthday!