Pirate Hunter Zoro! First change in history!
Nick and Coby were eating at a dinner in the middle of the town. As they were eating, Nick started to ask Coby a few questions. "So, what Albida said about that Zoro guy, is he nearby?" Coby finished his drink and nodded. "Yeah, I heard he was arrested a few days ago and was sent to the Marine base not far from here."
The bartender and everyone else in the restaurant flinched at the mention of Zoro. Nick looked to them, eyebrow raised, "Something tells me we shouldn't bring him up in here. Can you take me to the base?"
"Sure. I've been there before. Again, that was a long time ago." Coby said as they exited the restaurant. Nick left behind a few bills of money that Garp gave him before he set out.
They arrived at the base to see that there was a large wall around it. Nick started to climb it, Coby got worried, "Nick! I don't thing that's a good idea!" Nick ignored him and continued to climb. He reached the top and was able to look over, he saw a man with his arms and body tied to a wooden cross in the middle of an empty field.
The man was wearing a green bandana over his head, a short sleeve shirt covered in blood, black pants, and what Nick would consider dress shoes. "Jarvis, what do you have on this guy?" Right as Nick finished his question, the inside of his glasses projected a Heads Up Display (HUD) with old newspapers and historical data.
"According to history, Roronoa Zoro was trained at a dojo in Shimotsuki Village. He started his carrier of swordsmanship as a child and never looked back. After obtaining the sword, Wado Ichimonji, from his sensei, Koshiro, he set out to become the 'Worlds Greatest Swordsman'. He eventually became known as the 'Pirate Hunter', due to his habit of hunting down pirates and collecting their bounties. Unfortunately, he was never able to achieve his primary goal; he was executed for standing up to Axe-hand Morgan's son in this village." The HUD then turned off and Nick could see Zoro again.
"When did it say he was executed?" "Looking at what history says, plus the current date: tomorrow morning." Nick's face looked less than pleased, "Why would he get executed for standing up to a kid? If I am going to recruit him, it will have to be today."
"Nick! Can you see anything?" Coby said from down below. Nick almost forgot he was still there. "Yeah, he's here. Come on up." Nick's HUD changed to show Zoro's hart beat and blood pressure; that way they could tell if he was lying to them. Zoro lifted his head to look at the man standing before him. "Could you do me a favor and untie me?"
Nick cocked his head at his question. Zoro continued, "I've been tied up for 9 days and I'm exhausted." He was smiling, there was even blood running down his mouth. "I'll repay you. I could hunt down a fugitive and give you the rewards. I'm not lying. I'm a man of my word."
Nick's HUD blinked positive; he was telling the truth. Before Nick could say anything, a little girl climbed over the wall with a latter and jumped down. Coby climbed up after her using the latter.
The girl walked up to Zoro with two rice balls in her hands. "Do you want to die or something, kid? Get lost." She seamed to ignore that comment and raised her hands holding the rise balls to Zoro, "Uhm, brother, I made some rice balls for you! You haven't eaten for a long time right? This is the first time I made rice balls…"
"Jarvis?" Nick asked as he was caught off guard when the little girl called Zoro 'brother'. "There is no record that says he had any siblings. It is possible she is only calling him that as a way of showing kindness."
"I'm not hungry! Leave me alone." Right then two armed guards and what looked to be a little blonde boy walked into the courtyard. "RORONOA ZORO! You shouldn't pick on little kids or else I'll have to report to my father about it." The boy walked closer to Zoro, as he was walking, Jarvis scanned his face and compared it to historical records. A picture popped up with a name underneath, 'Helmepo'.
"I'm going to take a guess that he's Axe-hand Morgan's son." "Correct."
"If it isn't the Lieutenant's bastard son…" Zoro said under his breath. Helmepo heard that, "Bastard? Don't get cocky, my dad is a Marine Lieutenant!"
Helmepo then stole the food from the little girl and ate one. He spat it out and stomped on them. He then said a bunch of insults at her and quoted rules about not feeding prisoners. All of witch made Nick so mad that he cracked the part of the wall he was on when his fists clenched. Helmepo then ordered the Marines that were with him to throw the girl out of the courtyard.
When that happened, Nick jumped off the wall and caught her before impact. Coby jumped down and helped the girl up. Nick stood up on his own and then climbed up the later, to see Helmepo leave. As soon as he left, Nick jumped down and walked over to Zoro.
Zoro looked up to Nick, he looked pretty pissed off. "You're still here? Leave now, or else he'll tell his dad about it."
"Do I really look like someone who's afraid of a spoiled brat?" Zoro huffed a smile, "No, you don't look it."
"I'm putting together a pirate crew, and I'm only looking for the best in the world."
"Heh… so you just gave up on life and became a crook, is that it?"
"Well it's a dream that I have, I would expect someone like you to understand, Mr. 'Greatest Swordsman In The World'."
Zoro's smile vanished when Nick brought up that title. "Relax. You're not the only one who has dreams." Nick said.
"Don't tell me… you're going to set me free and force me to join you."
"Actually, I still haven't decided yet. Considering from what a friend of mine has told me, you're a dangerous man."
"Yeah, well, I don't need your help. I have another month until they let me go. I'm goanna do everything I can do to stay alive and fulfill my dreams!"
Nick's glasses beeped positive again, he smiled when he saw that. As he was about to walk away, Zoro asked him to hand him the flattened rice balls. After eating them, Zoro asked Nick to pass on the 'thank you' to the girl. Nick met up with Coby and the girl afterwards, she told them why he was tied up. Nick already knew the story, but he let her say it for Coby to understand.
After she finished her story, Nick still couldn't put together why he was executed, "I can understand him being arrested for standing up to that spoils brat, but how could that get him executed?"
Helmepo entered the bar that Nick and Coby were just at. They weren't far form the bar when they heard all the commotion of him harassing the people.
Helmepo was drinking a glass of wine, his feet were propped up on the table as if he owned the place. To Nick's surprise, Nami was in the bar as well. He walked up to her, "Hey, Nami. I thought you left?" She turned around to see who was talking to her, once she did, she looked pretty mad. "Yeah, well I had to restock my boat with food because you cleaned me out," her voice was evidence of how annoyed she was of him.
"Yeah. Sorry." He said with a slight laugh. She turned towards Helmepo, "Who is this guy?" "Just some twerp who needs an attitude adjustment. If you would excuse me." He said as he walked past her and towards Helmepo.
"I'm board out of my mind here, what should I do. Ooo, I could execute Zoro tomorrow; that'll be fun." Helmepo said with an arrogant laugh.
"THAT IS WHY HE WAS EXECUTED!?", Nick lost control and punched Helmepo so hard he flew out of the bar.
"YOU BASTARD!" Helmepo screamed as he tried to stand from the punch, he kept falling over himself.
"NICK! What are you doing? You can't hit him!" Coby said as he was trying to keep Nick back.
"Brats like you are the scum of the earth," Nick said burning red hot with rage.
"You actually hit me! I am Captain Morgan's son you know!" Helmepo said as he cried form the pain.
"Like I give a crap!"
"YOU WILL WHEN HE EXECUTES YOU FOR THIS!"
"WHY DON'T YOU BE A MAN AND DO IT YOURSELF?!" Nick screamed back, Coby still tried to keep him back.
"Why are you trying to get on the bad side of the Marines?" Coby asked while he was pushing him back. Coby let go when he felt that Nick wasn't pushing anymore.
"That settles it, Zoro is going to join my crew." Nick said as he stormed out of the room. Not before he tipped his hat off to Nami, she raised her glass in response to what he had done.
Nick returned to the courtyard, Zoro had his head down, as if he was dreaming. He woke up to see Nick standing in front of him. "You again? What do you want?"
"I'll free you, but only if you agree to join my crew."
"What, to become a crook? To hell with that."
"What's wrong with being a pirate?"
"They are the lowest form of scum. I intend to finish the month and fulfill my dream."
"Right, well, you see… I have already decided that you are going to join my crew."
"What? You can't do that!"
"Well I heard that you were the best swordsman around?"
"I AM! But that Helmepo took mine away."
"Then I'll get it back for you. But only if you agree to join."
"NOW YOU ARE REALLY PISSING ME OFF!"
Before Zoro could say another word, Nick stared to head towards one of the Marine buildings. "Hey, it's the other building." He says as he points his head to the building on the opposite side of the courtyard.
Nick turned around fast and zipped past Zoro, breaking through the gate like it wasn't even there. "Who is this guy?"
"Sir, if we are really going through with this, might I suggest we grab that Helmepo? He was the one who took them, maybe he knows where they are, that way we don't end up on a wild goose chase around the base." Jarvis suggested as Nick was running towards the building. "Sounds good to me."
Nick looked up to see that Helmepo was on the roof with his father. Nick turned his arm rubber and flung it up the building like a grappling hook. He flung himself up and crashed right into a statue the Marines were setting up; causing it to shatter.
Nick found Helmepo once the dust cleared; he grabbed him and ran down the stairs, with Helmepo over his shoulder. "Tell me where to find Zoro's swords and I'll let you go." Nick said as he was still running.
"OK! OK! I'll tell you, just put me down first." Nick did as he was told and dropped Helmepo. "Where are they?" He said as he pulled Helmepo up holding his collar, his face showed how angry he was at him.
"They are in my room, we just passed them." He said pointing at the door.
Nick then let Helmepo go and walked towards the door, a few Marines arrived to stop him; Nick knocked them out with a few punches.
Back at the courtyard, Coby was untying Zoro. The suitcase was right next to them. Coby knew if he had lost it, Nick probably would have killed him.
"You have to get out of here Zoro" Coby said as he was trying to untie the knot.
"That moron is going to kill you for what you're doing, kid."
"I can't stand watching the Marines behave like this anymore. A true Marine should be honorable, not a lap dog to some spoiled jerk." Coby almost sounded like he was about to cry.
"Look kid, I can't leave. I have ten days left—"
"Well not really. Helmepo said he was going to execute you tomorrow."
"What?" Zoro was caught off guard by that remark.
"Helmepo never intended to honor your agreement. He planned on killing you from the start. It pissed Nick off like you wouldn't believe. He punched Helmepo!"
"He did?" Zoro couldn't believe what he was hearing; a pirate stood up for him.
"At the moment, the Marines are set on catching him. Don't worry, I wont ask you to become a pirate for this. But I will ask you to help him. Someone like you can help him in more ways than just strength. At least, that's what I believe.
"End of the line!" Zoro and Coby looked to see Morgan and a firing squad pointing their guns at them. "For you crimes of treason, I have sentenced you both to death."
Nick broke down the door of Helmepo's room; he looked around and found the swords next to the window. "Wait, why are there three?" "Perhaps they are spares. The record only talks about one."
Nick grabbed all three; he then looked out to the window to see the firing squad pointing their guns at Zoro and Coby. "Aw, crap."
Coby had tears and snot running down his face. The Marines pointed their guns, readying to fire.
Nick backed up to get a running start, at the same time; Jarvis showed him what angle to jump to make it in time. Nick stats to run and breaks through the window like it wasn't even there.
He landed right in between his friends and the Marines in time to block the bullets. "NICK" Coby screamed at the sight of Nick taking the bullets for them. Turning his body into rubber, they flung off Nick's body without a scratch.
Nick lowered his head to where they could only see his mouth under his hat; he was smiling. "Nice try."
"What the hell? What is this guy?" Zoro was caught off guard to what he saw.
"My name is Shepard D. Nick, and I'm going to become the King of the Pirates." Nick said with a confident smile.
"King of the Pirates? You must be completely out of your mind."
"You know, your not exactly one to judge, Mr. 'Greatest Swordsman In The World.'" Zoro scowled when he brought that up again.
"Yeah, when he first told me, I thought he was crazy. But he is completely serious about it. He even plans to find the One Piece." Coby added on.
"Yeah, pretty much." Nick laughed. "Oh, here are your swords. Which ones are yours?" he asked as he held them out in front of Zoro.
"They all are mine. I use Santoryu, the three sword style." Zoro said.
"Here you go, given that Coby is here, I'm sure he told you about what the were going to do to you. Looks like you have a choice, a pretty easy one I must say; join me and live to fulfill your dream, or die here execution style." Nick said with a devious smile.
"What are you, the son of the Devil? It doesn't matter; if I stay here I'll die here. So lets do it." Zoro said with a devious smile of his own.
"Glad to see that you finally see reason." Nick then started pulling on the ropes.
Morgan looked pissed off by Nick's interruption. "Draw your swords and kill him!" The Marines did as he ordered and drew their swords and charged them.
"Damn, every time I pull they get titer." Nick said as he stopped pulling. Zoro saw the men charging them, "GIVE ME ONE OF MY SWORDS NOW!"
Nick did as what Zoro told him to do. In a blink of an eye, Zoro was cut loose, all three swords drawn, one in his mouth, and was holding all the blades of the Marines in a blocking pose.
"Woa. Nice move." Nick said at the sight of his new crewmember blocking the soldiers.
Zoro looked over his shoulder to the Marines he was blocking, "Make one move and you die." They started to cry to that threat.
"Today, I officially become a criminal, having fought the Marines directly. With no other choice, I become a pirate… that I promise. But I want you to know one thing; while I fight under you, the only thing I commit myself to is my ambition." Zoro said, still holding off the Marines.
"And what would that be?." Nick asked, he already knew what it was, he just wanted to hear it from Zoro. Nick's face changed; he seamed more calm and collected when Zoro said that last part.
"I intend to be The World's Greatest Swordsman. If somewhere along the line I decide to give that up, I want you accept responsible for it. After witch, you are to apologize." Zoro finished.
"I'm going to hold you to that. King of the Pirates deserves nothing less on his crew." Nick showed off with a face of confidence. "It is highly unlikely he will achieve his objective." "That's not something he needs to hear right now."
"Zoro… Duck!" Nick said as he swung is right leg, "IRON-STRETCH WIP!" he knocked all the Marines behind Zoro down. "Mind telling me what you are exactly?"
"I just someone who ate the 'Iron-Stretch' fruit." Nick said, he readjusted his glasses so that they were on his face correctly.
"What the hell is a 'Iron-Stretch' fruit?" Zoro asked.
Nick didn't answer, intead he turned his attention to the Marines behind Zoro, cowering from them. Morgan started to get extremely mad at his troops, he even went so far as to order them to kill themselves if they were cowards.
"What babies, this will be easy." Zoro said as he readied his swords. Nick ran past him and charged Morgan.
"KICK HIS ASS, NICK" Coby cheered him on.
Nick ran at Morgan with full force, he made his hand as hard as iron and tried to punch Morgan. To Nick's surprise, Morgan blocked the attack with his axe-hand; he made a small dent in the metal of the axe. "Iron isn't stronger than steel, damn it!"
"You stupid pirate. Do you even understand who you are fighting? I am Marine Captain 'Axe-Hand' Morgan!" Morgan said as he pulled his captain's jacket off.
"I'm Nick, and I don't care who you are." Nick said.
That comment made Morgan even angrier than he already was; he swung his axe at Nick multiple times, Nick managed to dodge every single one. Coby and Zoro were impressed as to how fast Nick could move. Finally, when Nick saw an opening, he punched Morgan, with his iron hand, in the face.
The Marines stood there in shock at the sight of their Captain getting hit by Nick. "YOU RUNT!" Morgan charged at him and swung, "NOW DIE!" Using Morgan's momentum, Nick grabbed the axe as he swung and threw him across the courtyard.
"You'll have to try harder than that." Nick said with a smile. "I do not think aggravating him is a good idea." Jarvis suggested. "The angrier he gets, the more rash he fights. Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it." Nick said under his breath.
Nick saw that Morgan wasn't getting up so he walked over to him. Morgan was still conscious, Nick grabbed him by the collar, "You disgrace your uniform." He punched Morgan. "You ruined my friend, Coby's, dream!" He punched again.
"BLUE-SHADE!" Came a cry form behind Nick.
"Sounds like you have a nickname already." Nick heard Jarvis say as he turned around to see Helmepo holding Coby at gunpoint. Jarvis scanned the gun; it was loaded.
"IF YOU VALUE YOUR LITTLE FRIEND, YOU WON'T MOVE A MUSCLE!" Helmepo screamed; he was giggling the gun at Coby's head.
Nick looked Coby's eyes, he was scared beyond belief; Nick gave Coby a smile that Coby knew meant, 'trust me'. "Nick, you don't have to worry about me. Even if I die, don't stop fighting!"
"That's all I needed to hear." Nick started to walk towards them slowly. "You hear that, blonde boy? Coby is ready to die for what he believes in. Are you?"
"DID YOU NOT HEAR ME? I STILL HAVE A HOSTAGE HERE!" Helmepo screamed as he pulled Coby closer and put the gun to his head.
As Nick was getting closer, Morgan got back up and charged at Nick with a swing of his axe. Nick through a punch at Helmepo, at the same time, Zoro slashed Morgan; Causing Morgan to stop his attack and fall down unconscious. Helmepo was sent flying at the wall behind them, leaving Coby unharmed.
"Nice move." Nick said to his new crewmember.
"Just doing my job, Captain." Zoro said with a smile through his sword in his mouth.
"I knew I picked he right guy." Nick smiled. He started walking to where Coby left the suitcase and picked it up. "If this is how you plan on recruiting the rest of the crew, then this is going to be quite the journey." Jarvis said. If Jarvis had a face, he'd be smiling right now.
The Marines all cheered to the fall of their harsh captain. Zoro fell, due to the adrenalin in his body wearing off. Nick handed Coby the suitcase and helped Zoro stand by putting his arm over his shoulder, "Come on, crewman. Lets get you patched up."
(The next day)
Thanks to the generosity of the little girl and her family, Nick, Zoro, and Coby had a place to spend the night. The local hospital patched up Zoro for free, as a thank you for taking down Morgan. When morning came, Nick started writing a letter, it was addressed to Vice-Admiral Garp.
The café had a celebration to the fall of Captain Morgan, Nick ate almost all the food, Zoro drank all the booze, and Coby tried to eat whatever he could before Nick ate it all. Nick also made sure that Zoro's wounds were all patched up before they started planning to leave.
"So, who else is on this crazy crew of yours besides me?" Zoro asked after drinking a pint of liquor.
"Your actually the first." Nick said while he was still eating.
Zoro spat out his liquor, "You can't be serious. You think just the two of us amounts to an entire pirate crew?"
"What? We are a couple of strong guy's." Nick said with a sort of innocent look on his face.
"Ok, fine. Do you at least have a ship?" Zoro asked.
"Well, not exactly." Nick pointed at Nami's boat at the dock. "I know the owner of that boat, we can by passage to whatever island she goes to next. From there we can buy a boat, I'm sure" Nick then pulled out a small bag of jewels that he took form Helmepo's room. "Maybe this will make her say yes."
"You have got to be kidding me." Zoro said as he looked out the window.
"Hey. The world wasn't made in one day. We will get our own ship eventually, just not now." Nick tried to make an innocent face again.
Zoro started to laugh, "You are a crazy guy."
"Says the guy who wants to be the Greatest Swordsman in the World." Nick said with a smile.
"Something tells me Nick wasn't born with the part of the brain the plans out all the details." Coby said as he was eating.
"You do know what that would take right? To be the Greatest Swordsman?" Nick asked Zoro after taking a bite out of a pice of meat. "You would have to face-off against..." Jarvis pulled up the current greatest on Nick's HUD, "Hawkeye Mihawk."
Zoro drank another pint of liquor, "You know him?"
Without asking, Jarvis already pulled up some of the legends on Mihawk, "I've heard stories of him cutting ships to pieces and cutting through objects that most people would think is uncuttable."
"Yeah, that's what I've heard too." Zoro looked confident, "And I'll beat him."
"I believe that you will." Nick said after a big belch. "And soon we'll have more crewmembers."
"When do you plan on sailing out to the Grand Line." The little girl asked Nick.
"Not yet, we still need a few more crew members, and a big enough ship to survive such a treacherous place." Nick said as he finished eating.
"On that we can agree on." Zoro said.
"You too should be careful. I hear all kinds of stories form that place." Coby said as he drank his juice.
"What does it matter to you? You're not coming with us, are you?" Zoro asked.
"No, but I still worry. Even though I only knew Nick for a few days, I still consider him a friend." Coby said, he sounded shy as he said that last part.
"Same to you Coby. We may separate, but we still can be friends." Nick said as he tipped his hat to Coby.
"Thanks to you two, I plan to fulfill my dream and become a Marine." Coby said with confidence.
"Are you sure that's a good idea? Marine intelligence will find out you worked for Albida, cabin boy or not; they may not let you in." Zoro said.
"Oh, I never thought about that." Coby started to lower his head.
"I'll take care of that. A high ranking Marne owes me a favor." Nick said.
"Really?" Coby wash shocked/excited to here Nick say that.
Marines walked into the café, one of them walked to Nick. "We heard a rumor that you are a pirate, is that ture."
Nick stood up and looked to the Marines. "That is correct," there was no fear or doubt in his voice; Coby was shocked.
"We appreciate all that you have done for our town by taking down that tyrant. However, we as Marines cannot sit idly by and let you walk around this town free. But out of respect for what you did for us, we will not report you to Head Quarters." The marine said.
The crowd behind him started to get angry for the way the Marines were treating Nick and Zoro. Nick turned to the table, dropped twenty berries and turned to Zoro. "I'd say its time to go." He then picked up the suitcase and made his way to the door.
"Aye." Zoro agreed as he stood up.
Nick turned to the girl's mother, "Keep the change."
Coby stayed at the bar, one of the Marines noticed him. "Aren't you with them?"
"Uh…" Coby was flustered; he didn't know what to say.
"Who, him?" Nick turned around to face the Marine who asked. "Nope, that guy isn't pirate material; wouldn't last a day as a pirate. He said something about being a Marine instead."
As the Marine faced him to say something, Nick held out a folded letter. "Do me a favor and mail this to Vice-Admiral Garp. Oh and send this boy and that little twerp Helmepo with it too."
"Why should I send them with it?" the Marine asked.
"Because after he reads it, he'll want to see them." Nick said with a cold look on his face. He then turned to Coby, "You can only go up form here, Coby. The rest is up to you." He exited the café and made his way to the dock behind Zoro.
(What the note said:
Grandpa,
It's Nick. I made it so far. Got into my first fights, won both of them. Listen, I am sending you two boys. Their names are Coby and Helmepo. Coby is a good kid, has a dream as strong as mine. Helmepo is a spoiled kid who needs to learn the discipline of being a Marine instead of being a high-ranking official's spoiled son. I think you should put them through the 20-years training; they need it as much as I did.
Nick.
P.S. I have been keeping under the radar, don't worry.)
When they reached the dock, Nami was already there loading it up. "Hey Nami, you need a hand?"
"What do you want?" She sounded irritated again.
Nick took a deep breath and sighed, "I need a ride again, we'll go wherever you're going. Hopefully from there we can buy our own ship."
"Why should I help you again? And where's your little friend? And who's this guy?" She pointed to Zoro.
"Coby isn't with me, he's a Marine. This 'guy' is my newest crewmember." Nick said as he set his suitcase in the boat.
"You still haven't told me why I should help you." She said.
Nick pulled out the bag of jewels, he dropped two jewels in his hand and handed them to her, "Those are for the trip earlier. You'll get two more for taking us to the next island"
She looked at the jewels, then to Nick, "Get your stuff onboard already."
Zoro didn't waste any time and sat down on the boat and fell asleep. Nick helped Nami cast the boat off the dock.
To Nick's surprise, all the Marines, townspeople and Coby saw them off. Coby and the Marines all saluted as they left. Nick could vaguely hear Coby when he said, "NICK! THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUR HELP! I WISH YOU LUCK ON YOUR DREAM!"
Nick waved them of and shouted back, "AND I WISH YOU LUCK ON YOURS!"
Following Nami's instructions, they sailed off to the next island.
TO BE CONTINUED
On the next "Marvels of One Piece", "Affects of Change! Pirate Clowns!" I'M GONNA BE KING OF THE PIRATES!
AN: And here is the other half to that chapter.
Hope you guys like it.
I'll update soon.
R&R