The crew continues their journey leaving Dawn Island and as Rouge said to them they start heading towards Shells Town.
As always Luffy was at the helm steering the ship with Hancock and Kikyo at his side while Mai played with Chopper and Nea, while they continue to their route Mai stands up and walk to the railing drawing the attention of the crew.
Luffy leaves the helm to Kikyo and goes to Mai to see what draw her attention.
"Niisan, we must go there." Mai suggest pointing to a direction.
Luffy looks at the direction that his sister pointing and nod his head.
"Aye, I feel it too." Luffy said.
"Kikyo, steer the ship towards this direction. Girls, Chopper prepare for fight." Luffy declare as all of them nod their heads and take positions.
After some minutes, they reach the point who Mai was pointing to see a pirate ship to leave a cruise ship just after they finish their attack and Luffy said Kikyo to take them towards the pirate ship.
Before Luffy can say anything else the pirate ship start to attack their ship with their canons.
"Daisy, Sweet pea, Aphelandra, Ran, Pansy target their helm. Do not sink it, just immobilize it!" Luffy order them as each of them take their places at the canons.
The five of them succeeded to disable the steering system of the enemy ship at the same time as Kikyo steer their ship towards the enemy.
"Mai, Hancock with me. The rest of you go to the cruise ship to see if anyone needs any medical care." Luffy suggests as he with his sister, Hancock, Salome and Nea start to board the enemy ship.
As they board the ship they find the enemies crew to wait them into fighting stances.
Luffy see that and smirk as both Hancock and Mai look at him.
"Now tell me, who of you was stupid enough to attack my ship?" Luffy asked with serious voice and narrow gaze that sent shivers down the enemy's crew.
No one dared to speak as all of them start to think that maybe…perhaps… mustn't attack this man and his crew, they start to sweat drop now clearly fearing for their lives.
…Well almost all of them except from a tall obese woman with long wavy black hair and freckles on her cheeks who holds an iron mace that just exited the cabin.
"Who are you brats to dare attack my ship?" She asked irritated and clearly clueless to who is dealing with.
"E…who is this ugly hag?" Mai asks making the crew to go pale, Luffy to sweat drop but for different reason and Hancock to laugh.
"COBYYYYYYYY" The woman shout and a small chubby boy with pink hair and round-frame glasses appear.
"Ye…yes Alvida-sama." The small boy utter.
"Coby, who is the most beautiful woman in the seas?" Alvida asked making Hancock's eyes to twitch and Luffy to start to sweat drop as he knew what is coming.
True to his feelings Mai turn her head towards Hancock with stars in her eyes.
"Wow oneesan is known for her beauty even in this sea!" Mai exclaim with her fists in the air making Hancock to blush and giggle, Luffy to shake his head and Alvida to growl.
"COBYYY. WHO IS THE MOST BEAYTIFUL WOMAN IN THE SEAS?!" Alvida asked again making the poor boy to cower in fear who didn't go unnoticed by either Mai or Luffy.
"Hey coward, what are you doing with this ugly hag? Are you a pirate?" Mai asked making Luffy to scowl her for her manners.
"I…I was intended to board on a ship for a fishing trip… but I board by mistake to Alvida's-sama ship instead." Coby explained sad as Alvida and Mai start to laugh but for entirely different reasons.
"Why don't you leave then?" Luffy asked intrigued.
"That's…That's impossible. Alvida-sama will kill me!" Coby reply maniacally as he shake his head frantically.
Both Luffy and Mai sigh.
"So you're both coward and stupid then?!" Mai express as Coby lower his head ready to cry.
"Nininini, I like you. Ok let's free you Coby!" Mai exclaim making Coby to look at her with widen eyes.
"Hey! Ugly hag, free Coby or I'll sent you fly." Mai said to Alvida making her mad and to growl.
"DIE YOU BRA…" Alvida said but before she can finish her sentence Mai kick her in her guts sending Alvida flying.
As she turns she scratch her back of her head and look at his brother.
"Sorry niisan, but she started to give me on my nerves with all that shouting." Mai convey somewhat embarrassing as Luffy shook his head.
"WHAT THE HELL? WHY ARE YOU APOLOGIZING TO HIM?!" The crew shout clearly frustrated.
Mai look at them making all of them to cringle.
"Well Luffy-niisan has said to me that is rude to interrupt someone when she/he speaks." Mai stated nonchalantly making all of them to sweat drop.
"What's the matter with that girl?!" All of them start to thought.
"Ok Coby, if you want you can come with us. We're heading towards Shell Town." Luffy suggest as Coby nod his head happily that he's finally free.
As they start walk towards the railing Luffy's crew start to appear with Akiko and the five of them start to board the ship.
Coby look at the ship and at the crew with awe.
"Did you find any problems on the cruise ship?" Luffy asked them.
"Nah, no problem Luffy. There was some injured people but Chopper treat them." Marguerite explained making Luffy to nods his head and Chopper to dance happily from the praise.
"Praising me didn't make me happy you bastard." Chopper said making everybody laugh except from Coby who look at him with widen eyes and start to freak out.
"HOW CAN IT TALK?!" Coby asked clearly frustrated while Mai clobber him on the head and Chopper starts to yell at him.
Luffy smiles at this and walks towards Coby trying to calm the poor boy.
"First: It's not it…It's he. Second: His name is Chopper and Third: He is a reindeer who has eat a devil fruit, he's also our doctor." Luffy explain to Coby who look at him with widen eyes.
"Luffy-san, you're pirates right?" Coby asked after some minutes.
"Yes, Coby." Luffy replies to him.
"What is your dream?" Coby asked again.
"Well Coby, I'm in search of someone. My dream is to become one of the Yonko." Luffy said to him as Coby looks at him with questioning eyes making Luffy to sigh.
"Yonko is the four emperors of the seas Coby, the only person who have more power that those people in the sea is the Pirate King." Luffy explain to him making the small boy look at him with awe.
"Do…do you believe that…that if I work hard that I can do it Luffy-san?" Coby asked making Luffy rise one eyebrow.
"What is your dream, Coby?" Mai asked him.
"My dream…my dream is to become a marine!" Coby stated somewhat embarrassment.
Luffy and the crew smile at that.
"How will know? Everything is possible as long as you follow your heart and your dreams." Hancock said to him with a smile on her face making Coby gasp.
Time skip: Two hours later
Luffy and the crew reach the port and they start to landing.
They walk through the town and stop in front of a bar and decide to enter to have some snacks and maybe drink something as the temperature is very hot today.
As they enter the bar the people look at them somewhat careful but the most of them the men specifically start to drool all over the place when they notice Hancock and the rest of the girls making most of them disgusted and one of the crew to look at them with narrow gaze that freeze them at the spot and dropping the temperature in the room many levels.
Luffy with the rest of them sits at the bar stance ordering a vintage wine and something to eat.
"Say Coby, what do you know about this town?" Luffy asked.
"Well Luffy-san, this town has a marine base who is running by Captain Morgan, also I heard some days earlier that he cough the pirate hunter Zoro." Coby mention as Luffy nods his head.
"Coby, who is this Zoro guy?" Mai asked him.
Luffy observes that the people around nearly jumps when the names of either Zoro or Morgan mentioned, he can clearly understand why this happening with the pirate hunter…but to see people react the same if not worse at the name of a marine doesn't like it at all.
"Zoro is a famous pirate hunter in this sea, there are rumors that is a demon inside of a man body. He is very dangerous." Coby explain but Luffy and the others just smirk.
"Niisan." Mai said as Luffy look at her and nods her to continue.
"Let's go see this Zoro in person." Mai suggests as Luffy shrug.
"Luffy, do you want any help?" Rindo asks.
"Nah, it's ok Rindo. We'll be back soon." Luffy said as she nods her head.
Luffy with Mai, Coby and Nea start to exit the bar as Hancock stand up and decide to follow them also.
As they reach the marine base they start to climb a wall with the help of Salome and Nea to see better inside the base. What they see makes Luffy, Mai and Hancock angry.
At the center of the vase two people are tied to a posts, but before they can do anything they see a small girl to climb the gate and to walk towards the two people.
"Luffy-san, Mai-san, Hancock-san please help her she'll be killed." Coby begs them worried for the little girl's safety.
"Oniisan…Oneesan I had make this for you because you must be hungry." The little girl said as she reveals
"Beat it kid, do you have death wish or something?!" The man who was tied to the post asked the little girl.
"Shut up you brute." The girl who is beside him also tied exclaim making the man's eyes twitch from annoyance.
"But he's right you know, it isn't safe for you to be here. If someone find you then you'll be in trouble." The young woman continue to say to the little girl.
Before anyone of them can say anything else a light-blond skinny arrogant punk with two soldiers appear.
"Tsk…tsk…tsk. How many times have I said you Zoro to not pick on little kids?" The blonde asked.
"And you, what are you doing here? Didn't I said that if I see you again trying to feed him I'll have you execute?!" The punk continue to say as he turn his gaze to the little girl earning a growl for both Zoro and the young woman as also from Luffy, Mai and Hancock.
"You two take the brat…" The punk started to say but before he could finish his sentence a low-powered wave of Haoshoku make him unconscious startling the two prisoners as also the two guards.
"Coby stay here!" Luffy said to him as he nods his head while Luffy with Mai, Hancock, Salome and Nea jump the wall and land inside the base.
"Wh…who are you?!" The guards asked somewhat threatening.
"Silence.! Take that punk out of my sight…Now!" Luffy told them without leaving any room for an argument just as both the guards gulp and nods their heads frantically taking with them the boy.
Zoro, the young woman and the little girl look at the new people with awe.
Luffy starts to walk towards the little girl and kneel on one knee in front of her.
"Are you alright sweet heart? They didn't heart you right?!" Luffy asked the little girl with a gentle tone as she shook his head negatively.
"Good!" Luffy said.
"Outside is a boy with pink hair named Coby, he'll escort you home." Mai said to the girl.
"I made this for Oniisan and Oneesan, please give it to them." The little girl said as Mai nods her head.
The little girl starts to walk away as the three of them start to look at the two prisoners.
The man is a muscular with lightly tanned skin and green hair? While the young woman has dark brown eyes, dark blue that reach her shoulder and wears rectangular red frame glasses.
"Thank you for saved the little girl from that little-punk." The young woman said to them as Luffy smiled.
He took the box and start walking towards them to feed them as the little girl asked.
"You'll get in trouble for what you did earlier." The man said making Luffy, Mai and Hancock to smirk.
"This punk is nothing more than an ant. After all East Blue Is the weakest sea from all.!" Hancock declares making the two of them to look at her with questioning eyes.
"Why are you arrested and what are your dreams?" Mai and Luffy asked.
"E? Why would I tell you? It's none your business anyway." Zoro said making the young woman to frown.
"Shut up you brute.! Gosh…you're unbearable from times to times." The young woman exclaimed clearly annoyed.
"Sorry for this brute, my name is Tashigi by the way." The young woman said earning a growl form the Zoro.
"Thank you for feeding, Zoro kill the pet of Helmeppo when it got loose and start attacking the local bar, because of this the little punk blackmail him that if he didn't give himself in then he'll execute the bar owners. I state that this wasn't fair and because of that he also arrest me…and my dream is to become one of the best swordswoman in the world!" The young woman said/reveal somewhat embarrassed clearly waiting for someone to laugh at her, what she didn't expect is the people in front of her to look at her with a satisfying smile.
Mai looks at her brother with a mischievous smile that makes Tashigi and Zoro to sweat drop a little.
"So what do you say niisan?" Mai asked grinning from ear to ear.
"I like them and as sure as hell I won't let a little brat execute them because he's spoiled." Luffy conveys making the two of them to look at him with widening eyes.
"You said that you're a swordswoman, where is your sword?" Luffy asked.
"That little shit had taken our swords as trophies. I use three of them but I mostly care about my white sword." Zoro replied as Luffy nods his head.
Before anything else can say Luffy with Mai slash the ropes that Zoro and Tashigi where tied making both of them blink as they didn't even see them move.
"Wha…What is this? When did you even move?!" Both of them asked dumbfounded and with awe.
"I can leave you tied there immobilize while I go to take your swords, Can I?!" Luffy asked them smirking.
"Mai, Hancock stay here and protect them. I'll go to take their swords." Luffy stated as both of them nods their heads.
"Is he serious?" Zoro asked just as Luffy start to walk towards the marine base.
Both Mai and Hancock giggle.
"Of course, niisan is very strong!" Mai stated.
"Also he IS the best swordsman in the world and as I said before this IS the weakest sea of all.!" Hancock added making both Zoro and Tashigi to look at her with questioning eyes.
"You said this again before, so I assume that you're not from here?" Tashigi estimated/asked making both Hancock and Mai to nods their heads.
"We're from Amazon Lily, an island inside the Calm Belt at the Grand Line." Hancock revealed making them look at them with widen eyes and to gasp.
Meanwhile: Inside the Marine Base
Luffy starts to run around the base trying to find Tashigi's and Zoro's swords.
"Halt there!" a marine shout but Luffy continues his search without giving a damn about him.
In the Captains office
Helmeppo knocks the door waiting for his father to answer.
"Come in!" Someone answer from inside the room.
Helmeppo opens the door and enters the room running towards his father.
"Father someone freed the two prisoners." He said as the marine captain and his father stand up and start to yell that the he's surrounding by traitors.
Both of them bold out of the room and start heading outside with a unit of marines.
Outside: With Mai and the others
"They coming, prepare to fight!" Mai and Hancock said at the same time giggling and leaving the other two to sweat drop and with questioning eyes.
Inside the base: With Luffy
After searching almost any room Luffy sees a door with the name of the punk on it and he enters the room, what he see make him to wonder if the punk is actual a girl or a boy with all the pink in the walls and the hearts.
He decide to shrug it as he start to search the room for the swords and he finally see them in a corner, he take it but as he look from the window he sees that a marine unit is there pointing their gun towards Mai, Hancock, Tashigi and Zoro.
So he jumps from the window unsheathing his sword at the same time.
"FIRE!" the marine captain ordered.
"I can't die here…Not this and not before I fulfill my oath….DAMNIT!" Zoro though as he looks at the scene in front of him panicked.
"This is not Justice…If this is how the Marines work then I don't won't to have anything with them…I can't die yet!" Tashigi though clearly pissed from this corrupt marines.
"UH-OH…These idiots just made the biggest mistake in the world. Nobody shoots Mai and leave to tell the tale from Luffy!" Hancock though with a smile as she feels Luffy's arrival and his dark mood.
Before anyone can even blink the bullets cut in half and Luffy land in front of them leaving the marines and Zoro with Tashigi dumbfounded and with their jaws on the floor.
"Your swords." Luffy said giving the swords back to Tashigi and Zoro but without his gaze to leave the marines.
"Now, who was stupid enough to attack my baby sister, Hancock and my friends?!" Luffy asked with a low and dangerous voice that make all of the pale and sent shivers to everyone's spines.
"Captain we can't kill him he's monster." A soldier shout frantically making Morgan even more furious.
"I'm surrounding by cowards and traitors. All of you who are afraid I command you to shoot yourself!" Morgan shout as the marines look at him with widen eyes ready to do what he said.
Before anyone can say or do anything Mai sent a low-powered Haoshoku making the most of them to lose their conscious and to fell on the floor.
"What is that?" Zoro asked but Luffy nods him that they'll talk later.
"That brat must have a devil fruit…I see, well it's nothing for someone grate as me!" Morgan starts to though as arrogant as ever.
"Niisan can I play with him?" Mai asked Luffy smiling as the other two look at the girl like she's crazy.
"Sure Mai, he's all yours!" Luffy tells he smiling.
Mai starts to walk towards Morgan without a care in the world.
"Wait Luffy-san, I know that either of are from here and I can see that the three of you are powerful…But he's a Marine Captain you know!" Tashigi protested somewhat worry about Mai.
Luffy just smiles at her and nods her to see the show.
"Don't get cocky little girl, someone like you can never defeat me even if you have a devil fruit." Morgan exclaim cockily as ever making Luffy to shake his head. Really the stupidity must have limits some time.
Mai just titled her head on the side with questioning eyes.
"Hey Ossan, how do you know that I have a devil fruit if I haven't even used it? Are you a psychic?!" Mai asked him with stars in her eyes making everybody sweat drop except from Hancock who find this amusement.
"DIE YOU PEST!" Morgan yell rising his ax to strike Mai only for her to avoid it with ease.
He starts to swing it left and right furiously for some minutes without even to scratch her once making a fool of himself, of course, all this time.
"I'm bored Ossan" Mai exclaim frowning.
"Windshift" Mai murmured as she launches a wave with her sword in towards Morgan slashing him in the torso and appearing behind him instantly making both Zoro and Tashigi to gasp.
"It's over…?"Captain Morgan defeated..?" CAPTAIN MORGAN DEFEATED! WE' RE FINALLY FREE!" The remaining soldiers start to shout happily.
"What are you people?" Both Zoro and Tashigi asked dumbfounded making the three of them to smile.
"Tsk, Morgan was nothing." Hancock said nonchalantly making all of them to nod their head.
Before anything else can said Zoro and Tashigi fall on the ground clearly exhausted and hungry, Luffy and Nea take both of them and start heading towards the bar.
After some minutes they reach the bar and order food for both of them as Coby asked them what happen clearly worried about them, Luffy start to explain for some minutes who they defeated the Marine captain as the people inside the bar start to party from the news they just hear.
"Onee-chan and Onii-chan are very strong!" the little girl name Rika said smiling as Luffy pat her in the head also smiling.
"Luffy I own you, Mai and Hancock my life and my honor as a swordsman can't allow me to pass without to pay you back. So, tell me what can I do to repay you?" Zoro asked as he put down his glass of shake.
Luffy looks at him and smile.
"What is your dream Zoro?" Luffy asked him as something tells him that this man in front of him isn't an ordinary man.
"My dream is to become the best swordsman in the world!" Zoro replies to him with passion and fire in his eyes.
Luffy smiles warmly at this but before he can reply Mai look at Zoro with a raised eyebrow.
"So, you want to surpass and take the title of my niisan?" Mai asked confused but always smiling as Zoro and the rest of the people there look at her with somewhat disbelief making Luffy and his crew who knows better to smile at this.
"What do you mean by that Mai-san?" Tashigi asked intriguing.
"This is the second time that they said that Luffy is the best swordsman in the world…I know for a fact that the man who holds the title is named Hawkeye Mihawk. What is happening here…Yes the boy is strong and I can say that he's better swordsman than me…But this boy really take the title from this man when I was in there?!" Zoro start to though while both Luffy and Hancock look at him smiling.
"Well this is an excellent dream Zoro and I believe that one day you'll succeed it. I don't want anything from you, I free you and Tashigi because that was the right thing to do." Luffy said making Zoro to smirk and Tashigi to smile and bow her head.
"If both of you want to become better and stronger then join my crew! Either way whatever decide to do we're cool!" Luffy continue to say as both Tashigi and Zoro nod their heads.
As they continue to eat and drink the door of the bar opens to reveal a marine officer.
"Excuse me, I am Commander Ripper. Are you a pirates?" He asked with slightly worried voice.
"Yes, that we're." Luffy reply.
The commander sigh at this answer as he didn't like at all what he must say next.
"I know that you freed and saved us from Captain Morgan and for that you have our thanks…" Ripper start to say as Luffy raise a hand to stop him.
"You don't have to continue, we must leave." Luffy continue what the man wanted to say as he solemnly nods his head while the people there start to protest.
"Unfortunately we must ask you to leave, as thank you we don't report what happen here today." The commander continue to say as Luffy nods to the others to follow him.
"Oh yes, before I forgot this. This boy there wants to become a marine. Call admiral Dragon and tell him that Mai said to take him and train him personally." Mai said to the commander leaving him with widen eyes.
"Ho…How do you know admiral Monkey. D. Dragon?" The commander asked disbelieving how a pirate have relationships with an admiral.
Mai just tilted her head on the side with questioning eyes.
"Are you stupid or something? How I can't know my own father?!" Mai asked/stated leaving all of them in there except from Luffy and his crew dumpfounded.
"YOU ARE THE KIDS OF THE ADMIRAL MONKEY. D. DRAGON?!" All of them shout with widen eyes as Mai and the rest just shrug it.
"Whatever, it's time to go." Luffy said nonchalantly as the crew with Zoro and Tashigi exited the bar.
As they reach the port Zoro and Tashigi start to look with awe Akiko while Luffy look at both of them.
"So Zoro…Tashigi what did you decide?" Luffy asked them smiling.
"I'll follow you Luffy-san, Eh I mean captain!" Tashigi said but Luffy raise his hand to stop her.
"Tashigi, my name is Luffy and that you'll call me! I hate formalities." Luffy said to her making Tashigi to wonder what king of pirate captain hates to call him captain.
"Alright, I'll follow you Luffy. But if you do something to make me abandon my dream you'll answer to me personally!" Zoro said as Luffy smirk satisfied.
"All right then welcome aboard.!" Luffy and Mai exclaimed both happily.
As they start to sail away Coby with the marines and few town people appear at the docks.
"LUFFY-SAN, MAI-SAN, HANCOCK-SAN…ALL OF YOU. I'LL NEVER FORGET WHAT YOU DID FOR ME!" Coby shout with tears in his eyes.
"BECOME STRONGER COBY!WHEN WE MEET AGAIN WE'LL FIGHT TO THE TOP!" Mai exclaimed happily as all of them smile at this scene.
"Boy you have some very good friends." Commander Riper said to him.
A/N: That's it guys, this chapter is officially over.
I hope to like it.
Generally I like Tashigi as a person and as a character so I wanted to add them to the crew as I strongly believe that Tashigi's character allows her to be both Marine and Pirate. She's not a corrupt marine and she could many times in the past to catch the straw-hat pirates or even kill them (e.g Alabasta when all of them where weakened from the fights but she didn't do it.) I believe also that as a pirate can be good as she have inside her strong sense of justice so I think why not?
Next episode we'll meet Nami.
All right guys, that's all for now.
As always,
Take Care and Have Fun.!