Three guards surrounded the fallen Kitaro. They were unsure of what had taken place there. The walls in the corridor were crumbling and there was a large hole in the ceiling as well.

"Kitaro-senpai?" The three shook him.

"He needs medical attention!" one of them called.

"I'll get help!" The third of the group one got up and turned, only to be stopped. "K-King Ryuu?" the guard stuttered.

"What happened here?" Ryuu demanded.

"We.. we're not sure. But Kitaro-senpai needs medical attention!" one guard standing near Kitaro said. Ryuu nodded.

"Bring him to the infirmary," he said. The guards nodded, hoisting up Kitaro and carrying him off down the hall. Ryuu looked around. Things were charred and burned. He sighed at the bricks that were falling from the open ceiling and the cracks in the wall. He opened the door to Luffy's room. Her room was safe - no cracks, no holes. He went across the hall, opening Ace's room's door. The man was fast asleep on the large bed in his undamaged room. Ryuu closed the door and started down the hall to the infirmary.

Luffy tapped her foot impatiently.

"Um... is something wrong? Luffy-sama?" Kiero asked.

"Come on, Kiero!" Luffy jumped up.

"What?"

"Let's go! We need to see what happened!" Luffy said, tugging at the door. Kiero ran up and shook his head.

"No! No! Luffy-sama! Please!" he pleaded. With one swift and strong yank, Luffy pulled the door off its hinges. Kiero just stood there, speechless.

"Come on!" Luffy grabbed Kiero's hand and tugged him along. They raced down the hall and Luffy burst through the first door she saw.

"Luffy-sama! Wait, this is the -" As they rampaged in, Kiero saw all eyes were on them. Ryuu, the nurse, the doctor, and three guards were all staring at them. "The... infirmary..." he breathed.

Luffy looked at the body that was lying unmoving on the hospital bed.

"Who's that?" Luffy asked.

"It's, uh," the doctor stuttered, having never seen the Queen in person.

"It's Kitaro, Luffy-chan," Ryuu said. Luffy gasped.

"What happened? Is he alright?" Luffy asked, sitting at Kitaro's bedside.

"He'll live. But..." Ryuu trailed off. Luffy cocked her head to the side.

"But?" she asked.

"But he'll be out of commission for a few months," the doctor said.

Later, Luffy and Ryuu sat in the throne room. Ryuu turned to Luffy.

"Luffy-chan... we really need to get you a new guard," he tried.

"No," Luffy said for the fiftieth time. "I don't wanna sit through boring tryouts." She groaned, throwing her legs over one arm rest of the throne and leaning her back on the other. Ryuu sighed.

"But Kiero can't do the job alone," Ryuu said.

"No, no, no." Luffy shook her head.

"What if you get to fight them?" he asked hopefully. Luffy's face visibly lit up. Ryuu smiled. "Yeah, Luffy-chan, that way you can decide more thoroughly," he said. Luffy smiled.

"Yes, yes, yes! I'll do it!" Luffy jumped up on her throne.

"Great! Wait, Luffy-chan! Be careful!" Ryuu frantically waved his hands while Luffy spun and jumped on the throne.

"I'm so excited!" Luffy cheered.

Ace woke up in his bed. He yawned and walked out of his room, banging into a ladder. He groaned.

"Ow..." He yawned.

"Oh! Ace-sama! So sorry!" A guard moved the ladder and let Ace pass.

"What's going on out here?" Ace asked.

"Roof construction."

"Where's Luffy?"

"She preparing for the tryouts."

"Tryouts?"

"Yes. Kitaro is out for a long while so the King's appointing a new guard."

"What are these... tryouts?"

"Well, Luffy-sama's going head-to-head with each worthy guard so she can choose herself."

"Head-to-head?"

"It was the only was she would agree," the guard sighed. Ace nodded. He started off towards the dungeon. It was nice that no one questioned why he went down there every day. He wanted to see Luffy, but this could help them all escape.

Cheshire paced the cage, impatiently waiting for Ace.

"That explosion could have been good or bad," Zoro muttered.

"True. Luffy-chan could be in trouble." Sanji blew out a puff of smoke.

"Not that, she can handle herself. I'm saying something could have went wrong," Zoro said, watching Cheshire's ears perk up.

"Someone's coming!" he said, looking through the bars.

"Who?" Sanji asked.

"Ace?" Cheshire called.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be right there," came a yawn. Ace walked in and sat in front of the cell. "Luffy needs a new guard," he smirked.

"Nice work." Sanji nodded. Zoro grinned.

"And, knowing Luffy, she'll go along with it without needing to know what's going on," Zoro said. Ace stood.

"Yeah, and I'll have to stop visiting soon. People are starting to notice," he said, waving as he left. The three in the cell nodded as the fire-user climbed the stairs and left the dungeon.

Ace opened the door to a large field.

"Ace. Welcome," Ryuu said. Ace looked over to see the King sitting in a chair at the far side of the field. In the center was Luffy, sitting with an anticipating grin on her face.

"What's going on?" Ace asked, sitting in the grass, ignoring that Ryuu offered him a chair. Ryuu looked back at the field.

"Luffy insisted she be the one to fight the guards..." Ryuu sighed. Ace nodded, looking back to Luffy, who was now literally bouncing with excitement.

Luffy grinned when the first person who was trying out came up. He was huge, so much taller than her. She grinned, punching her cupped hand with a fist.

"Bring it!" she shouted. The guard came at her. She gracefully jumped and dodged. "Don't hesitate!" she yelled when the man swung his sword. She ended up swinging her leg low and knocking him off balance, pinning him to the ground. "I win!" She smiled. Then she let the man up. "Next!" she yelled to Ryuu, who sent out the next guard. It was the same. As was the next. None of the men stood a chance against Luffy. Luffy kicked the ground and came over to where Ryuu was sitting next to Ace, who was sleeping.

"Something wrong?" Ryuu asked.

"This. Is. Boring!" Luffy crossed her arms. "None of them are strong enough." She glared back at where the men were groaning and getting medical attention.

"I see..." Ryuu stood. "Then the try outs are over... I'll have to figure something out." he said. Luffy sighed.

It was late. Luffy lay in her over-sized bed, missing her hammock that rocked in the gentle waves of the ocean. She rolled to the side and looked to where Zoro's swords rested against the wall.

"What did Zoro say?" Luffy muttered, trying to remember her first mate's words.

Flashback

It was back when they met, back when they were fighting Morgan. Luffy had punched out Helemeppo and saved Coby when Morgan brought his axe down on her.

"Luffy! Look out!" Coby yelled. Luffy smiled and stood straight. She felt a back press to hers and she turned her head to look back.

"Nice!" She smirked at the back of the green-haired head. "Zoro!" Zoro turned to look at her.

"It's my job as a first mate to make sure you're safe," he said, and then he added, "Captain." Luffy smiled.

"Yeah!"

Flashback End

Luffy rolled to her back and smiled at the ceiling.

"Zoro!" she exclaimed into the dark room.

The next day, Luffy was up early. She ran down the hall in her pajamas – a long black shirt and pants.

"Ryuu!" she yelled, sliding into the dining hall.

"Luffy-chan? You're up unusually early..." He scooped some food into his mouth. Luffy nodded and sat opposite her "husband."

"Zoro!" she said.

"Zoro?" Ryuu asked

"I want Zoro!" Luffy nodded.

"For what?" Ryuu sat back.

"My guard, of course!" Luffy leaned forward.

"The green-haired prisoner?" Ryuu raised an eyebrow and leaned forward as well.

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"Because he's my first mate!"

"I'm sure I can find you a suitable guard without resorting to prisoners." Ryuu let his eye close and continued his meal.

"I won't accept them!" Luffy yelled, causing Ryuu's eyes to snap open. He didn't speak, so Luffy continued. "I won't like it! Not at all!" Luffy crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. Ryuu put his fork down and sighed.

"I..." He let out a breath. "I suppose we can arrange that, but only if he'll behave," Ryuu said to Luffy.

"He will!" Luffy nodded happily, "Thanks, Ryuu!" Luffy threw herself across the table and gave Ryuu a quick hug before letting go and running out the dining hall to her room so she could get dressed. Ryuu frowned at the hug.

"Could have lasted a bit longer, considering what I just agreed to," he muttered, eating more food.

Kiero walked hesitantly down the stairs to the dungeon. He was carrying a bundle of clothes for the guards. He stood in front of the cell of the three men, who weren't paying attention to him at the moment.

"Um," he said a bit loudly. All eyes were on him. "Z-Zoro! I am here on behalf of the... the King and Queen!" he recited.

"And?" Zoro stood.

"A-and... well, the Queen requires your assistance! She wants you to work as her guard!" Kiero finished, Zoro was silent. "It's an honor, you know... The Queen took down all of the guards who tried out... and she choose you, and -"

"Alright. I'll do it." Zoro smirked, cutting off the small guard. Kiero let Zoro out and handed him the clothes.

Zoro walked up the stairs in clothes similar to Kiero's. He refused to wear the helmet and kept his bandana tied around his arm. He opened the doors to the throne room and saw Luffy sitting in a large chair next to Ryuu. She smiled.

"Zoro!" Zoro bowed slightly.

"At your service," he grinned, looking her in the eyes. "Captain."