And fourth chapter all ready to go my friends!

Now this is the end of premade chapters so the rest might have a bit of a wait to them but I promise I'll update this story as much as I can so it can catch up with my other ones that are part of the main four I'm working on.

So once again thanks to Petrus, Qazse, and YellowPikmin88 for going over this chapter before I uploaded it. Once again had a blast working on this one, especially something that involves Katara at the end. Trust me you'll know it when you see it, the scene was also Qazse's idea so thank him for it.

So I hope you all enjoy!


CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

"Hiya!"

"AH!"

"Hah, your weak Zoro. Nothing ever changes."

'I made a promise to her…' That memory. It was one of the only things that kept Zoro going throughout this whole ordeal. Despite the constant beatings from Helmeppo, the agonizing hunger, and the sun constantly burning down on his skin. He would remain strong, he would survive. For her. 'I can't afford to die in a place like this!'

Zoro then opened his eyes as he snapped out of his thoughts and found a few shadows on the ground in front of him. Looking up, his eye twitched a bit in annoyance as he saw Luffy, Katara, Sokka, and Aang standing in front of him. "It's you guys again?" Zoro let out with a grunt. "Get lost, don't you have any other things to do?"

"Not really," Aang shrugged innocently, making Zoro let out an annoyed sigh.

"I'm going to untie you, but only if you join my crew," Luffy told the bounty hunter with his usual bluntness.

"Luffy!" Katara scolded the straw hat pirate. "You can't just make demands like that. Look Zoro we just wanna help you out, we gotta get you out of here,"

"I don't need your pity so forget about it," Zoro said while looking straight at Katara. He doesn't need anyone feeling sorry for him, he's made it this far and he was gonna live the whole month. "Just get out of here already,"

"Hey don't be like that," Luffy grinned as he crossed his arms. "I need members for my pirate crew and I'm looking for strong guys to join!"

"Pirate crew?" Zoro scoffed at the idea. Like he'd be a part of a pirate crew. "Forget it, I'd never stoop to joining up with a criminal." Zoro then looked to the other three and rose a brow under his bandana. "And you three, you're from the nations, right? What are you doing getting involved with this guy?"

"We're victims of circumstance," Sokka said bluntly before he was meant with Katara elbowing him in the gut. "Ow! Ok look it's a long story but just know we have our reasons and if you know what's good for you you'll let us get you out of here,"

"That supposed to be a threat?" Zoro glared hard at Sokka, making the water tribe boy flinch. "I may be tied up but I can still kick your ass so I suggest you back off before you say something you regret!"

"No it's not like that at all we swear!" Aang rose up his hands and waved them around to try and calm down the bounty hunter. If even half the stuff Coby said about him is true they don't wanna get on his bad side one bit. "And hey being a pirate's not so bad, I mean, we've only been pirates for less then a day but it's been going good so far."

"Tch, then you obviously got a lot to learn kid," Zoro informed Aang. This kid was probably too young to actually know about the nature of pirates. "Pirates are nothing more than scumbags who spread misery wherever you go, I'd never join one."

"Kinda the teapot calling kettle black isn't it?" Katara asked with crossed arms and raised brow. "From what we heard you have a reputation as a blood thirsty bounty hunter, how is that any different?"

"Tch, I don't care what people say about me," Zoro turned his head away from the water tribe girl. "I've done many things in my life but I don't regret a single one,"

"Yeah that's great and all, but I already decided you're gonna join my crew," Luffy said with a chuckle as he crossed his arms and glanced at Zoro.

"You can't just decide that! You're really starting to piss me out ya know!" Zoro yelled loudly at Luffy before looking to the other three. "Is this how he recruited you three?"

"Yep, pretty much," Katara nodded with an amused sigh.

"I had to make him promise not to eat my bison first," Aang explained with an awkward smile and shrug.

"I'm just looking out for my sister," Sokka stated as he gestured his head to Katara.

"I hear you're one of the best swordsmen around," Luffy didn't even acknowledge Zoro's words.

"Well I am!" Zoro yelled again before scoffing and looking forwards the marine base. "But that idiot captains son took my swords away, put them in the marine base somewhere,"

"Well then I guess I'll just bust in and get them back for ya," Luffy said like it was a simple solution, making everyone's eyes widened. "So if you want your sword you gotta join my crew!"

"You bastard!" Zoro snapped, now just looking angrier.

"Ok gotta agree with him there," Sokka admitted, he knew he would be pissed if someone tried to blackmail him by holding precious boomerang hostage. "That's just not cool Luffy,"

But Luffy simply laughed as he started to run…in the wrong direction. "Wait is he actually gonna bust in there?" Zoro let out a sigh before calling out to the rubber man. "Hey genius! The base is in the other direction!"

Luffy stopped where he was before turning around and stretched his arms out to grab a nearby object. "Gum-Gum Rocket!" To Zoro's surprise and shock Luffy then took off flying in the direction he stretched his arms out.

"What the…hell is that guy?" Zoro asked the three in front him.

"He's a rubber man," Aang explained with a grin.

"Rubber man?" Zoro questioned…before noticing Katara giving him a strange look. "Hey, what's with the look there?"

"I don't know…" Katara really couldn't put her finger on it. It just felt like a strange feeling. "Just…telling Luffy which direction to go in sounded ironic coming from you,"

"The hell's that supposed to mean!?" Zoro snapped, feeling like that statement his close to home.

"Heave! Ho! Heave-Ho!"

Suddenly the four heard the sounds of many men shouting coming from up above. Looking up at the base, they all saw a giant stone statue slowly being lifted up. It resembled a man with a strange looking jaw and an axe in place of his right hand. "What the heck is going on up there?" Katara ask, her face cringing a bit as she saw the statue. "And what's up with the ugly statue?"

"That's Captain Morgan," Zoro said with the grit of his teeth. "I've heard he had that statue built so the whole town would know he's in charge. The bastard pretty made sure he's looking down on everyone."

"Considering how Helmeppo is I can't imagine his dad's a lot better," Sokka said as he glared at the statue. Something told him that Morgan guy was a lot worse than that mushroom headed son of his. "Geez that things an eyesore."

"The guys a real asshole I can tell you that much," Zoro gritted his teeth as he looked up at the disgusting statue as it was rose higher. "Pretty much everyone around here's afraid him. He kills whoever he says steps out of line first and asks questions never. Claims to protect this island but he's just some dictator if you ask me,"

"That's horrible," Katara thought the neutral lands were free from stuff like this, but this Captain Morgan seemed no better then the Fire Nation themselves.

Aang glared at the statue for a few moments before taking out his staff and opening up his glider. "I'll be right back," Aang said as he looked back at everyone. "I got an idea for taking care of that statue!" Using his airbending, Aang used his glider to soar up into the sky and started in the direction of where they landed.

"What the heck?" First Luffy and his stretching arms and now this bald kid was flying and manipulating wind somehow. "And just what's up with him?"

"He's an airbender," Katara explained with a smile on her face.

"Airbender?" Zoro narrowed his eyes skeptically. "Get real, they've been extinct for the last one hundred years."

"I know it's unbelievable but it's true." Katara nodded at Zoro as she and Sokka walked up to him. "Not only that, but he's the Avatar."

Now that really got a surprised reaction out of the bounty hunter. "The Avatar," Zoro's been to many places, including the various nations, and he's always heard about the Avatar disappearing around the same time as the Air Nomads. So to hear that, that little kid was the Avatar himself was quite the surprised to say the least. "No way…"

"Yeah I know hard to believe but we got bigger things to worry about right now," Sokka stated firmly before he took his boomerang out. As soon as Sokka examined his weapons sharpness he went up to one of the ropes tying Zoro to the cross. "For now let's just get you out of here."

"I told you I don't want you to free me!" Zoro yelled as Sokka got to work using his boomerang to cut his ropes. "I still got another ten days left!"

"Actually you don't." Sokka informed the swordsman as he continued cutting the ropes. "We ran into Helmeppo at that restaurant you met him at, said he was gonna kill you tomorrow." Sokka's blood boiled at the thought of it. When a man makes a deal or promise they were supposed to honor it, it just disgusted him that Helmeppo had no problem in going back at him. "We all gave him a piece of our minds after that,"

"I smashed a chair over his head," Katara said with an amused grin on her face. Zoro gasped after hearing all this. So all of this torture he was facing was all going to be for nothing? He was going to die anyway. "Look, we're not gonna ask you to be a pirate or anything, but you've seen that this Morgan guy and his son are terrorizing this town and I know you're strong so we could really use your help with this,"

Zoro was silent as he simply looked Katara in the eye as Sokka continued to cut his ropes.

"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!"

The three looked forward and saw a bunch of marines running into the courtyard wielding some sort of weapon that neither Katara or Sokka had seen before. And behind them all was a beast of a man that looked exactly like that the statue standing on top of the base. He was a muscular and very tall man, towering over everyone else in the courtyard, with a steel jaw etched with the word Mowe. His right hand had been replaced with a huge steel axe, the handle of which is not only bolted through the bones of his forearm, but sticks out where his elbow should be.

This was the marine captain, Axe-Hand Morgan.

"It's the end of the line for all of you," Morgan growled out as he glared at the three criminals in front of him. By the end of the day he would have plenty of heads hanging on his wall. "For the crime of treachery against me, I sentence you three to die where you stand!"

While Zoro and Sokka gritted their teeth, Katara refused to let herself be intimidated by this bully of a man. "How can you be this cruel!" Katara yelled while looking right into Morgan's eyes, surprising all the marines in front of her. "From what Coby told me the marines are supposed to protect people and keep them safe! But you just seem to push everyone around and force them to do what you want! You're no captain at all!"

Many gasped came from all the marines and even her own brother was starting to took worried. "Um, Katara…" Sokka spoke up fearfully. "Maybe you shouldn't tick off the guy who literally has an axe for a hand."

Meanwhile Morgan growled like a vicious beast. How dare this peasant girl talk to the great captain Morgan like this, she needed to be taught a lesson. "Listen here you little brat," Morgan stomped on the ground, causing it to shake a bit and show off his strength. "I don't expect a stupid little water tribe girl to understand, but in neutral territory the strong rule the weak! I got my title by being the strongest around here and crushing all those who oppose me!"

"The strongest huh? That's rich coming from you!" Zoro yelled out, joining Katara in calling out the marine captain's bullshit. "All you seem to be is a coward hiding behind his army of expendable cronies!"

"Roronoa Zoro, don't you dare underestimate me!" Morgan yelled as he turned his glare in the direction of the swords. "You may be a strong fighter, but under my authority you're just a rat we threw out with the trash! Now men, take aim!"

All of them flinched as the marines all aimed their weapons at the three. "What are those exactly?" Sokka asked as he looked at the marines' weapons. He's never seen anything like them before but he could tell they were dangerous.

"They're called guns," Zoro informed the water tribe people with gritted teeth. "And to summarize things you point them at things you wanna kill!" Zoro breathed heavily as the memory of the young girl flashed through his mind once more. 'No…I can't afford to die here!'

"Fire!" Morgan commanded!

"Gum-Gum Rocket!"

BANG! BANG! BANG!

CRASH!

Right as the marines fired their guns, Luffy came onto the scene through a window on the base. He stood right in front Zoro, Katara, and Sokka with three swords strapped to his back. Everyones eyes widened as all the bullets hit Luffy…but didn't hurt him at all. "Heh," Luffy grinned as the bullets instead stretched out his body harmless. "That won't work on me!" All of the bullets then bounced back and scattered harmlessly all around with Luffy simply laughing. "Told you I was strong!"

"What the…" Zoro gasped out as Katara and Sokka smiled. "Who the hell are you?!"

"My names Monkey D Luffy!" Luffy gave Zoro a thumbs up as he turned to look him in the eye. "And I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!"

"Straw hat!" Morgan yelled out with gritted teeth at seeing the rubber man. Out of all the people in the courtyard that Morgan was angry at, Luffy was easily the one he was angry at the most. The damn pirate interrupt the raising of his statue, he even almost knocked it down! Oh and he held his son hostage but who cares about that.

"Seriously? You're gonna be King of the Pirates?" Zoro said to Luffy in disbelief. This kid seriously thought he was gonna be King of Pirates? Now that was worth a few laughs. "Yeah right you gotta be out of your rubbery mind. Do you have any idea what that means?"

"King of the Pirates means King of the Pirates." Luffy stated with crossed arms. "What else could it mean?"

"Is he always like this?" Zoro turned his head over to Sokka.

"Believe or not, yes," Sokka rolled his eyes, at least someone knew his pain now. "It's honestly kind of impressive in a head ache inducing sort of way,"

Meanwhile all the marines just stared at the scene with sweat drops. Did they just forget all of them were there or something? "I know it sounds crazy but Luffy is determined I'll give him that," Katara explained with a small smirk. "He says he's gonna do it and I honestly think he can. I'm still new to this whole pirate thing but I think he's got the right attitude for it."

Zoro just stared at Katara in disbelief before Luffy held the three swords out to Zoro. "Here's what I promised you," Luffy told the swordsman while looking over all three swords. "I couldn't tell which one was yours so I just grabbed all of them. Which one belongs to you?"

"All of them belong to me," Zoro said, getting confused looks from everyone. "I use Santoryu, the Three Sword Style."

"Three sword style?" Sokka questioned with a raised brow. "You can't use three swords, that's impossible,"

"Hmph, we'll see." Zoro couldn't help but grin. Oh he was gonna enjoy showing this warrior wanna-be what he could do.

"Well just take them already," Luffy told Zoro as he held the swords closer to their owner. "Just know that that if you fight with us now you'll be a government defying villain so it's either that or you'll left out here and killed by the marines all execution style,"

"Wow Luffy…" Katara gave the straw hat a look. Maybe she should have thought twice about joining his crew. "Just…wow…"

"Heh, what are you the son of the devil?" Despite what was practically an ultimatum, Zoro couldn't help but give Luffy an amused grin. The rubber man has guts, he'll give him that. "It doesn't matter because if I don't join your side I'll just end up dead on these sticks. So let's do it."

As Luffy started celebrating Zoro joining his crew, the marines just continued to watch. "W-What is he?" One marine said frightfully as he looked at Luffy. "Bullets just bounce right off him!"

"That straw hats no ordinary human like the rest of us," Morgan quickly figured out what was going on with Luffy. "He must have eaten one of those devil fruits we've heard so many rumors about."

"A devil fruit?"

"One of the treasures of the sea?"

"A fruit that gives the one who eats it extortionary abilities," Morgan explained what the devil fruits do to the one who eats it. "The power to control the weather, turn into ferocious beasts, even turning your body into a certain element. There are so many types out there but we know almost nothing is known about them. There's no question about it! The straw hat just showed off his devil power! But it doesn't matter! If guns don't work then we chop em up! Now charge!"

All the marines yelled as they discarded their guns and ran towards the four in front of them with swords out. Meanwhile Sokka was trying his best to cut through Zoro's ropes with his boomerang. "Uh, Sokka I don't mean to rush you but you might wanna try hurrying it up!" Katara yelled as she looked at he on coming marines.

"Sorry if these ropes are a little tough!" Sokka yelled back as he managed to cut through one and quickly moved onto the next. "Seriously what are these made out of?!"

"Just give me one of my damn swords!" Zoro yelled, it was just hard to watch Sokka try and cut the ropes with damn boomerang. Of all the weapons one could chose this idiot chooses a freaking boomerang. "I'll do it myself!"

Katara waisted no to time in putting one of Zoro's swords in his hands as the marines closed in and-

SLASH!

SLASH!

SLASH!

It happened so fast. They could barely see it with their eyes due to the speed. But Zoro had not only managed to cut through all his ropes, but also equip his other two swords. One in each hand…and the third he was holding in his mouth. "He's holding it with his mouth…" Sokka said with a dropped jaw. Normally he would have remarked over how stupid it would be…had he not been seeing Zoro holding off ten marines all by himself.

"Make one move and you're dead," Zoro managed to speak through the sword handle, glaring at the marines and making them flinch. Zoro then looked towards Luffy, Katara, and Sokka and grinned as much as he could due to the sword in his mouth. "Today I officially become a criminal having fought the marines. So I'll become a pirate, that I can promise you. But I want you to know one thing, while I'm with you the only thing I dedicate myself too if my number one ambition,"

"Which is?" Luffy questioned.

"To be the world's greatest swordsman." Zoro said with nothing but complete seriousness in his tone and look. "If somewhere along the line I have to give that up then I want you to accept responsibility, that way you can apologize to me,"

"The worlds greatest swordsman. Sounds pretty good." If that was Zoro's goal, then Luffy would gladly help him achieve that along the way of him becoming King of the Pirates. It only seemed to fit. "The King of the Pirates wouldn't want anything less on his crew!"

"Big talker," Zoro chuckled through his sword. "Well criminal or not I'm gonna spread the name Zoro throughout the world!"

"Well if that's the case, I vow to became the greatest waterbender the worlds ever seen!" Katara couldn't help but feel the fire of passion burn with both Luffy and Zoro around her. If she was gonna be around people who wanted to excel in something, then she would excel as well. "Everyone will know one day that Katara is the greatest waterbender the world has seen!"

"Well you got spirit in ya, I'll give ya that," Looks like Luffy's crew was full of big shots. Someone who wanted to become King of the Pirates, The Avatar, and someone who wanted to become the greatest waterbender in the world. Well being in this crew shouldn't be boring at least. "Let's see if you can back that up!"

"HEY!" Morgan roared, making all the marines flinch. "What are you doing just standing there?! I want all of em dead right now!"

GROOOOOOOOOWL!

Suddenly a loud bellowing growl got everyone's attention as a shadow loomed over them. "What the hell is that thing?!" Zoro asked with shock in his voice. Maybe it was the intense hunger talking but he swore that was a massive bison flying in the sky.

"It's Aang and Appa!" Katara smiled widely as Aang returned with his bison. "But wait…what are they doing?"

"Aang said he was gonna try and knock down the statue right?" Sokka scratched in head in though…until realization hit him like a ten-ton bison. "Ooooooh…we might wanna get all of the way."

"Alright Appa!" Aang called out to his loyal companion. "Let's knock that thing down!" Appa let out a low roar in response as Aang grinned. "Now charge!"

Everyone down below watched with widened eyes as Appa lowered his head and rammed the statue, effortlessly knocking it down. "NO!" Morgan roared as his statues crumbled into multiple pieces as it fell down to earth, completely crumbled as it made impact with the ground.

"Hahahahaha!" Luffy laughed loudly while holding his gut. "Nice one Aang! That was cool!"

Meanwhile all the marines were completely frozen in fear as they slowly looked towards their captain. Morgan's blood was boiling with rage to the point where veins were appearing over his body. "MEN! KILL THAT BOY AND HIS BISON RIGHT NOW!" Morgan's voice was practically shaking the area around them. "I WANT THEM DEAD THIS INSTANT!"

"NO!" Katara shouted as she looked up at the Avatar and his bison, who were now just flying in circles. "AANG! GET OUT OF HERE!"

In an instant Luffy stopped laughing as Morgan gave his orders. "YOU WON'T HURT THEM!" Before anyone could react Luffy started charging towards Morgan and the marines. There's no way he was gonna let this guy hurt his friends, no matter what! "Gum-Gum Whip!" Coming to a stop, Luffy whipped his leg forward and made it stretch out and hit all the marines and scatter them around. "Gum-Gum Pistol!" Once his leg retracted Luffy stretched his arm out towards Morgan to him in the face, Morgan brought up his axe hand to block it but the impact made him grunt and sent him back a few feet.

"You little runt!" Morgan growled as he threw his marine cape off and got ready to teach this damn straw hat a lesson. "You dare defy my authority!"

"I don't give a damn about your authority!" Luffy yelled with intense ferocity as he turned around and stretched his arm out at Morgan again. The marine captain attempted to block once more but instead of punching the axe Luffy grabbed it instead and let his body zoom over to Morgan. Luffy turned around in midair and once he completely retracted her slammed both of his feet against Morgan's face and sent the marine captain to the ground. Once he was done on his back Luffy stood up on his chest and started to bunch the captain in the face over and over again. "You bastard! You try and hurt my friends! And you're destroying Coby's dream! You're scum!"

"Stop it right now straw hat!" Suddenly the voice of Helmeppo spoke up as the captains son appeared on the scene…holding a gun to Katara's head. "You step away from my daddy right now or else I'll shoot her!"

"Katara!" Sokka shouted in worry before glaring daggers at Helmeppo. "You bastard! Get away from her!"

"That goes for you too you savage!" Helmeppo shouted as he cocked the gun, Katara flinching in response. "Any of you move and I'll kill her! I really will!"

Sokka growled, he wanted to do something. He should do something. But Katara wasn't rubber like Luffy and he was scared of what one of those might do to her, especially if it was aimed point blank at her head. Luffy stopped punching Morgan as Zoro lowered his swords. Helmeppo grinned, thinking he had them…until Katara spoke up. "Hey Helmeppo…" Though Katara was scared of the situation she was in…there was no way she was gonna let this guy do her in. "You know…I've always heard guys with big ego's are always compensating for something,"

"Oh yeah?!" Helmeppo yelled in an angry tone, seeming pretty ticked off by that statement. "What's that supposed to-GAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Suddenly Helmeppo let out a high-pitched shriek and dropped his gun as Katara brought her foot up to kick the captain's son right in the groin as hard as she could. Helmeppo held onto his privates and fell to his knees as she continued to shriek in agony.

"You leave Katara alone!" And to add insult to injury Aang came down from the sky with an angry looked on his face and landed right in front of Helmeppo. Right as he landed Aang slammed his staff down on the ground and sent out a large gust of wind that sent Helmeppo right to the wall of the courtyard, the impact knocking him out. "You alright Katara?"

"Yeah, I'm ok," Katara reassured the Avatar with a smile. "Thanks Aang."

"Hehehe, nice one guys!" Luffy sent them a thumbs up…right as Morgan got back up and rose his axe up high.

"YOUR DEAD STRAW HAT!" Morgan roared out.

"Luffy!" Katara yelled out as she quickly opened up her container of water attached to her waist, and thrusted her hand forward. In an instant all of the water shot out of it and splashed right into Morgan's face before freezing solid making the marine captain come to a sudden stop. "Woah…I can't believe that worked!"

SLASH!

And to finished up the job, Zoro rose up his swords and sped over to Morgan, slashing him across the attached. Blood leaked out of him in great amounts as the captain once again fell to the ground. The ice around his head shattered as he landed and he was now unconscious and defeated.

"…Yeah! Alright!" Sokka cheered as he rose up his fist and jumped up a bit. "Take that neutrals! That's how we do it in the water tribe!"

"Anyone else wanna try taking us on?" Zoro threatened as all the marines were silent at first…until…

"HOORAY! MORGAN'S DEFEATED!"

To all of their surprise, all of the marines threw their weapons and hats into the air. All over them started clapping and/or dancing around in joy as they celebrated the defeat of their cruel captain. "They're celebrating?" Zoro questioned as he lowered his swords.

"They were probably just as scared of him as the townsfolk were?" Aang smiled as he put away his staff. It makes sense given the way he spoke to the other marines like that. "So by defeating captain Morgan we not only helped the town, but we helped them."

"Well hopefully that means things will be better here from now on." Katara sighed in relief as she continued to just watch the marines celebrate. It gave her a warm feeling, this town was now free from his mans cruel iron fist…or axe. If they could do it for this town, then perhaps they could do it for more places. But snapping her out of these thoughts was the sight of Zoro collapsing suddenly. "Zoro!"

Everyone ran up to the swordsman to make sure he was ok. After a moment, he said only one thing. "I'm….hungry….


LATER

Once captain Morgan was defeated, Luffy and his crew left the courtyard while the marines were celebrating. Knowing that Zoro was hungry there was only one place they could think to take him. "Whooo! I am stuffed!" Zoro said with a big grin on his face as he and the others all went to Rika's mother's restaurant, where Coby was waiting for them at, and helped themselves to some food with Appa sitting outside with the town's children all petting him and feeding him fruit. And the best part was that the woman didn't charge! She was so gratefully for their help that she let them have whatever they want on the house. "Having not eaten for three weeks I was ready to gnaw through my boot straps!"

"Hmmmmm, oh man I think I'm in heaven!" Sokka said with his mouth full. The water tribe boy was currently helping himself to a plate of barbeque ribs that were coated in sauce. "This is the greatest thing I've ever eaten! What's this stuff on the meat called again,"

"Barbeque sauce," Coby answered, sweat dropping as he saw Sokka's face completely covered in the stuff. "Hey do you want a napkin or-"

"Ok, guys, I take every bad thing I've ever said about neutral territory back!" Sokka said as he took another big messy bite out of his ribs. "It's like heaven itself entered my mouth~!"

"Ok Sokka, while I do think the food is amazing too, could you please slow down," Katara, who was enjoy a pleasant shrimp scampi dish, said while giving her brother a disgusted look. "At this point I'm gonna make you wear a bib."

"Oh stop it kids," Rika's mother blushed at the compliments she was receiving about her food and put a hand to her cheek. "You're making me blush over here,"

"As good as the food is, I gotta admit the bathroom's really cool," Aang, who was having some garlic fried rice, said with a grin on his face. "The seat was cold but it's pretty cool how they work!"

"Especially with that toilet paper stuff!" Sokka said after, thankfully, swallowing his food. "My butts never felt cleaner!"

"Can we just… not talk about the bathroom please…" Katara asked with an uncomfortable tone and expression. While she certainly thought they were more efficient than the ones back home learning how to actually use them was…an experience. "I'm still trying to process that…"

"Heh, can't believe you're already finished," Luffy told Zoro with his mouth full as he helped himself to another plate of food. The straw hat pirate actually managed to eat more food than Zoro. "Lightweight."

"How the hell do you have a bigger appetite then a guy who hasn't eaten in three weeks?" Zoro questioned with a completely confused tone.

"I think Luffy's appetite is just one of those world mystery's that can't be solved." Sokka commented as he took another big bite of ribs. "Some people just have no class."

'You're one to talk,' Everyone looking at Sokka thought in unison.

"I hope things didn't get too rough for you guys," Coby said in a bit of a guilty tone. He wanted to come along with the others to help Zoro but they told him to stay behind. If he was caught helping out Luffy and the others then he would be associated with them and no way would he be able to join the marines then. "Morgan must have been like a monster."

"Ah that guy wasn't so tough," Luffy said as he stuffed more food into his mouth. "I was way stronger than him,"

"I just wanna thank you all so much for saving our town," Rika's mother told them all with a grateful tone. She wouldn't have to worry about Helmeppo showing up here ever again now. "We owe so much to you,"

"Don't worry about it," Aang reassured her with a simple smile. "We were happy to help, and it looked like the marines were grateful for it as well,"

"You people really are amazing," Rika complimented them with a smile.

"I know!" Luffy grinned and nodded at the young girl. "And I'll be even more amazing once I become King of the Pirates and get the One Piece! And have the best crew on the seas of course!"

"Speaking of which," Zoro spoke up once that particular subject was brought up. "How many people you got on this crew so far?"

"Well so far I got you, Aang, and Katara," Luffy answered after swallowing his food. He then pointed to the window of the bar with Appa being seen through it. "And Appa too of course!" The bison let out a small bellow in response."

Suddenly Sokka gained a tick mark on his head as he glared at Luffy. "AHEM!" He cleared his throat rather aggressively.

"Oh I'm sorry," Luffy apologized as he turned to Sokka. "Did you want something?"

Sokka's irritation only increased. "I'M PART OF THE CREW TOO!" Sokka snapped as he got right into the rubber mans face.

"Oh that's right!" Luffy grinned while pointing at Sokka. "Thanks for reminding me!"

"I hate you…" Sokka grumbled out.

"Sheesh, just calm down lady," Zoro told Sokka with the roll of his eyes.

"I'M A BOY!" Sokka shouted loudly, feeling even more insulted. No one insulted his masculinity like that by calling him a girl!

"Oh really?" Zoro asked with an amused grin clear on his face. "With the shrill voice and pony tail you could have fooled me,"

At this nearly everyone in the bar broke out laughing much to Sokka's anger. "Hahahaha!" Katara seemed to laugh harder than everyone else in the bar, clutching her stomach due to how hard she was laughing. Eventually her laughter died down and she looked to the side and saw Rika pulled something rectangular out of her pocket. Katara watched the young girl peel off the paper of the object and exposed some sort of brown food item. "Hey Rika what's that?"

"It's a chocolate bar!" Rika answered before raising her brow at Katara. "Wait have you never had chocolate before?" Katara shook her head in response and Rika just smiled as she broke some of hers up and handed the piece to Katara. "Try it! It's good!"

Katara simply looked at the piece of chocolate in her hands and shrugged. "Well bottoms up." All the other food in neutral territory was good so Katara had high hopes for this chocolate stuff. Throwing it into her mouth, Katara let it roll around on her tongue for a moment before chewing it and-

"GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASP!" Katara suddenly let out a long and incredibly high pitched gasped as she fully tasted the chocolate. The waterbenders eyes widened like dinner plates and giant sparkles filled them and the world around Katara completely disappeared and replacing it was a whole new world of sweetness that had opened up to her filled with chocolate, sparkles, and unicorns.

"…" Everyone silently and awkwardly stared at Katara as she just seemed to freeze after eating the chocolate Rika gave her. Coby waved his hand in front of Katara to try and snap her out of it. "Is she ok?" Coby asked with a legitimately concerned tone.

Sokka then tried snapping his fingers in her face. "Katara? Earth to Katara?" Sokka then tried shaking his sister out of it, but she remained in her trance her…whatever it is she was in. "Welp, we lost her,"

"Huh, weird," Rika commented before turning back to Luffy. "So where are you heading to next Luffy,"

"Oh, we're going to the north pole next," Luffy answered as he started to stuff his face again, shrugging off whatever state Katara was in right now. "Aang and Katara need someone to teach them to waterbend."

"Wow the north pole?" Rika said in amazement. "That's all the way on the other side of the world!"

"And that bisons gonna take us all the way there?" Zoro questioned as he looked outside and watched as a kid around Rika's age fed Appa a mango before petting the bison's head. "Well…he's no pirate ship but it's better than nothing I guess…"

"Hey Appa is the greatest transportation in the world, and a reliable friend. You can't say your friends with a pirate ship." Aang defended his bison as he looked at Appa with a fond look. "I know he's always got my back dontcha bud?"

As Appa let out a bellow in response Luffy stared at Aang and eventually got the monks attention. "Hey Aang, you sure you're cut out for being a pirate?" Luffy questioned Aang with a surprisingly serious tone. "You are just a kid after all,"

"Hey? What's that supposed to mean?" Aang seemed to be offended as he puffed out his chest and punched his chest to make himself look tough. "I'm more then pirate material! Pirate's my middle name!"

"If you say so," Luffy said before he handed Aang a glass of juice. "Want some juice,"

"Oh, thanks Luffy," Aang smiled and took the juice and quickly stared to gulp it down and-

"Pfft, hahahaha!" Luffy suddenly broke out laughing as he pointed at Aang. "No real pirate would drink juice!"

This caused Aang to suddenly spit out his juice as Sokka and Zoro burst out laughing. Aang blushed in embarrassment, a blush that got worse when Katara actually snapped out of her trance and tried her hardest to suppress her laughter, but she couldn't help but let out a few chuckles. "Aaaaah," Sokka let out as he wiped a tear of laugher from his eye. "It's funny when it's not me."

"So Coby…" Aang grumbled as he tried to get attention off him. "What are you gonna do now? I mean…the marines didn't exactly turn out how you said they were."

Coby nodded his head grimly…but his eyes shined with determination. "I know but…I still want to join them." Coby told them with a firm tone as all the laughter ceased. "It's been my dream ever since I was kid…I vowed one day I would join them and I'm still gonna do it! Even if there are jerks like Morgan in it…I can take it! My lifes been hell for the last two years, things can only get better if I put myself to it!"

"Sticking with your decision," Sokka nodded his head in response. "I can respect that,"

Coby gave Sokka a small smile, but soon Zoro spoke up. "Now hold on, aren't you forgetting something," Coby rose a brow at the swordsmen words. What did he mean by that? "You were working on Alvida's ship for two years from what you told us, even if you were just a cabin boy. The marine's info gathering is top notch, they learn about that then your chances are shot."

"Not to mention you were with us," Katara pointed out with a saddened tone. "Even if Helmeppo's word isn't good for anything those other marines he was with saw you with us and scum bag or not we did just take down their captain."

"I…I didn't think of that…" Coby lowered his head as he realized that Zoro and Katara were right. If he was associated with pirates in anyway then there's no way he would be a marine.

"Hey, you there." A new voice suddenly spoke up. Looking towards the door everyone gasped as they saw a squad of marines standing in front of the door look right at the group. The person who was apparently the lead marine stepped up and spoke to them all. "We heard that you fellas are pirates, is this true?"

"Right." Luffy confirmed this with no hesitation. "And Zoro the newest member of my crew!"

"We appreciate everything you did for our town, saving it from that tyrant who terrorized us for so long," The lead marine told the pirates with complete sincerity. But then he had to bring up the bad news. "But now that we know you are pirates, as marines we can't sit idly by and watch you go about your business. But out of respect for what you've done we will no report you to headquarters."

Everyone else at the bar immediately reacted negatively to this and started yelling at the marines.

"Hey where do you get the nerve to talk like that?!"

"Don't you know everything they've done for us?!"

"You can't just kick them out!"

"Before these pirates showed up you were all just as scared as Morgan!"

"WAAAAAAAIT!" Shutting everyone up was none other then Katara. Everyone looked at her as she called out to the lead marine…before running up to him and grabbing his shirt and giving up a pleading look. "Please! Before you kick us out let us stock up on chocolate bars! Pleeee-e-e-e-ease!"

Everyone present either sweat dropped or fell down comedically at this request. "Uuuuuuh…" The lead marine looked back to see what his fellow marines thought about this with most of them just sweat dropping and shrugging. "I…suppose if you promise to pay for them I guess it's alright."

"Where can I find where you sell them?!" Katara demanded to know.

"T-The candy store." The lead marine said as he pointed in the direction of it. "Just a few buildings down from here." Leaving a trail of dust behind her, Katara booked it to the candy store to buy as much chocolate as she could.

"Well I guess that's it everyone." As everyone looked at the scene strangely Luffy simply grinned and stood up. "Time for us to head out," Zoro, Sokka, and Aang didn't argue with this and just decided to pack up their leftovers and head out the door.

Meanwhile just stood their unmoving. This was his chance but…he was technically with Luffy. What if they asked about his involvement with him? "Excuse me young man," Coby flinched and cursed his luck. "Are you with the crew too?"

"U-Um…" Coby struggled to answer. "Well…"

Luffy was silent as he glanced at Coby before turning away. "Stop right there," The lead marine told Luffy. "Is he with you or not?"

"…Hehe," Luffy grinned as he turned around and looked at Coby. "Well I can tell you what he's been up to for the last two years." Coby flinched after hearing this. Luffy wouldn't…would he? "You see there was this super fat pirate lady who carried around a club named Alvida and let me tell ya she was the ugliest thing I've ever seen!" Coby slowly started to grit his teeth as Luffy spiled the beans about everything. "And this wimpy little kid was forced to be her cabin boy for two years! He pretty much did all their chores and work and-"

"AAAAAAHHH!" In a sight that surprised everyone, Coby let out a yell as he proceeded to punch Luffy right in the face, causing the straw hat pirate to step back a bit. Coby breathed heavily a few times as he glared at Luffy with anger he never thought he had. "S-Shut up!"

Everyone was silent at first with Aang's eyes widening and smirks appearing on Sokka and Zoro's face. "Heh, now that was a dumb move!" In response Luffy started to beat up Coby, though not with his full strength. "Take this you bastard! You really wanna mess with me?!"

"Luffy! Stop-" Aang was about to rush in and put a stop to this, but Sokka put a firm hand on Aang's shoulder and silently shook his head.

"Hey! Get out of here now!" The lead marine yelled at Luffy as he continued to pummel Coby. "We don't need you pirates causing more trouble than you already have you hear me?!"

"Enough!" Zoro grabbed Luffy's wrist before he could punch Coby again. "You've made your point, not let him fall to the floor." Luffy nodded in response and let Coby fall to the floor, heavily breathing.

"It's obvious you're not crewmates so stop badgering the poor kid!" The lead marine pointed at the pirates rather dramatically. "Just pack up your stuff and get out of our town!"

Luffy sent Coby another grin before he and his crew headed out. 'That was on purpose?' Coby mentally questioned as he looked up and saw Aang, Sokka, Luffy, and Zoro climb on top of Appa. 'Luffy did that just to help me out…he worked me up and got me so mad that I hit him and made it look like I wasn't on side.' As Appa started to walk away towards the docks of the town, Coby gritted his teeth in frustration. 'Even at the end of our journey together I end up relying on him. I couldn't do anything for myself! Nothings changed for me at all…I am such an idiot!'

But now…it was time to change that.

"Sir!" Coby shot up and stood up perfectly straight, sending the lead marine a salute. "Please sir please! You have to let me join the marines! I'll clean and scrub and do any chore you'd like me too! I'd do anything to become a marine!"

The lead marine was silent at first as he looked over Coby. "Lieutenant," One of the other marines spoke up. "I can't say I really trust this kid. Normally I wouldn't be against the idea if it wasn't for the case of certain marines being pirate spies. I suggest we do a backround check first."

"Say whatever you like!" Coby yelled as he continued to salute. "I will be a man who becomes a marine!"

The lieutenant continued to look over Coby and was silent for a few more moments before he started to walk up to Coby. "I can't tell you how many other marines we've lost to pirates over the years. This is a big step you're taking." Coby gasped in response. Did this mean what he thought it meant? "Permission to join…granted!"

Coby smiled wider than he ever has before. They let him join…today he was officially a marine. "Sir! Yes sir!" Coby saluted once more, struggling to keep his tears of joy at bay.


Over at the docks, the crew was simply sitting on Appa as they waited for Katara to catch up with them. "So I'm actually gonna be flying on a bison huh?" Zoro asked as he patted Appa a few times. "First time for everything I guess,"

"Just you wait, you haven't lived until you rode a flying bison." Aang told the swordsmen before looking into the town. "Wonder what's taking Katara so long?"

"So you really think they're gonna let Coby join?" Sokka asked Luffy as the rubber man simply leaned back. "I mean it was easy to tell you were pulling your punches there,"

"Coby can handle the rest on his own," Luffy said without a doubt in his voice. "I have faith in him,"

"I suppose it's a fitting way to leave this place." Zoro chuckled a bit with an amused grin on his face. "Bailing once everyone here hates us now. Very pirate like."

"That's gonna happen a lot, isn't it?" Aang asked with a small frown. Luffy response was to simply grin and chuckle, causing Aang to sweat drop. "Greeeeat."

"Hey guys!" Calling out to them was Katara, who was running towards Appa while carrying a large sack over her shoulder. "I'm here! Sorry that took so long!"

"Hold is, is that WHOLE bag filled with chocolate bars?" Sokka questioned as Katara tossed her sack of chocolate onto Appa before climbing onto the bison. The waterbender then started to hug her sack tightly and everyone swore they saw sparkles emanating from her. "How much did you buy?!"

"Not enough Sokka." Katara said while holding onto chocolate tightly. "Not enough."

"Can I have one?" Luffy asked as he reached his hand out only for Katara to aggressively swat it away. "Ow! Hey what was that for?"

"No!" Katara snapped as she but the sack behind her defensively. "My chocolate!"

"Ok that's gonna be a whole thing," Zoro commented before turning to Aang. "Should probably head out now before the marines decided to get aggressive."

"Probably a good idea," Aang nodded as he grabbed the reins of his bison and looked up into the sky. "Alright Appa, time to head out! Yip-Yip!" Whipping the reins, Appa grunted as the bison started to take off into the air. The crew all looked towards the town as they slowly soared higher and higher into the sky.

"LUFFY!" Calling out to them was Coby as he quickly ran to the docks to see the two off. But it wasn't just him. The marines and lots of the townsfolk all went to the docks with Coby and the marines saluting them and the townsfolk all waving at them. "THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING! I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU!"

All of the crew smiles as they waved back, giving the town one last goodbye as they got further away while getting higher into the sky. "Well look at that," Sokka grinned as he turned to everyone. "The town doesn't hate us after all,"

"Wait why would they hate us?" Katara asked in a confused tone.

"Oh, I kicked Coby's ass." Luffy answered bluntly.

"You what?!"

"It was to help him get into the marines." Zoro quickly explained before Katara could say or do anything to Luffy. "And by the looks of things, seems they accepted him."

"See, told you he could do it." Luffy grinned as he held onto his hat.

"So, where we heading now?" Zoro asked as everyone turned to him once he asked that question. "Can't exactly fly to the north pole in one day, so what's the plan here?"

"Actually, I have an idea for what our next stop will be." Aang informed everyone as he grinned excitedly. "My home…"

"The Southern Air Temple."


And just like that Roronoa Zoro is officially apart of the Straw Hats now!

Hehehe, gonna be a lot more fun with him around as well as how he interacts with the Avatar characters, trust me I got plenty of ideas I'm just eager to get down and show you guys.

So make sure to favorite, follow, leave a review and stay tuned for the next chapter...

"The Southern Air Temple"