Before we get into it today, I just wanted to let you guys in on something. I apologise if something feels rushed or paced weird, but I'm not going to go chapter for chapter or episode for episode with One Piece. It's just not going to happen. So if I can fit as much into one chapter as I can, I will. You guys understand what I mean? I hope so. It's obviously logical, but I felt the need to mention it.

Also I'm double posting because I've already written the end of Little Garden, and continue to write every week. So, double uploads for everyone.

Enjoy!

"How long are you going to stare at that thing?" Nojiko demanded as she walked down the street with Usopp. The sniper had been inspecting his new gun ever since the gunsmith had sold it too them. He'd even cleaned it for them, Nojiko's guns as well. All in all he'd been a pretty good guy to them. After picking up some ammo for him, the two left to return to the Merry. But Usopp seemed dead set on finding some sort of flaw with his new weapon.

"Until I find where I can add some mods to it," he replied. "Maybe even make myself some custom ammo too. I think that'd be really cool."

"Custom ammo?" Nojiko asked as a group of kids sped in front of them. "You can do that?" Usopp nodded, now looking proudly at her.

"Of course," he said. "My speciality with my slingshot is all the types of ammo I can use. That's why I asked the guy for some shell casings. I'm going to make my own ammo that can explode or create a smokescreen! It'll make me an even bigger threat on the battlefield!" Nojiko couldn't help but smile at this enthusiasm.

"That sounds cool! Do you think you could make me some too?"

"Sure! it might be harder for a couple of flintlocks but I'm sure I can get it too work for you." Nojiko thought that sounded like a great idea, but her thoughts were interrupted as another huge group of people ran past them. She didn't know what the hell their problem was, but they all seemed to be running in the same direction. What was going on over there?

Johnny trailed behind Zoro with Yosaku, the three men looking for a sword shop. He couldn't tell if Zoro was walking with some sense of direction, or if their teacher was just taking random turns whenever he felt like it and seeing what he could find. So far Loguetown didn't strike him as particularly lawless, which was odd given how it was the last checkpoint before the Grand Line as an East Blue citizen. Although maybe all the pirates were keeping a low profile. After all, that seemed like the best idea from the Navy ships he'd seen in the harbour.

And yet, just as he said that, there seemed to be a commotion going on ahead of them. There was a group of people forming a circle around others, presumably about to start a fight. As the trio walked up, they saw a single woman being harassed by what he assumed were other pirates. The woman was carrying a sword, which either didn't bother her harassers or they thought little of her. Either way, a brief moment later and the woman had dealt with both men, the crowd watching as they collapsed to the ground.

"Woah, she's good." Yosaku said from beside him.

"Eh, it wasn't that impressive." Zoro replied with his arms crossed. Johnny slapped him lightly on the arm for this.

"Don't be rude, Big Bro Zoro!" He hissed. "She's very talented for an East Blue swordswoman!" The trio watched the strong woman for a moment longer, only for her to start to get flustered and search the ground weakly. Johnny heard her murmur something about glasses, so he assumed she must have dropped her during the spat. Moving forward, he looked ground to see if he could spot them for her.

"There they are," Yosaku said, gesturing to Johnny's left. Sure enough, as the man looked the woman's glasses were indeed sitting there. Picking them up, Johnny approached the woman.

"Hey," he said, poking her shoulder. This made her look up and squint at him. "Are these your glasses?" Her face lit up at this and grabbed the glasses from him, quickly putting them back on.

"Man, you're a lifesaver!" She said as she stood and grabbed Johnny's hands in hers, thanking him profusely. "I can't see anything without my glasses!"

"Aha, it was no problem!" Johnny replied as Yosaku and Zoro came up from behind them. He heard Zoro choke on something, but he ignored it. "I could see you were struggling without them, so I figured I could help!"

"I really do appreciate it!" The woman said. "My name's Tashigi, by the way."

"Ah, I'm Johnny." Tashigi smiled even wider at this.

"Nice to meet you! Is there any way I can pay you back for this?" Johnny spared a moment to wonder why this was such a big deal that she considered paying him back in some way, but they did need directions.

"Actually you could," he said. "My friends and I here are looking for a sword shop. Do you happen to know of any decent ones around here?"

"Sword shop huh?" Tashigi asked. "You came to the right woman! I consider myself an expert in swords. Don't worry, I'll get you to the best place in town!" With this the girl turned on her heel, presumably for the group to follow her. Johnny fell in line with the other two, and saw Yosaku staring at Zoro weirdly.

"What's the matter?" He asked his partner. Yosaku made a face and turned back to him.

"Big Bro Zoro is acting weird," He replied. "He's been staring at Tashigi since she looked up." Johnny frowned and looked towards Zoro himself to find it that it was true. Zoro looked like he'd seen a ghost as he walked along. What was wrong with him?

It didn't take long for the group to reach the sword shop, but it probably took a little bit longer seeing as Zoro somehow took several wrong turns that ended up making him get lost. Johnny had no idea how he managed to do that. After all, there was no way that someone could have a sense of direction that badly.

"Here we are!" Tashigi said. "I'm glad we finally made it. Your friend has a horrible sense of direction." Zoro just grumbled under his breath at this, making Johnny laugh. "Alright, I need to pick up my sword, so I'll leave you guys to your shopping!" With this the girl left them alone, and Zoro sighed.

"Alright you two," he said as Johnny and Yosaku both turned to him. "Nami and Nojiko let us have four hundred thousand Berries, so I'll give you guys one hundred thousand each. Get whatever type of sword you want, and afterwards our real training can begin." Johnny took his money from Zoro, looking through the bills absentmindedly.

"What're you going to do, Big Bro?" Yosaku asked. Zoro turned and gestured to the shopkeeper.

"I'm going to see if he's got any good samurai swords," he said. "You guys just look around the shelves." The green haired man left the two alone, and both men immediately went to look at the shelves and see what they could find. Johnny wasn't exactly sure what it was that he wanted. He and Yosaku had both used Dadao's in the past, but according to Zoro they had both been in terrible condition. That didn't surprise him to hear; they'd both been using those swords for years.

"What're you going to get?" Yosaku asked as he pulled a Claymore out of a barrel nearby and inspected it.

"I don't know," Johnny replied as he too inspected discounted blades. "It's the perfect chance to change my style up now that Big Bro Zoro is training us, but I'm not quite sure what to choose." The shop had a vast array of blades, all of which were varying in size and shape. Half of the makes he didn't even recognise, but that was probably why Tashigi said this shop was so good. The variety was insane.

Looking down, Johnny saw a blade resting on a display near the window. The blade represented blades he'd seen from places in the South Blue, called a Jian. It's grip was made of dark leather, whilst the square hilt was gold. Picking it up, the sheath on the blade had letters written on it that said Sutomukora. Taking the blade out of it's sheath, he gave it a few swings. The weight and feel were amazing, It was similar enough to his Dadao that he felt comfortable with the blade already. Looking down at the tag attached to it, he read that it was going for ninety thousand berries. He'd even have some change for Nami once they returned to the ship. Not a lot, but enough.

"Hm, I like this." He said with a smile. "Definitely going to take it." Sheathing the blade again, he turned and walked over to Yosaku. His partner seemed to be inspecting larger swords, probably made for two hands.

"Any ideas?" Yosaku asked.

"I don't know," Johnny replied. "What are you looking for?"

"Watching Mihawk with that huge blade was really cool," Yosaku said. "I've been thinking of taking a bigger sword." That made sense to Johnny. Mihawk was the best swordsman in the world, and his signature sword was massive. He could see how that was inspiring. Taking a Longsword down, Yosaku held it up to test it out. It was clear that he wasn't used to a blade like that, but he still had enough strength to hold it correctly.

"I don't know if Big Bro Zoro can teach you to use that," Johnny said. "My swords close enough to a Katana, but this is kinda different."

"Maybe," Yosaku replied. "Maybe a longsword is too much." Putting the blade back, the pair continued shopping. They came across the greatswords on the shelves, and Yosaku took one down that sheltered somewhere in the middle. It's grip too was dark leather, and it's rounded hilt was black as well. The inscription on the hilt read Jishin, and it's blade curved the farther up you went. Yosaku readied the blade as if he were going to fight. He seemed far more comfortable with this blade in hand, giving it a few slow swings to test it out. From the tag it was going for ninety five thousand berries.

"Want that one?" Johnny asked.

"I think so," Yosaku replied. "I may have to work harder than you with a different type of blade, but I'm prepared for that."

"We'll both have to get strong," Johnny agree as he looked down at Sutomukora. "So that we don't bog Big Bro Luffy down on the Grand Line."

"I plan on it," Yosaku said. "I know why you wanted to join the crew as well. That defeat we had against Arlong...Was pathetic." It had been. Johnny recollected how the fishmen barely even gave them the time of day, destroying them quickly in a halfhearted battle before tossing them out. They had been too weak to even enjoy killing, according to Arlong. In order to prevent that, and to become an asset, they needed to become more powerful. Maybe this really was the first step.

"Are you insane?!" They heard Tashigi cry. Whirling, Johnny and Yosaku were just in time to watch Zoro toss a blade up into the air and stretch out his arm. They both watched, horrified, as the blade fell towards his arm. Just as it was about to slice him the blade bent away from his arm, and impaled itself in the ground. Zoro looked up with a smile.

"I'll take it," he said.

"Big Bro!" Johnny cried as he and Yosaku rushed over. "What're you doing?! That was dangerous!"

"I was just testing my new sword out," he said, much to the surprise of both the shopkeeper and Tashigi. "Hey, pick out another sword for me will ya?" Tashigi seemed to shocked to process his request at first, but she managed to mumble out an agreement. Before she could do anything, however, the shopkeeper ran off.

"Stay right there!" He shouted. Soon he came back carrying another blade, and he presented it to the group. "This is the best blade i have. The swords name is Yubashiri. Although my shop is lackluster on a world scale, this is the best sword in the shop."

"I don't have money for that," Zoro replied.

"I know," he replied. "I'm giving it to you. I apologise for trying to trick you earlier, but I haven't seen a good swordsman in a long time. So I want you to have this." Zoro shrugged and picked up the blade, weighing it in his hand.

"Thanks, I guess." He said. The man nodded.

"No problem," he said. "Your friends there though, they pay full price."

"You stingy bastard!" Johnny shouted. "We're great swordsmen too!"

"I'm sure," he replied without a care in the world. "But those two swords are high quality. You're lucky I had to put em on sale cause no one was gonna buy them at the higher prices."

"Which is why there so good, huh?" Yosaku demanded under his breath.

"Don't be smarmy, boy!" The shopkeeper shouted. "Those two swords are higher quality than a lot of the trash in here! I'm not going to part with them for anything less than the asking price on the tags!"

"Just pay em boys," Zoro said. "I didn't have to pay, so Nami won't get on us about spending too much money." Still upset at being insulted by the shopkeeper, Johnny regretfully forked over the money he'd been given, Yosaku following close behind. After this the group left the shop with their purchases, Johnny securing Sutomukora at his waist.

"At least we got some good new weapons," Yosaku said as he secured Jishin over his shoulder. "I wonder how everyone else is fairing out there."

"I think we'll be able to tell pretty shortly." Zoro said. Looking ahead of them, he saw Nami and Sanji walking towards them, Sanji carrying literally every bag while Nami walked carefree.

"Hey guys!" Nami greeted with a smile as she ran up to them. "How'd the shopping go?"

"Awesome!" Yosaku shouted as he gestured to his new blade. "Look at what we got!" Johnny opted to show off as well, and Nami just smiled.

"I'm sure those didn't cost a lot of money right?" She asked in a sickly sweet, clearly fake tone. Johnny felt himself sweat as he forked over his change, the other two doing the same.

"Zoro didn't have to pay, so that's good right?" He asked weakly. Nami frowned as she thumbed through the bills.

"Little less than half spent, huh?" She asked. "I could of done better. But at least you didn't blow all of the money."

"Nami-swan!" Sanji shouted as he caught up to them. "Where should we look for your new wardrobe next?" Nami rolled her eyes before turning to him.

"I already told you, I just finished." She replied as she glared at him. "Besides, you've got your hands full with that giant fish and my clothes, so we can't really get anything else." Sanji seemingly ignored this completely.

"What if Nojiko-swan needs some clothes?! I'm sure she must have not packed a lot!" He asked.

"She's a big girl she can shop for her own clothes," Nami ignored the cooks upset look and turned back to the swordsmen. "I guess we've finished our shopping. Should we go back to the ship or what?"

"Well, I guess we should." Yosaku replied. "But we don't know where Big Bro Luffy went, and I doubt he's returned to the ship."

"I think you mean we know he hasn't returned to the ship." Zoro said. "He said we was going to where Roger was executed right? I'm sure we can find him there."

"Yeah probably," Nami said as she looked up. "It looks like there's a storm coming in too, so we should probably find him and hurry up. If the sea gets too violent, we might get into some trouble."

"Well let's go," Zoro said, turning on his heel and leaving.

"Big Bro," Johnny called to him. "That's the wrong direction."

"How can you tell?"

"Cause that's towards the ocean?"

"They must have moved the square." Everyone rolled their eyes at this. There was no way he could be serious.

"You guys go and retrieve him," Nami said as she and Sanji moved past them. "We'll get the ship ready to leave before the storm hits us."

"Roger that, Big Sis Nami." Yosaku said as he took charge. "Come this way Big Bro Zoro. The square is this way."

"Are you sure?" Zoro demanded.

"Yes, I'm pretty sure."

"I'm sorry. Please let me go."

"Who's going to let you go?!"

Once the trio of swordsmen had arrived at the square, they were greeted with quite a sight. Luffy was trapped up on the execution stand, a man with a big bright red nose keeping him there. Yosaku nearly felt his eyes pop out of his head.

"That's Buggy the Clown!" He shouted. "Why's Big Bro Luffy being attacked by him?!"

"We may have something of a past with him," Zoro replied with a frown as he readied his blades. "Get ready you two, we may have to run." Yosaku frowned and gripped his blade's hilt tightly, following Zoro and Johnny as they pushed through the crowd.

"Let him go!" Johnny shouted, also drawing his new blade. Luffy's eyes seemed to light up at this.

"Ah! Zoro! Johnny! Yosaku!" He said. Buggy only laughed at this.

"So you've come, Roronoa Zoro!" He shouted. "But you're far too late!" Ignoring the angry cries of the clown, Yosaku drew his blade as Buggy's crew came after them. Giving it a good sideways swing, he connected with the first that came for him. Even when the man blocked the attack, the force of the bigger blade forced him out of Yosaku's way. Giving the same man a kick in the gut, he turned to find even more of Buggy's crew encircling them. Zoro clicked his teeth at this.

"We've got to knock the stand down!" He shouted.

"We need to get to it first!" Johnny shouted as he parried an attack and slashed the man away. Buggy only continued his barrage of laughter.

"All of you be prepared to watch!" He shouted. "This is the end of your captains life!" With this, he raised the blade high above his head in preparation to bring it down. Yosaku watched in horror as the blade began to descend, and Luffy smiled.

"Zoro!" He called. "Yosaku, Johnny! Sanji, Nami, Usopp, Nojiko! Sorry, I think I'm dead this time!"

Just as the Captain finished speaking, and the blade was nearing his neck, a shot rang out. Yosaku watched as Buggy recoiled, blood spurting out from his arm. The clown stumbled backwards at this, cradling his arm.

"Which one of you idiots shot me?!" He shouted angrily. "I was just about to slice this rubber idiot and-!"

He was again interrupted as Zoro sliced through the platforms legs, causing it to collapse. Yosaku watched as the two tumbled to the ground, Luffy laughing as he hit the ground.

"I really thought I was dead!" He said. "Good job guys!"

"Get up, you moron!" Zoro shouted as he broke the contraption keeping him down. "We need to leave!"

"That was weird," Johnny said as he looked around. "Someone shot Buggy right before he killed you."

"Was it a Marine, maybe?" Yosaku asked.

"Who cares?" Luffy asked. "Let's get out of here!"

Farther away from the square, a duo slowly exhaled it relief. A bullet casing hit the ground near them, the barrel of the rifle still smoking.

"Nice shot, Usopp!" Nojiko complimented with a smile. "You saved Luffy!"

"I did?" Usopp asked, trembling from the shock and the guns recoil. "I-I did! Of course I did! The Great Usopp would never let a friend down!"

"I'm sure you won't," Nojiko replied as she turned. "Now come on, we have to get back to the Merry, or else we may get left behind."

"Gah! Luffy, it's rude to not wait for the man who saved your life!"