Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece
The Pirate Trio
It was a tense standoff in the courtyard beside the marine base with Morgan breathing flames out of his nose while trying to burn the straw-hat-wearing boy and the dark-haired girl that came to his island and dared to defy him. His men were standing not getting what was happening around them. As for the pirate couple, they were standing facing Morgan's men ready for their first fight with the marines. The green-haired swordsman was baffled, to say the least as he stood near the post.
Luffy then looked at his girlfriend and asked her, "Robin, think you can hold them till I give Zoro his swords?"
The girl smiled, "Go for it," then she added, "They won't know what hit them."
Morgan laughed, "I'd like to see you trying that."
He then looked at his men and said, "What are you waiting for? If guns don't work, then use your swords." He finished the sentence as he roared at them.
The men then hesitantly drew their swords and lunged at the girl. One came tried to cut only for Robin to sidestep him and grab his arm throwing him over his shoulders making the others gawk at how strong this petite-looking girl is.
Robin laughed and said, "I didn't train my entire life to be weak."
Another came from behind swiping at her feet only for her to jump and kick him in the face. Another poor fellow tried to hit her, but this time she sprouted an arm and caused him to trip on the ground.
The men gulped one thought going through their minds; if the girl is this strong, then how strong is the boy?
While Robin was holding the marines the best she can, Luffy made his way toward Zoro, and put his swords in front of him, and said, "All right, these are the swords Zoro that I found. Which one is yours?" the boy asked.
Zoro then said, "All of them are mine."
Luffy tilted his head in confusion, "Really? How do you fight with them?"
"I use a Sentrouu technique: 3 sword style." The green-haired man explained.
"Really, how does that work?" Luffy asked genuinely intrigued.
"Give them to me, and I'll show you?" the swordsman demanded reaching out for his swords.
"No, not until you join my crew," Luffy stated, taking the swords away from him.
Zoro was about to charge the boy and take his swords by force, but he looked at Robin and noticed a weird look on her; it was like she was seeing if he was a man of honor.
Zoro sighed as he stepped forward and grabbed his swords, and said, "Listen, rubber for brains, I didn't make any promise to join your little ragtag crew of pirates…"
Luffy frowned at those words but smiled when he heard the rest of the swordsman talk.
"But now that I'm fighting the marines, here's what' going to happen." He said as he drew his first sword.
"Now, I'll be their enemy since I fought them." He said then continued, "So I'll make a deal with you. If you manage to impress me, I'll join you. If you don't, then you'll leave me alone. Deal?" he asked drawing his second sword.
Luffy smiled and said "Deal." He knew that he already had the green-haired swordsman in the bag.
"Great" Zoro said as he drew his third sword putting it between his teeth, and in a blink of an eye went to help Robin who was beginning to get overcrowded with enemy forces.
In a mere moment, he blocked all the marines' swords, and said to them in a ghostly voice, "Go ahead and test me. My sword is itching for blood." This made the poor men shiver in fear.
Zoro then looked at Luffy and said, "But if I am to join you, I have my own goals."
"Which is?" Robin asked as she twisted the spine of one marine making every one of them cringe at the sound of bone cracking.
"I'm going to be the greatest swordsman in the world, and there is no stopping me. If you get in my way, you'll answer to my blade, got that?"
Although Robin frowned at the threat a little, Luffy said, "Greatest swordsman, huh? A pirate king can't ask for any less."
"Pirate King?" Zoro asked as he flung the marines off him like a bunch of rag dolls. He then looked at Robin and said, "So what? You're his pirate queen."
This caused the girl's face to redden considerably.
Morgan fumed seeing the people who dared to defy him causally speaking, and roared at his men, "GO, AND ATTACK THEM."
The men nodded their heads and ran again towards the teens.
Zoro quickly blocked them all, and said, "Man, you guys are weak."
"What kind of human being is he?" one man asked while trembling in front of the proclaimed man-demon.
"How can he be this strong after everything he went throw?" another questioned.
"He's not normal."
"HE's a monster."
"What can we do?"
This banter caused Coby's heart to break as he watched his heroes cry like little girls afraid of the dark.
Luffy then began to run at full speed and jumped in the air.
Robin had some foresight and yelled at Zoro, "Zoro, duck."
The green-haired swordsman blinked in confusion but seeing the straw-hat-wearing teen in the air smiling caused him to take her warning seriously.
Zoro then ducked as Luffy yelled, "Gum-Gum…" the rubber boy then proceeded to stretch his leg to outside the yard making the marines gape at him, "Whip"
The boy then retracted his leg to his side causing it to extend like a whip entangling the marine soldiers with it, rocketing them aside.
Zoro could only blink at first and asked, "What in the world are you?"
"I'm a rubber man; I ate the gum-gum fruit," Luffy said stretching his face.
Robin then interjected saying, "And if case you're wondering I ate the Hana-Hana fruit which allows me to sprout any part of my body as if long I can see it."
Zoro then scratched his head saying, "So I guess you too are a couple of demons roaming the earth." This caused them both to laugh.
The marine captain was now foaming at the mouth as he yelled at his men, "What are you morons doing? Go attack them, you weaklings. There are only three of them and tens of you." He said lifting his ax daring anyone not to obey.
One brave soul said, "NO way, s-sir." He then looked at him, "These people aren't human."
"Yeah, the pirate hunter is weakened and we can't stop him." Another said.
"Even the girl is unbelievably strong."
Coby looked at them with misty eyes ready to cry. He felt his reality slowly shattering around him. First, he got to learn the marines aren't as holy as he thought, and now this. For the last two years, he lived dreaming of the heroes of justice; the marines. Now, he looks at them, are they them?
Deep inside of his heart, a small part of Coby died.
Zoro frowned saying, "Man, they're so pathetic right now, I almost making me feel bad fighting them." He then tied his bandana around his head saying again remembering all the pain he had been put through during the previous half month, "ALMOST"
Luffy then said, "They're seriously weak."
"I do agree with you Luffy, these marines aren't fit to fight a cat," Robin added.
Morgan began to huff and puff through his nose, and looked at his men, and said, "If there's anything I hate more than insubordination, its weakness…"
He then yelled, "I WON'T HAVE WEAKNESS IN MY RANKS." He then gave an order that made even the pirate trio cringe, "Everyone who won't fight, kill them yourselves."
Coby then looked astonished at the marines. These people are supposed to be hardened warriors who fight for all that is right, now they look like a bunch of toddlers. He then felt something in him at a fast rate.
Angry, and Rage.
And he wasn't the only one having those feelings.
In a blink, Luffy ran across the yard passing the girl and the swordsman making his toward the marines who were slowly picking up their guns and pointing them to their heads.
He then yelled, "Gum-Gum Whip". He then repeated the same attack from earlier plowing through the marines throwing them to the side saving them from their own cowardliness.
He then looked at the captain with eyes full of anger. Luffy printed towards him at full speed, throwing a mean right hook toward the ax-handed captain. The man luckily for him raised his ax just in time to protect his face from the blow but was pushed a little for the force.
Morgan was shocked at how this incredibly skinny teen packed quite the punch, but this caused him to rage more.
"You are nothing, you hear me…" he yelled the boy only for a voice to cut him.
"LUFFY" Coby screamed at the top of his lungs. This made the straw-hatted boy look at him.
"TAKE THIS DISGRACE OF A MARINE DOWN." He told the straw-hat boy who smiled at him.
Morgan growled as his pride couldn't allow this to play one anymore.
Morgan then yelled, "You are all noting but worthless insubordinate trash." He threw off his jacket and said, "I'm CAPTAIN 'AX-HAND' MORGAN AND MY WORD IS THE LAW, MY AUTHORITY IS ABSOLUTE."
Luffy looked at the hulking man with an unimpressed look having fought bigger and said, "Hello mister 'AX-HAND'… I'm Luffy."
Luffy gave him a heavy punch, but the man shielded himself with his ax causing the boy to jump back.
The man then tried to swipe at Luffy with his namesake, only for the boy to jump in the air avoiding it, and landing back on the ground unharmed. This caused the captain to growl like a caged animal.
The man then went to send a series of attacks on the boy each one avoided gracefully by the latter.
Morgan was now reaching a critical point, as he ran screaming like a maniac saying, "Die" he screamed as he delivered a vertical swipe at the boy aiming to split him in half. Luffy once again dodged by jumping to the side, and send a heavy punch into the man's face making him fall back to the ground.
The man looked surprised as if he never accepted this to happen. He then raged, "You dare to hit me."
Luffy then replied causally, "Yeah sure" only making the crazy captain angrier.
The man then ran and said again, "Die, you filthy scum."
"Yeah, but no thanks." The boy said.
Morgan then threw a horizontal swipe at the boy. Luffy then jumped into the air spinning around a little, and delivered a devastating kick, combining his strength and momentum, to the man's metal jaw throwing him off balance and sending him flying into the ground.
The marines were simply gaping at this unnatural scene. Captain Morgan was known for his strength; that's why no one dared to stand in his way or dare to question him, or anything he did. And along came this boy, and began to beat all black and blue. Was Morgan's reign of terror coming to an end? They can only hope so.
Luffy then slowly made his toward the downed captain and grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt and began to beat him.
Luffy gave punch after punch as he yelled at him, "What is wrong with you?" the boy then delivered a vicious head butt before continuing to punch him, and said, "You're… making… Coby's… dream… into… a… joke…"
As this vicious beat down was going, a scream grabbed everyone's attention, "Hey"
Everyone then looked to see Helmeppo grabbing Coby and pushing a gun to his head.
The spoiled boy then screamed, "Straw-hat. Leave my dad alone and don't you dare lay a finger on him."
Robin then slowly began to raise her arms readying herself to free her friend only for the blond teen to say, "Stop right there. I know all about your tricks miss handsy. One more move and I'll blow his brain into the ground." He said causing her to lower her arms with a frown.
"Yeah, that's right. Now get away from my dad." He said as Luffy slowly retired from Morgan but then Coby screamed at the rubber man, "No Luffy, don't stop. Takedown this monster of a captain. Don't worry about me; I'm willing to die for my dream."
The blond boy then smacked the back of his gun into Coby's head and told him, "BE silent."
He then looked at Luffy and said, "If you don't back now, I swear I'll kill him." Though everyone saw how he was shaking, and highly doubted that.
Noticing the looks, he said, "I truly will."
Coby then looked at the boy. He saw the gun shaking and knew that this guy was all talk. He can't take his life. Hell, he can't take anyone's life.
Helmeppo then looked at Coby and said, "What are you looking at? Stay quiet or else."
Coby then felt something snap inside him. He couldn't just stand idle and see his dream get ruined by someone like this guy. He looked him straight in the eye causing the boy to say, "What the…"
He didn't have the time to continue as Coby delivered a serious mean right hook to the boy's face sending him to the ground.
The teen then screamed, "My nose. You just broke my nose."
Coby then went down on him screaming, "I don't care. This is your entire fault."
Coby then began to deliver a series of punches to the spoiled boy.
He howled in agony as he said, "The marines are supposed to help people not hurt them."
He stopped, but he then continued his assault on the blond saying, "But you people ruined everything, you hear me. Everything" Coby then let a few sobs go through as he screamed, "You people are so sick you make pirates like good."
Helmeppo, having had enough of this, then shoved Coby off of him saying, "Who the hell cares about this?"
He then pressed the gun again to Coby's head only to see that the straw-hat boy coming toward him, so he yelled at him, "Stop"
The boy didn't listen; this caused the panicked teen to yell again, "Stop or I'll shoot him."
Just like last time, he didn't listen and continued walking. During this time, Morgan came back to his feet and screamed like a madman, "I'm Captain Morgan and you'll all die today."
He then ran toward Luffy raising his ax.
Zoro fast as ever reacted quickly readying an attack as Luffy was doing at the same time.
Luffy screamed, "Gum-Gum Pistol" flying a punch toward Helmeppo as Zoro threw his blades toward Morgan.
In a single moment, both the father and the son were down for the count, as Luffy's fist connected with Helmeppo's and Zoro's slashed Morgan.
Luffy then looked at Zoro and said, "Nice work, Zoro."
Zoro replied back at him, "Just doing my job captain." This caused the teen to smile knowing that Zoro was officially in the crew.
A brief moment of silence passed, and then Luffy said, "So this is it?"
Robin told him, "It depends if the marines are still planning to fight."
Zoro then said, "Let them bring it on."
The marines stood there with an unreadable expression. Until they all burst into cheers and tears of joy.
"Thank the heavens. He's gone."
"Morgan was finally defeated, we can't believe it."
"The monster's gone."
"Quickly arrest him before he wakes him."
Robin then said, "It would appear that even his men didn't like him that much."
Zoro then stated, "Can't imagine why."
He then fell to the ground causing both Robin and Luffy to run toward him. "Zoro, are you alright?" Luffy asked concerned for his new crewmate. He didn't want him to die yet; they haven't even started adventures for him to die.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, but…" he was interrupted by his stomach growling, "I'm so hungry." This made all three begin laughing. Luffy then held Zoro up and was about to take him to Rika's mother's restaurant till something stopped him
A soft sniffling sound brought everyone's attention to Coby rolling into a ball and crying softly.
The straw-hat boy, scholar, and swordsman felt their heart go out to him.
It wasn't exactly the most pleasurable thing seeing how the world actually works and having your entire reality shatter around you like a house of glass hit by a rock.
Robin went over to Coby's side and started to gently rub his back trying to comfort him.
Coby looked at Robin and saw a very soft and warm smile on her face.
She then said, "It's alright Coby. I know it's hard on you. Let it all out." She told him like a mother would do her own son.
Coby then let his emotions flow as he held onto Robin who sat down beside him telling him that everything is going to be ok. Luffy and Zoro only bowed their heads understanding the boy's pain.
Each of them had a very unpleasant way of knowing how the world truly works. It was never pleasant, and it will never be.
Meanwhile up inside the marines tower, a certain orange-haired woman was making her way toward, the captain's office using the fight down there a here distraction.
Once she reached it she noticed two guards standing in front of it causing her to curse her luck.
She then saw something that made her smile.
In just a few moments, she switched into a marines outfit. She walked toward the guards and said, "Captain Morgan just defeated the prisoners and wants you to go down and collect them."
The guards then shrugged and went to do as told, but they stopped as they realized something that they had never seen this girl's face before.
One of them asked her, "Excuse, but do I know you?"
The girl panicked, but kept her cool and said, "No, I'm a new recruit here."
The other one looked suspiciously as he said, "Really, then show me your papers."
"Ok." The girl said as she opened her shirt showing a little bit of her chest making both men blush. Using their current state, she quickly wiped a staff from under her skirt and them both with it saying, "Men, they're all the same."
Bringing a bunch of ropes, she then proceeded to tie them up.
"You're not going to get…" one was speaking but was cut off when the girl stuffed a paper in his mouth causing him and his friend to mumble unclearly making the girl roll her eyes.
She then went into the office and saw her prize. The safe. In just moments, she was able to open it and took its contents which were a map. She opened it happy to see she finally got what she wanted, but her face turned sour when she read it.
"Sorry, but I took the map." She read it at the end of the letter a clown face was present.
The girl then hissed angrily, "Buggy…" she had heard about the crazy pirate clown who'd kill his entire crew rather than have his treasure stolen.
She sighed; it would appear that she had another stop to make to get her prize.
Back at Rika's mother's restaurant, the celebration was in full swing as people were happy with the fall of the disgraced marine captain. One man, in particular, was eating like a beast causing him to receive all kinds of looks.
"Wow," Zoro said as he smacked his stomach, "Man, 3 weeks on that pole made me forget who food tastes like." He then looked at Luffy shoveling down his throat all a bottomless pit.
He sweat-dropped as he said, "How in hell are you eating more than me?"
"Well, you see…" Robin was about to explain until Luffy stopped her saying, "Don't mind her; I'm just hungry." He then gave Robin an annoyed look because she was about to reveal one of his greatest secrets to which the girl only giggled.
Zoro saw the weird interaction, but decided not to push further; simply it wasn't his business to know. He then looked at Rika's mother and said, "You know I hope we aren't causing any trouble." He said looking at the bowls of food he just finished, combined with Robin's sandwich, Luffy's monster appetite, and Coby's small juice cup; he felt that they were overdoing it.
"What," the woman said surprised, "No way, it's the least we can do for taking down that monster Morgan." She told him waving her hand which made the man smile since they weren't pushing it.
Luffy then looked at Robin and said, "Robin, did you ask them for supplies?"
"I did Luffy, and right now they are loading our boats with supplies; plus I made sure to bring a lot of meat." She said making the boy give a small peck on the cheek.
Zoro scoffed and said, "Man, I jumped on the wrong boat", while Coby only blushed. While Rika was confused, her mother smiled and said with a smile, "Young love"
Zoro then shook his head returning to the matter at hand and said, "You said you wanted to be the pirate king, right?"
"Yes, I'll definitely become the king of pirates," Luffy said full of conviction in his voice impressing Zoro, while Rika who was listening looked at him with awe.
"Ok, then you must have a huge crew," Zoro said only to receive the mother of all slaps at Luffy's next statement.
"No, only us." He said casually then asked Rika to bring more food.
Zoro blinked a little as he tried to process what he heard. "Wait for a little," he said as he massaged his temples, "So you're planning to become pirate king and you have no crew whatsoever."
"Yup"
"So it's only you," he said pointing at Luffy, "her" pointing at Robin, "and me" He finished pointing to himself.
"Pretty much yes." He said smiling making Robin giggle at his goofy antics.
"What boat did I decide to join?" he groaned then asked, "At least tell me you have a boat."
Robin then said, "Of course, we do." She then pointed at the docks.
When Zoro looked, unimpressed would be an understatement regarding how he felt right now. At the docks, a small boat was bobbing against the waves filled with 6 barrels and a huge stack of books, and to add to the appealing sight was a dog peeing on it.
"What did I get myself into?" the man asked himself, as he slammed his head on the table but then said, "But it's already too late to back out now."
"Don't worry Zoro; we'll bring a bigger boat eventually," Luffy said enthusiastically.
Robin then added, "Indeed, if our crew continued to grow, we'll eventually need a big vessel to carry us."
Zoro sighed and said, "Somehow that isn't making me feel any better." Then all three began to laugh at this.
Rika then came back with a huge bunch of sandwiches for Luffy which he shared with Robin, but then the little girl started to shuffle her feet and looked at Luffy. She then asked the boy, "Did you say you're going to become a pirate?"
Luffy smiled and said, "You bet I am, and not any pirate, but not any pirate; I'll become the king of pirates." he screamed at the top of his lungs making the girl beamed at him.
"That's so cool." The little girl squealed with awe.
Robin couldn't help but smile at the girl's spirit; it reminded her of herself when she was younger.
The girl then stopped and looked at Robin giving the older girl a very bad feeling, she then asked with excitement, "Then you must be the queen of pirates, right?"
The effect was immediate as Robin's face became so red she couldn't be mistaken for red pepper, while Luffy's entire body froze, even Coby spit out his juice through nostrils when he heard the question. Zoro, on the other hand, was having a field day; seeing the couple that frustrated him so much get so flustered especially the woman having her demeanor crack was a reward for all his torture. He didn't get to enjoy the effect when he said it on the battlefield, so this was compensation.
The couple then looked at each other causing their faces to redden even more, making them look away from each other.
Then Robin quickly began to stutter, "Uh… um… You see…" she said while Zoro was laughing so hard at her side, he was having a hard time breathing.
Luffy then overcame his embarrassment as he hugged Robin's side and said, "Of course, what kind of pirate king will I be without my queen?" he declared baldy making Robin hide her face in his shirt while whining, "Luffy, stop this is embarrassing."
Rika was about to ask a second question, when her mother came to Robin's rescue, and said, "Rika, what I told you about meddling in people's personal lives?"
"That's it is not nice."
"Exactly"
"Fine, but you said you're going to be a pirate, so are you going to the grand line?" the girl asked happily.
Robin thanked every deity she knew of to the change of subject and said, "Well, of course, did you ever hear of it?"
"Yeah," The girl screamed but then piped down with a blush on her face for her outburst as she said, "Momma always told me stories about it. That it has a mind of its own. She also said that the weather act like it wants and that the only person that had ever to go through it was gold Roger."
Both teens then remembered Ace and smiled. Luffy then said, "And soon he won't be the only person to go through it. I'll become the new king of pirates."
Luffy then felt something was seriously off. He was kinda expecting something to happen. He scratched his head for a little then smacked his fist into his palm.
He looked at Coby and said, "Oi Coby, isn't this part where you jump and start saying that's it is impossible and stuff?"
Coby laughed a little but was seriously off and everyone can sense it, "No, Luffy. You proved that you can do anything at this point to me."
Robin looked at Coby and asked him as gently as possible, "Coby, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just that when I was captured with Alvida, I always dreamt that the marines are the heroes of the world. They are only there to protect people. Actually, dreaming of becoming a marine is what kept me sane during my imprisonment if you want to call it that. But now…" he said with a sad voice, "…after I saw what the marines are truly are, I guess my dream will always be a dream."
A haunting silence filled the entire restaurant, Rika and her mom frowned at the boy's broken words. Robin felt her heart break seeing Coby in such a devastating state. Even Luffy and Zoro who both were a blunt as a mallet felt bad for him.
Suddenly everyone looked at the doors when a troop of marines entered the place causing Zoro to say, "I have a bad feeling about this."
The captain of the troops moved forward and stood looking in the little restaurant eyeing everyone. He then looked at the pirate trio and their companion and said, "On behalf of the residents of Shells Island, I thank you for taking down Captain Morgan and ending his reign of terror."
Luffy tried to say, "Oh, no…" but he was cut off by the captain who said, "But are you by any chance pirates?" this caused Zoro to reach to his swords knowing where this was going.
"Yes, yes, we are pirates," Luffy said as blunt as ever.
"I see," the captain said as he stroked his chin, he then added, "In that case, I'm afraid have to arrest you three."
This caused many people to gasp, and begin shouting.
"Hi, what's wrong with you?"
"You can't treat our hero like that."
"Yeah, he saved us."
"You're just as bad as Morgan."
Coby was shell-shocked. What in the world is wrong with the place? Can they get more crooked? Luffy just saved the entire island and they want to arrest him. What is wrong with them?
"Silence…" The captain yelled causing any arguments to be silenced quickly, "But as a gesture of our gratitude; we'll allow you to leave and not tell the higher-ups. But you must leave now."
"OK," Luffy said.
Coby jumped on his feet and said, "Just like that."
Luffy shrugged as he said, "Well, we're pirates after all."
Zoro then stood up saying, "Rubber brain got a point."
Robin followed him saying, "Don't call him that."
As the 3 walked outside the restaurant, the captain stopped Luffy and pointed at Coby, and asked him, "Isn't he with you?"
Luffy looked at Coby and said, "What? He's a coward but is a decent navigator. That's all he is good for, so no, he's not with me."
Coby felt so hurt that Luffy said. His friend just insulted him in front of everyone denying all types of relations with him. Why? Then it occurred to him, how was going to be a marine if he's associated with pirates? Luffy was doing him a…
"But he was the foot chair of that whale of the pirate named Alvida." He said causing Coby's world to shatter around him. Luffy then went on to emphasize how big Alvida was by stretching his arms.
Luffy then looked at Coby and said, "He used to always do what she wanted, and if he didn't he'd get beat up till he's black and blue."
Coby asked him as he approached him, "Luffy, what are saying?" Only to be flicked by Luffy.
The older boy then continued flicking and said, "You're nothing but a pushover. A little pushover who always did whatever he was told…" Coby felt something twitch as Luffy continued flicking him. It felt like Luffy thought he can do whatever he wanted with him and get away with it.
"You know you make a good punching bag too," Luffy said as he smiled. "If anyone wants to go and beat someone, they directly come to the useless pushover punching bag Coby and beat him, and beat him…"
At this point, Coby had had enough. He punched Luffy and screamed, "I'm no one's punching bag." He felt so alive; that was until Luffy related by slugging him so hard he went flying outside the restaurant.
Luffy then sat on the boy and continued hitting him as he said, "YOU think you can hit me and get away with it. I'm a pirate who can do whatever he wants…"
The captain then emerged and shouted at Luffy, "Stop this, or I will arrest you on the spot." He then said, "He's clearly no friend of yours, so leave this island."
Luffy grinned and said, "OK, bye now" He then ran to follow the other 2.
Coby looked at him as he ran. He felt so hurt; it felt like Luffy was doing everything to alienate him. To make it look like they weren't friends in the first place. It then hit him.
Coby then stood up and walked to the captain, "Sir, I would like to enlist myself to the marines. I want to offer any type of help possible."
The captain stunned by the boy's sudden change of behavior arched an eyebrow, but a soldier came up and said, "Sir, this could be a trap. Pirates are known to plant spies in the marines."
The captain however disagreed with his marines. The boy looked earnest, and he personally saw how sad he was when he saw Morgan's corruption. This boy had potential; something that the marines needed in their ranks.
He then looked at him with strong eyes, and said, "Boy, joining the marines ain't a picnic. There is a lot of training, shedding tears, sweat, and blood. And with the right amount of power you can then be deemed marine material. Even then, you still have a long way to go."
Coby flinched a little, but steadied himself saying, "I'm ready for everything sir."
The captain then said, "Then get ready. You have a long way ahead of you. No backing now." Coby could only smile at that.
Back at the docks, Luffy joined Robin and Zoro in the boat.
As Luffy sat, Zoro asked him, "SO do you think that little stunt of you worked?"
Luffy looked at him and smiled, "From I was able to hear; I think so."
Zoro then looked at Robin, and asked, "Did you know?"
Robin said as she snuggled into Luffy, "Of course, how was Coby was going to be a marine if he was known to be friends with pirates? It makes sense to comfort him like that."
Zoro then said, "What if he hated you?"
Luffy smiled and said, "Can't be helped"
"And if you ever see him again?"
"Then he has to bring his top game." He said as he kicked the boat off the docks and started sailing into the distance.
As they began to make their way away from the docks, they saw the entire marine base with Coby, Rika, and her mom standing on the docks.
The captain of the marines then said, "Men, salute." And in a few moments, the entire marine base was saluting the pirates.
Zoro then said, "Marines saluting pirates. You don't see that every day."
Robin then added, "Well with Luffy, you're in for a bunch of surprises."
"Luffy" a shout came from the docks.
The boy looked only to see Coby shouting to him. "I know what you did to me. And I won't waste the chance you gave me. thanks for everything."
Luffy then smiled and started to wave heavily at them, with Robin gently lifting her hand and waving goodbye, and Zoro just raising his hand in acknowledgment.
Back on the docks, Coby was cleaning his eyes when the marine captain said, "You know good friends are hard to find these days. You are lucky my boy."
Coby looked at the captain who smiled at him also knowing what Luffy did for the boy.
The captain then said, "Saluting to pirates is an offense to the marines. Our punishment is that we don't have food for the next 3 days. Got that?"
"Yes sir" everyone replied.
Coby felt pride travel through him as he looked at Luffy; he silently made a promise that the next time they meet, he will a person strong enough to face the future pirate king.
They all then watched the pirate trio sail into the distance.
Author notes:
Hi guys, welcome back to my story, in this chapter we saw the fall of captain Morgan in addition to Zoro officially joining Luffy's crew. We also got to see that Coby is now following his dream to become a marine. Now in the next chapter, we will see a certain thief. Now regarding the next chapter, I will not post next week because I have like 3 researches for college; I hope to excuse me.
As always please do take care of yourselves, leave a comment telling me what you think of the current chapter, and put a review telling us what is the arc you are most excited for.
And finally, I hope you enjoy my work and see you this time after 2 weeks with a brand new chapter.