DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING EXCEPT RAGNAR AND ALL VIKING THEMED CHARACTERS. ONE PIECE BELONGS TO EICHIRO ODA, TOEI ANIMATION, AND FUNIMATION ENTERTAINMENT/CRUNCHYROLL LLC.


Chapter II: Enter the Great Swordsman! Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro!

With the whirlpool and Alvida's now leaderless crew far behind them, Luffy, Ragnar and Coby were now able to sail smoothly without any real problems aside from the occasional vagaries of the weather and predatory marine life. Yet now they set a course for north-northeast.

"What a day! It's gorgeous!" Luffy exclaimed, glad to hear the calls of the seabirds above him

"Indeed, it is, my Captain. Not a storm cloud in sight," said Ragnar, equally thrilled about this pleasant weather.

"As long as we stay on this heading, we should reach the Marine base at Shells Town in no time at all," Coby explained.

"Wow, Coby! You're just as good as Ragnar out here!" Luffy praised, "You mean we're actually gonna reach the place that we set out for?"

"Of course, it's nothing. I'm just using the basic skills that every sailor should have." Coby then looked to Ragnar and asked, "So, Ragnar, what can you tell me about your homeland? What was it that got you out on these seas?"

"Ah. Now that is quite the tale," said the Viking, "Coby, have you ever seen mountains whose peaks are as white as the clouds? Or deep fjords like a giant's axe wound? Or towering waterfalls that spew steam in the dead of winter? Snow sparkling like a blanket of jewels? That is where I hail from."

"Whoa… your homeland sounds so beautiful," replied Coby, awestruck by the description, "So then, why did you set out on the seas in the first place? I mean, it sounds like you were leaving such a wonderful place behind."

"You cannot grow many crops in a land of near eternal snow and ice," Ragnar explained, "I come from the frozen lands of the North Blue, along the fjords of the Red Line continent. It is a land so cold that the light hangs across the night sky. A road for the Valkyries, revered female warriors of the past, who carry those who died honorably in battle to their eternal reward in Valhalla."

"Oh…I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize. You didn't know," Ragnar replied with a smile, "My people, the Vikings, have been fighting each other in clandestine wars since time immemorial. You ever see a flock of flock of vultures squabbling over the carcass of a deer? They were like that, at least until my father's lifetime."

"Were? You mean they're not reduced to infighting? Did something happen that changed all that?"

"It did. For 35 years, my homeland, Norðvegr, has been the province of a vibrant king. Harald Yngling by name, but known by his title: Fairhair. He is a young man wise beyond his years. He is the reason that we Vikings have successfully resisted the World Government's attempts to subjugate us. Thirty-five years ago, he united all the clans against a common foe. With skill and cunning, he lured the Marines into a trap. He ambushed their landing party with an army that numbered in the thousands, causing even the Marines to falter before our swords, spears and axes, and no Marine or any official from the World Government has set foot in Norðvegr ever since!"

"He…He fought the Marines…and won!?"

"Indeed, he did. The Marines' high command doesn't like hearing about it, so they've tried their best to cover up that incident as much as possible, but everyone pretty much knows this to be a fact. It is because of that fateful event that I have come to greatly respect and admire King Harald. With both the sword and the word, he has unified the land I call home. For the first time in any man's memory, or any skald's song, Norðvegr has come under the rule of a single king. And that is quite a feat. However, we knew that we could not seek glory and valor in a land of peace. So, we see an opportunity in this Great Pirate Age. A chance for new beginnings, so that we may spread out and settle down new roots."

"Oh…so the Vikings are out for settling new lands," Coby remarked, "I heard tales about how you've been able to sail through the Grand Line like it's nothing."

"Good ear, Coby!" Ragnar exclaimed, "Our longships are indeed capable of many feats other ships cannot accomplish. We can sail through the Grand Line to the other four oceans. They are light enough to be carried overland, and thanks to their shallow drafts, we can even sail huge swathes of the sea as well as up through rivers. If there is no wind, or the weather is inclement, we simply row our way out."

"Which is good, since we need that kinda power where we're going!" Luffy chuckled, giggling like a madman.

"Y'know, Luffy, there's really nothing to be so giggly about," said Coby, "Don't forget why we're heading to Shells Town in the first place. That's where the Marines are keeping the man you're looking for: the great Pirate Hunter of the East Blue...Roronoa Zoro..." instantly, Coby began trembling in fear as he spoke about the man, "This is a man who's diced up his victims like an animal bent on carnage; a bloodthirsty apex predator! He's been called nothing less than a living, breathing demon in human form!"

"Oh-ho! He has a filthy mind for battle!" Ragnar exclaimed, "We have a word in my language for warriors like Zoro, one that is actually a compliment despite its meaning of terror - Broga."


Soon enough, the trio managed to reach the shores of Yotsuba Island, and Shells Town. Dominating the center of the island stood the impregnable Marine base of the 153rd branch.

"Well, here we are!" Luffy exclaimed with pride as he disembarked. Coby and Ragnar tied their boats to the dock and made their way ashore. For a town that was under Marine protection, it was relatively peaceful. There was no indication that pirates would dare consider this place a prime target, especially given that this was the heart of the Marines' power in the East Blue.

"Well, shall we go looking for our pirate hunter?" Ragnar asked as he adjusted his nasal helmet.

"My thoughts exactly, Ragnar!" Luffy replied, and the two friends started walking towards the base.

"Luffy, seriously! Listen to me!" Coby protested as he followed, "You and Ragnar are both out of your minds if you think the right thing to do is persuade this guy to join your crew!"

"Well, I haven't made up my mind yet," Luffy explained, "So, Ragnar and I need to see if he's a good guy."

"Not to mention if he's as capable a warrior you described him to be," Ragnar explained to the little boy.

"Guys! He's in prison because he's obviously not!" Coby yelled. Yet Luffy only made his way to a fruit vendor, and bought a pear for one berry.

"Excuse me, but do you know if a guy named Zoro is here?" Luffy asked, only for those gathered within earshot to back away at the very mention of that name.

"I would say that's a yes," Ragnar muttered, equally befuddled by the odd behavior of the townspeople.

"Maybe we shouldn't mention that name here," Coby suggested. Still, the trio made their way further into town.

"Good idea," Ragnar confirmed with a nod as they all walked deeper along the street.

"Let's go ahead and make for the main barracks," Luffy suggested, indicating to Coby, "You did say you wanted to be a Marine, right?"

"Well of course, I do, Luffy, but I really don't think I'm ready for that just yet," replied Coby, "Besides, from what I hear, the officer who oversees this place is named Captain Morgan." At hearing the name of the Marine captain, the townsfolk all jumped back in utter terror, confusing the poor boy. Luffy only laughed at the reactions they were all getting.

"This town is such a weird place!" He chuckled.

"That's odd," Coby muttered, "I mean, I understand that they're scared of Zoro, but why'd they flip out when I mentioned Captain Morgan?"

"I believe I heard that name before," Ragnar added, "Wasn't he the famed officer who apprehended Captain Kuro - the Man of A Thousand Plans? Leader of the infamous Black Cat Pirates?"

"Hey...yeah!" Luffy replied, "I remember hearing about that three years ago. The newspapers said that he suffered a broken jaw, and that his right arm was so mangled, he had to amputate his hand and replace it with an axe-head as a makeshift prosthetic."

"I got a bad feeling about this, guys," Coby told them both.

"Listen carefully Coby," Luffy told the boy, "You know how Ragnar and I are good pirates, right? Well, not all Marines are heroes. Some of them are corrupt to the core."

"It is true," Ragnar added, "There are some Marine officers who think that they're above the law because they have power over life and death."

"That's horrible!" Coby uttered out in shock.

"And it's codswallop to boot. But we'll know the truth as soon as we can verify it for ourselves."


Before long, the trio reached the imposing iron gates of the Marine barracks. It was just like any other military base around the world, with tall imposing towers, like the turrets of a castle, and grounds where seamen could train, complete administrative work, eat and when time permitted, relax.

"Well, this is it!" Luffy proclaimed. Coby couldn't help but begin weaping tears of joy. Finally, his dream was about to come true!

"I made it..." the boy happily muttered, as he began sobbing, "This is where we all part ways, guys. I know we didn't spend much time together but..." he couldn't finish as he calmed down. Luffy and Ragnar were making their way right towards the stone walls, and Luffy even managed to climb them.

"It sucks that they don't have any footholds," he grumbled as he stood atop Ragnar's shield for support.

"Luffy! Get down from there!" Coby yelled, "What are you doing!? They'll spot you!"

"It'll be fine, Coby," Ragnar grunted, "Besides...Luffy and I...don't even have bounties, after all!" Then he looked up to his friend, "Do you see our pirate hunter anywhere, vinr?"

"Not yet!" Luffy called down, as he scanned the area, "C'mon. Where is this guy anyway?"

"I don't think they'd keep him out in the open," Coby muttered, "He's probably locked up in an underground prison cell."

"Oh wait, there he is! I see him!" Luffy exclaimed, jumping down from Ragnar's shield and stretching his legs up to make himself appear taller.

"Huh? He's outside?" Coby asked, as he managed to climb the outer curtain wall alongside Ragnar to get a sense of what Luffy was talking about. Much to his shock and horror, the boy was unable to believe his own eyes. Tied to a crucifix pole in the middle of a barren yard was the man himself! 'That dark green bandana on his head...and a haramaki...! It's him...Roronoa Zoro!' The boy thought.

"So, this is the famed pirate hunter, Roronoa Zoro, eh?" Ragnar muttered, noting how bad of a state the warrior was, "He looks awful. What did they do to him?"

"I dunno, but I don't think they have a track record of treating prisoners well here," said Luffy, "But hey, if we can free him, he's bound to join our crew!"

"Don't be so stupid, Luffy!" Coby yelled, "There's no telling what a madman like him will do if we tie him loose! He could kill us!"

"Don't worry, Ragnar and I are both strong fighters," said Luffy, unafraid to look death in the eye.

"Besides, in his condition right now, he's probably not capable of wielding a spear," added Ragnar. Coby only was just too shocked by the thought of a man like Zoro on the loose, believing the two pirates had lost their minds.

"Hey, you three!" Zoro groaned out, gazing up at the trio. As they saw his face, they could all see the blood trickling down Zoro's face and mouth. Whatever crime he committed, the Marines did not take too kindly to it, "You're an eyesore...get outta here."

Hearing Zoro tell them to leave only terrified the living daylights out of Coby.

"Luffy, Ragnar, we should listen to him!" Coby stuttered, "Trust me, there's no chance that you two can ever survive if he joins your crew!" Just then a ladder plopped beside them and a little girl climbed up to their level, placing her finger to her mouth indicating silence from the trio, then placed a rope down over the walls, sliding down it, and began walking over to Zoro, much to Coby's horror. "Luffy! Ragnar! We gotta stop her! She'll be killed, either by the Marines or by the..." He didn't finish, as Ragnar covered the boy's mouth with one of his hands.

"She just signaled for us to be quiet, remember!?" whispered the Viking through his teeth. He and Luffy only watched as the little girl made her way up to Zoro with a blanket-wrapped bundle in her hands

"What do you want kid. Go away," Zoro coldly said to the girl.

"I thought you by be getting hungry so I made you some rice balls," said the little girl, unraveling the bundle.

"Do you have a death wish, kid?" Zoro asked, "Just get outta here before they spot you."

"But you haven't eaten anything the whole time you were tied up," she protested, showing off her handiwork. These rice balls were perfectly spherical to the point where one could almost easily mistake them for snowballs. "Here you go! This is my first time making them, so I wasn't really sure about it, but I think they turned out fine."

"Listen kid! I'm not hungry!" Zoro told her, "So, stop bugging me and scram!"

"B-but..."

"Do NOT make me kick your ass, little girl!" At that moment, the gate to the penal yard opened up.

Now, now, no one likes a bully," another voice called out. Zoro and the child only turned their heads, and two marine guards entered, accompanying a lanky young man with blonde hair styled in an odd bob cut that resembled a mushroom cap. On his body, he wore a flashy leisure suit sans necktie. Zoro only glared as he saw the man enter. "Well now, Roronoa Zoro. You appear to be handling this well, don't you?" The man asked, smugly grinning at his captive.

"Hey look," Luffy remarked, "Now there's some weird guy coming."

"That's great! This guy must be with the Marines!" Coby muttered, relieved at the sight of the marines accompanying him, "Now we know that girl will be safe."

"I don't know," Ragnar spoke, "I've got a bad feeling about this man. Just look at how he handles himself: strutting about like he thinks he's some cock-of-the-walk."

"Well look at this. Some tasty rice balls," the man said as he snatched one away from the girl and ate it.

"Hey! That's not for you!" She protested, but as he bit into it, he widened his eyes in shock and began gagging instantly.

"Too sweet!" He shouted, then glared at the little girl, "This has sugar in it! You're supposed to use salt, you idiot!"

"But I...I thought it would taste better if they were sweet," the girl replied, saddened by the fact that a man yelled at her. Furious, the blonde numpty grabbed the remaining rice ball and stamped it to the ground. "No! Stop it! Please, I...I worked so hard on those!" cried the girl.

"Aww, what a shame," the man replied mockingly, taking out a slip of paper from his suit pocket, "It seems you didn't read the notice that was posted: 'Those who assist criminals in any form whatsoever will be executed for treason' - signed Marine Captain Morgan." The child only froze in horror as the man chuckled fiendishly, "It seems even little brats fear my daddy. But, I'm not so cruel as him, so I'll let you off with a warning."

"His daddy?" Luffy asked as he looked on.

"So, that guy's dad is Captain Morgan?" Coby asked with horror. Why would the Marines order the execution of a child who was trying to do a good deed? Yet Ragnar grit his teeth with rage. He would not stand for this insult to one's hospitality!

"Whoa! Easy Ragnar!" Luffy whispered, doing his best to hold his friend back, "We can't give ourselves away!"

The son of Captain Morgan then looked to one of the Marines escorting him and told him, "You there, toss this kid out immediately." Yet the Marine only froze, only to have his collar gripped as the superior man said, "I said throw her over the walls, soldier. Though, if you refuse my orders, you know I could just have you executed for insubordination."

"Y-Yessir!" The soldier stuttered and approached the little girl, not wanting to be condemned to death for simply disobeying an order. "I'm really sorry about this," he whispered to the girl. "Try curling up into a ball."

The soldier then threw the girl over the wall, with a velocity that wasn't even safe for a child. Fortunately, Luffy stretched his arms out and caught her before she could suffer her first broken bones, landing on his side as he held the child close to him.

"Are you okay?" He asked, concerned for her safety.

"Thank you so much, mister!" She replied, smiling up at Luffy, "I think I'll be fine."

"Luffy! You guys okay?" Coby asked as he and Ragnar ran over to the child. Coby then went down to his peer's level, "What about you, little miss? Are you hurt? I can't believe what a wretched man he is. How can he be so cruel?" Yet as he rose to his feet, he saw that only Ragnar was with him, and Luffy was nowhere to be seen. "Where did Luffy go!?"

"I think he went over the walls to talk to that pirate hunter," said Ragnar, looking down to the child. "I'm so sorry that happened to you, young one. What is your name?"

"R-Rika," she replied, then got a good look at the man in armor, "You're a Viking, aren't you? I thought you guys were big, smelly and wore horned helmets."

Ragnar only laughed, "Well, that's a popular impression, but I'm afraid that we're not the barbarians the World Government makes us out to be," he then rose and helped the girl to her feet as he looked to Coby, "Coby, think you can escort Rika back home? I need to ensure Luffy doesn't end up facing the gallows."

"Oh! Of course!" Coby replied, then he led the way back into town with young Rika, while the Viking made his way to climbing the walls to get a glimpse of what was happening.


Inside the penal yard, Zoro only grumbled as the son of Captain Morgan laughed sinisterly as he passed him.

"My, my! You're certainly strong willed," he said to the pirate hunter, "You're just determined to survive, aren't you?"

"That's right. A promise is a promise after all," Zoro replied, "I plan on making it through the month without any problems."

"Right, well good luck with that!" The man cackled as he walked away, the two Marines escorting him soon following behind.

"Don't forget, I have ten days left, you bastard!" Zoro reminded the man.

"Assuming you'll be able to last those ten days!"

Zoro still grumbled incoherently as he heard that despicable brat's laughter echoing in the distance. Yet as he looked at the ground, his eyes rose to see Luffy standing before him, and Ragnar climbing the walls to join his friend.

"Roronoa Zoro, was it?" Ragnar asked, "From what my friend and I hear, you are a great warrior."

"You guys are still here?" Zoro asked.

"Indeed we are," Ragnar replied, bowing as he introduced himself, "I am Ragnar of the Lion Clan, son of Sigurd, Jarl of Fornburg."

"A Viking, huh? Well, that's a first," Zoro muttered. What reason would a Viking have to be all the way out here in the East Blue, "If you're looking to kill me, then it'll have to wait until I get outta here."

"So, here you are stuck out here for all the world to see, and you're acting like it's nothing," said Luffy, "Are you really all that strong a warrior?"

"Shut up! Mind your own business!" Zoro grumbled at Luffy, but the boy just happily approached the infamous warrior.

"If I were you, I'd probably starve to death in three days," Luffy replied.

"That makes one of us," Zoro replied, "I have more spirit than you ever could have. Which is how I'm gonna make it through this ordeal, this I promise."

"If you say so," said Luffy as he looked to Ragnar with a nod, "We're done here. Let's go back and regroup with Coby."

As they walked, Zoro was only shocked. Those two only came to speak with him? Why?

"Wait, hold on!" The pirate hunter told them, "Before you leave, could one of you pick up that up for me?" He then nudged signalling that he wanted the rice ball that was smashed to the ground earlier.

"You're gonna eat this?" Luffy asked, picking it up "It's mostly a ball of mud now."

"Just shut up and give it to me! NOW!" Zoro demanded.

"Better do what he asks, vinr," Ragnar told his captain, "He needs all the strength he can get right now."

Luffy was still unsure of what to make, but clearly, Zoro was starving after having not eaten for almost a month. Out of the kindness of his heart, and respect for the pirate hunter's reputation, he fed Zoro the rice ball, which he stomached down before coughing up what little dirt and rocks were trapped in the starches of the rice.

"Should've listened to me," Luffy muttered.

"It was good," said Zoro, "Tell that kid I said thanks for the food."


Once back in town, Luffy and Ragnar told Rika and Coby about how Zoro enjoyed the rice ball, and how it was better than the blonde numpty critiqued the one he ate.

"Really, he ate it?" Rika asked.

"He sure did, every grain of rice there was," Luffy replied.

"It's true, I saw it with my own eyes," added Ragnar, "Though, I would recommend making them as a dessert in the future."

"I can't help but wonder if Zoro's really as evil as the rumors say that he is," pondered Coby, unsure his earlier impression of the man.

"No! He's not!" Rika insisted, "Zoro's a good guy, because, he got himself punished for us."

"What do you mean by that?" Luffy asked.

"You know that man who was Captain Morgan's son?" She asked, "His name's Helmeppo, and this whole thing is all his fault. About a month ago, he came into town brandishing a sword and letting a wolf run loose through the streets, and even into my family's restaurant. I tried to shoo it away, but then the wolf right at me...like it was gonna eat me. Then, Zoro threw a stool at it. He saved me, but Helmeppo tried to cut him. Zoro punched the guy, and made a deal. Just to save my mom and I, he agreed to be tied up for a whole month. It's already been three weeks since that day; Helmeppo keeps beating Zoro while he's tied up, he's being so unfair!" Rika only hid her face in her hands so Luffy and Ragnar couldn't see her cry, "I don't...I don't know how to help him!"

"I see why you're upset," said Coby, trying to calm her down.

"What he did that day was honorable," added Ragnar, "We will ensure he is treated with respect. Count on it."

Suddenly the sound of breaking china came from nearby, catching their attention.

"Oh no! That's from my mom's restaurant!" Rika cried. Luffy and Ragnar looked inside, and saw that spoiled man-child, Helmeppo, along with his two Marine escorts, throwing his feet on a table as he sat, breaking a priceless bowl of fruit.

"Alright ma'am, I'm hungry!" He declared, "Bring me whatever you got and keep the check for yourself. And bring me a bottle of your finest wine, of whatever grog you serve!" As soon as Luffy and Ragnar walked in, the former couldn't help but notice a familiar face...it was that girl he saw when he, Coby and Ragnar were fleeing the Lady Mary after that fight with Alvida! The very girl whose life he saved from a Marine cannonball... what was she doing here? Perhaps she was stopping to resupply? However, his attention soon turned back to Helmeppo, who was served a glass of red wine as he began monologuing to himself, "Now then, I wonder what I can do to stop being bored out of my skull here. I suppose I could go ahead and execute Zoro for the fun of it!" Hearing those words, both Luffy and Ragnar both completely lost it. How dare this bastard try and execute a man of honor out of pure spite! They both needed to set an example. Quick as a flash, the two charged straight at him, Luffy socking Helmeppo right in the face and sending him straight into the wall. "You...You just hit me!" Helmeppo cried, as he tried to cover up the nosebleed.

"Luffy, stop! You can't hit him! He's the son of a Marine officer!" Coby shouted, trying to restrain Luffy as best he could.

"This guy's a scumbag!" Luffy growled, his eyes seething with rage.

"Y-you actually punched me!" Helmeppo whined, "Do you have any idea who I am!? I am Captain Morgan's son!"

"Doesn't matter to me!"

"It will when he has you executed!"

"Why don't you just grow a pair and fight me instead of hiding behind your father like a shield, you coward?!" Luffy then let Ragnar past him as the Viking grabbed Helmeppo by the collar.

"You absolute dumbr lombungr!" Ragnar roared, "You strike a deal with an innocent man for protecting a mother and child, and you decide to execute him on a whim!? To dishonor your agreement out of sheer boredom!? Nothing hangs between your thighs! In fact, there is a hole there so deep, it reaches straight into Ginungagap, you argr brauðnefr!"

Humiliated before his Marine escorts and ashamed about the jabs at his manhood, Helmeppo dragged himself up from the dirt and fled back towards the base, exactly like the coward he was. Everyone in the restaurant was horrified, but also eternally grateful. Those two just stood up to Helmeppo - either they were incredibly brave, or they were utter fools for threatening the son of Captain Morgan! Yet Luffy's eyes once more met those of the ginger-haired young woman he encountered earlier. And again, time almost seemed to come to a complete standstill. He couldn't even hear Coby yelling at him and Ragnar both for their actions.

"Luffy! Ragnar! What were you guys thinking!?" Coby yelled, "Do you two have any idea what getting on the Marines' bad side will get you!?"

"It matters not, Coby," said Ragnar, "That ergi is without honor, unlike Zoro. If he were anything like his father, he would seek a career as an officer."

"I've made up my mind. Ragnar!" Luffy suddenly declared.

"Your orders, Captain?" the Viking asked.

"Today, Zoro joins the crew!"

"Ja. Let's go free him!"

Luffy donned his straw hat while Ragnar followed him out of the restaurant. And so, the two friends set off to free their next crewmate!


Back at the Marines barracks, Captain Morgan was sitting at his desk in his office with his back turned to the seaman in the room, looking out the window of his office whilst smoking a cigar.

"I am truly great," said Morgan obviously enraptured in his own narcissistic ego.

"Yessir! You're right, Captain Morgan, Sir," the seaman replied, still saluting his superior commanding officer. This was the man who brought down Captain Kuro, the sole survivor of the encounter with the Black Cat Pirates, and yet instead of respect, the poor seaman couldn't help but feel a twinge of fear.

"Yet, the taxes we collect don't even compare to my sheer degree of greatness."

"Apologies about that, Sir. I guess the citizens' wallets just aren't very deep these days, Sir."

"The issue at hand here is their level of respect for me, wouldn't you agree?"

At that moment, Helmeppo barged into his father's office, clutching his swollen left cheek.

"Daddy, there's some men outside that I want you to slaughter, and I want it done right now!" He complained. That little brat hoped that his father would take action and protect his own son against this perceived slight.


Meanwhile, out in the crucifixion yard, Zoro could not help but remember the days he spent training as a boy. The sights and sounds filled his head. He could still hear the sound of shinai striking each other, and that taunting he usually got...from her - the only girl who could defeat him. And yet, for all his frustration, he couldn't help but recall the oath he swore to her. He had no choice but to try to survive, and endure this punishment, for her sake... it was only then that he noticed that Luffy and Ragnar were both back, standing before him.

"Oh, it's you again. Don't you guys have better things to do?" Zoro asked them both.

"I'm afraid not," said Ragnar, "You are the reason we're here in the first place."

"Ragnar's telling the truth," said Luffy, "I'll untie you, but only if you promise to join my crew."

"Your what?!" Zoro asked, confused.

"Ragnar and I run a pirate crew, and we're looking for new recruits to join us."

"No way, I'd never stoop to joining up with a criminal, screw that business."

"What's wrong with being a pirate?" Luffy asked

"They're despicable! Like I'd ever wanna join up with one."

"Oh, come on. Everyone already knows you as some vicious bounty hunter always out for blood."

"People can say whatever they want about me, but I've never done anything in my life that I regret," Zoro declared, smiling at them both with determination in his eyes, "I told you both before: I will make it through this ordeal. And once I'm free, I'll be able to accomplish my goal."

Ragnar could not help but smile at Zoro's stubbornness.

"You are nothing if not honorable," he said, "And you are willing to die for the misdeeds of others. Call me a fool, but I cannot abandon the righteous."

"He's right," Luffy replied with a smile, "Besides, I've already decided that you're going to be part of my crew."

"You can't make that decision when I haven't even consented yet!" Zoro yelled.

"Sure, I can, I'm your Captain after all," Luffy said with a grin. "Besides I hear your one of the best swordsmen around."

"I am, but that idiot Captain's son took mine away."

"Well then, I'll just go get it back for you," Luffy declared, "So, if you want your sword back, you'll have to join my crew."

"NOW YOU'RE REALLY STARTING TO PISS ME OFF!" Zoro yelled, but Luffy just started running towards the base dead set on getting Zoro's sword back. Zoro just watched him go with a dumbfounded look on his face. "Wait...he's actually gonna go in there all by himself?" Zoro muttered to himself. But then he noticed Luffy running in the wrong direction. "Hey genius! The base is in the other direction!"

"Ragnar, think you can stand guard while I get Zoro's sword?" Luffy asked.

"With my life, Captain," replied the Viking.

"Thanks! I'll be back soon," Luffy only stretched out his arms to the gate nearest the base, and let them snap back, shouting, "Gum-Gum Rocket!"

Zoro only looked on in shock. He'd never seen someone stretch like Luffy just did.

"Wh-What the hell is this kid!?" Zoro asked utterly speechless

"My, or rather, our captain," noted Ragnar with a confident grin, "Well, at any rate. Once he gets back with your sword, I'll set about untying you. Until then, you and I have much to discuss, Broga."


Elsewhere, atop the highest tower of the base, Captain Morgan oversaw what he found as perhaps the pinnacle of his career: a giant statue of himself in all of his glory. All of Shells Town would know exactly who to praise and revere for his victories in battle.

"That's it men! Stop right there!" He told his subordinates, "Now, hoist it up with everything you've got!"

"Well daddy, are you going to get revenge on these guys or what?" Helmeppo whined, "I mean these men just out right struck me in public. You've never hit me before, so why should he be able to?"

"Do you have any remote idea as to why I've never hit you?" Morgan asked Helmeppo with his back turned to him.

"Isn't it because you think I'm great?" Helmeppo asked, hesitantly.

"No. It's because…" Morgan began before he turned around and socked his own son, sending him flying straight into a wall. Helmeppo was lucky that he didn't fall to his death! "…you're a stupid fool who isn't even worth hitting," Morgan finished, then he picked up his son by the collar with the wooden shaft of the axe that replaced his right hand, "Don't get the wrong idea, the only great one here is the man you call your father," he declared as he let a terrified Helmeppo drop back to the floor of the roof. "That reminds me; I heard that a little rat snuck into the crucifixion yard."

"That's right, the little girl. But I had her dealt with," Helmeppo said.

"I hope that means killed," replied Morgan

"What!? No! I didn't kill her, she's just a kid!" Helmeppo protested, "Dad, I understand killing criminals and pirates, but...with all due respect, don't you think that outright killing children is a bit too far!?"

Refusing to answer his son's question, Morgan only looked to his lieutenant.

"You there!" He ordered, "Go into town, find this girl and kill her!"

"But Sir, you can't be serious!? she's just a little girl!" the lieutenant protested.

"I don't care if she's a child or not! Anyone who disobeys my orders is a traitor."

"No sir. With all due respect, sir, I can't do it!"

Pale with rage, Morgan struck the lieutenant hard on the head with the blunt end of his axe, killing him instantly. All those who looked on cowered at the sight of it.

"Dad! You killed him!" Helmeppo screamed.

"My strength is what I used to rise to the rank of Captain," Morgan declared, "Listen, in this world titles are what matter. That means by being the captain of the base and the highest-ranking officer, I am the most superior person as far as the eye can see! This means that I do everything right! Is that clear, men!?"

"Yes, Sir you are correct Sir!" stuttered the Marines.

"Good. Now let's put killing the girl on hold for now," he declared, turning back to the statue, "Behold: the greatest symbol of my eternal glory! It took me years to complete but here it is. Now hoist it up, display my greatness at the top of this base for all to see!"


Meanwhile, down below, Luffy managed to reach the entrance to the base.

"Huh...that's odd. Doesn't look like anyone's home," he muttered, "I gotta find that Helmeppo guy and get Zoro's sword back for him, but where could he be?" That was when Luffy noticed the scene atop the roof of the tower. "Hey, it sounds like something's going on up on the roof. Guess I should check it out!"

As the Marines raised the statue of their captain, the left hand bumped against the dome of one of the observation turrets. Before long, Morgan selected his victim, glaring down at him with murderous intent.

"You there!" Morgan growled, readying his axe, "You bumped it!"

"I-I-I'm sorry, Sir. I didn't mean it!" The marine begged

"I consider the slightest scratch on this nothing less than a traitorous action punishable by death!" Morgan declared, but as he rose his axe blade to strike the poor sap down, Luffy stretched his arm up to grab onto the ledge of the top.

"Gum-Gum Rocket!" the boy shouted, as he left the ground and was sent flying into the sky, right past Morgan and his subordinates, "Oh crap! I overshot!"

"What the heck is that!?" One Marine asked.

"It looks like a teenage boy!" Another shouted, "He just jumped up from the ground!"

Luffy quickly reached his hands out, hoping to cling to anything that could stop his trajectory of flight. Before long, he found it: one of the ropes used to secure Morgan's statue of himself.

"Got it!" The boy declared with relief, but the sudden jolt of the rope caused the statue to fall right onto the rim of the tower, cracking at the hips! Desperately, the Marines tried with all their might to save this monument, but to no avail. As Luffy made a perfect landing on his feet, he watched as the grandiose monument to Axe-Hand Morgan broke in half right above the pelvis. Morgan and all who witnessed this accident were all horrified. This statue, which took years to complete, was now broken in half, ruined! "Uh...sorry about that," Luffy meekly apologized, thinking that it was merely an accident. Yet Morgan thought otherwise, and his shock immediately was overcome by rage.

"SEIZE HIM AND BIND HIM, SO THAT I CAN KILL HIM MYSELF!" Morgan roared, apoplectic from the tone of his voice.

"That's him! that's one of the guys who punched me, daddy!" Helmeppo yelled, instantly recognizing Luffy from the restaurant.

"There you are!" Luffy exclaimed, causing Helmeppo to scream at the top of his lungs in fear as the Straw Hat boy grabbed him, "I been looking all over this base for you. You've got something I need to get back!" With that, Luffy ran off into the base, taking Helmeppo with him, much to the Marines' horror.

"DO NOT LET THAT BOY ESCAPE!" Morgan bellowed, more concerned about killing Luffy than the wellbeing of his own son.

"Captain! Look!" A marine shouted, "There's someone down in the crucifixion yard!" Morgan only turned and saw a small figure running towards Zoro and another individual who was leaning on the crucifix.

"Unbelievable..." the captain hissed venomously, "I'm surrounded by traitors!"


As Luffy dragged Helmeppo through the heart of the base, he passed that orange haired young girl. Once more, their eyes met and again time slowed to a standstill, but Luffy kept running as the girl ran the other way. Yet there was something about that girl, something that kept his thoughts coming back to her... all his instincts told him he should never let her out of his sight, never forget about her, but for now, his thoughts were preoccupied by one sole thought.

"Alright, so fess up!" He ordered Helmeppo, "Just tell me where Zoro's sword is."

"Okay! Okay! I give!" Helmeppo cried, "I'll tell you! I promise, just stop dragging me across the carpet!" All at once, Luffy came to a halt.

"There, we've stopped, so where's the sword?" Luffy asked

"It's in my room," Helmeppo replied, pointing behind his captor, "We just passed it. It's three doors down on the left."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Luffy asked, "Now we gotta go all the way back." As he spun round, he noticed three marines blocking his path, all armed with muskets aimed right at him.

"Don't move! Unless it's to release Helmeppo!" one of them ordered.

"Go ahead and try to shoot me if you want," Luffy challenged, placing Helmeppo in front of him as a human shield, "But just keep in mind: I have a hostage!"

"No please, don't shoot!" Helmeppo begged as Luffy proceeded to run past the marines with Helmeppo as his unwitting captive.


Down in the crucifixion yard, Coby was busy trying to free Zoro from his bonds, while Ragnar stood guard, per Luffy's orders.

"You've got to get out of here Zoro," said Coby, doing his best to untie the knots.

"That maniac is going to kill you both for what you're doing right now," Zoro warned. He didn't want any innocent blood on his hands.

"Unfortunately, I'm afraid we can't sit back and do nothing," said Ragnar

"I can't stand to watch the marines behave like this anymore," Coby added, completely disregarding the warning, "A true marine should be honorable."

"He's right. And these Marines lack the honor worthy of respect and admiration," Ragnar added.

"Look, I appreciate what you guys are trying to do, but I can't leave!" Zoro explained, "I've got 10 days left, and then they're-" he never finished

"Actually, they're going to execute you tomorrow," Coby interrupted, greatly shocking the pirate hunter.

"What!?" Zoro asked, completely in disbelief

"Helmeppo never intended to honor your agreement," Coby explained. "He planned on killing you from the start, which made Luffy and Ragnar really angry, so he just knocked him out."

"I'm afraid It's true. I heard that coward speak those words myself," Ragnar added, "That man is an argr swine with no sense of honor. Luffy and I ensured he learned his lesson."

"He did?" Zoro only asked, his initial shock having calmed down. Ragnar only nodded in confirmation.

"Now that the marines are mad, they're dead set on catching Luffy," explained Coby, "Don't worry, I'm not gonna ask you to become a pirate though. But I hope you'll help him; you have a lot of strength you can offer. Luffy's the only person who can actually save you from execution and you're the only one who can help save him from a very similar fate."

As Coby spoke, Zoro only couldn't help but feel that the boy was right. If the marines were really going to execute him, then he needed to get out of here. He refused to go down without a fight. But then, all at once, a thunderous boom shattered the silence, and Coby was sent straight to the ground, his glasses flying off him, with the slightest streak of blood. The boy was shot by a musket ball!

"NO! COBY!" Ragnar shouted, rushing over to his young companion. "Tears of Freyja... you foolish boy! Why didn't you duck down!?" He asked, only noticing Coby waking up to discover the wound on his left shoulder.

"I'VE BEEN SHOT! I'M BLEEDING!" The boy screamed, horrified by what just happened, but causing Ragnar to be at ease.

"Thank the Gods, you live," he muttered, examining the wound, "You're lucky. The ball only hit flesh. I'm gonna get you to a doctor, right now!"

"No! We can't!" Coby protested as he painfully got to his feet, and put his glasses back on, "We...We still gotta free Zoro!"

Ragnar took out his shield, and stood in front of Coby. "Never mind that, Coby! Get behind me, now!" He growled, grimacing at the sight before him.

"End of the line, you maggots!" A gruff voice yelled, and Zoro and Coby saw what Ragnar did: a whole platoon of Marines now stood before them, all aiming their muskets at them, and behind the men, with his axe on his shoulder, was Captain Morgan, "For the crime of treason committed against me, I sentence you all to die where you stand." Coby only was petrified with fear, while Zoro and Ragnar glared at the soldiers.

"Without a trial? You must surely know that your superiors will not stand for it, Morgan," Ragnar hissed, but it was clear Morgan wasn't interested in providing an answer.

"So, it appears we have a Norseman eager to meet his Gods," Morgan only declared, making note of Ragnar's armor and weapons, "You've been pulling some interesting strings here, barbarian! What are you hoping to achieve!? Some kinda poorly executed coup you three planned with the Straw Hat!?"

"I've always fought alone, like a real man does!" Zoro yelled back, "I'm not the kind of guy who hides behind his expendable wall of cronies!"

"Roronoa Zoro, don't you dare underestimate me!" Morgan told the pirate hunter, "You may be one of the most renowned swordsmen in the East Blue, but compared to me, you're just a rat we throw out with the trash!"

Ragnar only had one thought going on in his head: Where the heck was Luffy!?


Inside the base, meanwhile, Luffy finally made it to Helmeppo's room, the door of which was easily marked out by a sign surrounded by a floral wreath.

"This definitely looks like your room," Luffy muttered, taking in the surroundings. For a man-child, Helmeppo certainly had good tastes and liked keeping himself well groomed, given the bottles of cologne on the desk that stood opposite the door. Then, Luffy's eyes turned to what was to the left of it: three katanas leaning against the wall, two black and one white. "Jackpot!" He muttered, approaching the swords, "Hold on...there are three here." He then turned to Helmeppo and asked, "Hey, buddy! Which one of these swords is Zoro's?" Yet it was to no avail. Helmeppo had obviously fainted from the shock of being held hostage. Just then, the sudden blaring of a horn caught Luffy's attention from outside. The boy looked out the window and saw Coby, Zoro and Ragnar surrounded by armed men. "Hang on, guys! I'm coming!" Luffy muttered, tying the swords to his back ad he stretched his arms. "Gum-Gum Rocket!" He yelled as he snapped his arms back, slinging himself through the windows and landing just as the Marines fired a volley...straight at Luffy, who now stood like a stone wall to defend his friends!

"What!?" Zoro asked, shocked by

"Luffy, no!" Coby screamed, terrified by the sight.

"Straw Hat!" Morgan growled, but then something caught all their attention.

The musket balls were caught by Luffy's skin, and stretching back, not penetrating flesh one inch! The Marines were just stunned. What was happening? Luffy only grinned like and idiot, and straightened his body out, sending the musket balls flying off him, scattering them in all directions, passing by Morgan and his men by mere inches.

"That won't work on me! I told ya I was strong!" Luffy laughed, standing there triumphantly, completely unaffected by the volley that struck him.

Everyone was shocked at what had just happened. Never before had they seen someone who was actually impervious to musket balls.

"What the...!? Hey! You wanna tell me just who the hell you think you are?!" Zoro asked, shocked at what he had witnessed.

Luffy only turned back to the swordsman and declared with pride: "I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm the man who's gonna be King of the Pirates!"


A/N: So here we are! Zoro's debut at last! For this one, I tried to stay true to both the anime and the manga. In the original manga chapters, Coby was indeed shot in the shoulder, which is something that was depicted in the Episode of East Blue OVA series. Now, I describe the firearms that the Marines are issued with as muskets as opposed to rifles. Why? Well, as you guys may have noticed, in the anime, the Marines are issued with rifles, yes, but during the Golden Age of Piracy, most armies were issued with smoothbore flintlock muskets. Yes, there were also flintlock rifles, but since the Great Pirate Era is based on the historical Golden Age of Piracy, I figured it would be more appropriate for the Marines to be armed with muskets.

Also, we have some info about Ragnar's homeland. The name of the land he's from, Norðvegr, comes from the Old Norse name for Norway, with the unification tale being based largely on the unification of Norway in the 870s CE by Harald Fairhair, who was the first king of a united Norway, which was one of the seminal events of the Viking Age. So, to truly understand what Ragnar was telling Coby about his homeland at the beginning of the chapter, we have to establish some context about the real historical Vikings. In our timeline, the Vikings came from the frozen lands of Scandinavia, which make up the modern countries of Norway, Sweden and Denmark, and are largely what Norðvegr is based on. With its bitterly cold winters and proximity to the Arctic Circle, much of the landscape is covered with snow and ice during the winter months, and most of the region is marked by deep water fjords and mountains. For an agriculture-based society like the Vikings, lands suitable for farming and rearing livestock was a precious commodity aggressively fought over by various Norse clans. Civil wars would often break out over fertile lands, with farms and villages constantly being raided and pillaged. Some historians theorize that this was largely the result of a population explosion in Medieval Scandinavia, and may have helped shape the Vikings into being such fearsome warriors. So, with very few prospects of a good life in their own homelands, the Vikings took to the high seas to make their fortunes. As often is the case with people struggling to survive, desperation is a great motivator for innovation.

This now brings us to what Coby pointed out and Ragnar confirmed: the Vikings are able to sail to and from the Grand Line with ease! How? Well, for that we once more have to look only to our own history, and the historical Vikings' greatest technological accomplishment: the longship. Unlike most ships of the early Middle Ages that had to remain near to the coastline to stay on course, the Viking longships had no such restrictions. Their revolutionary design allowed the Vikings to adapt to their environment: they could venture out on the high seas, and even sail up rivers! They were also light enough to be carried overland and their shallow draft hulls gave them another critical advantage, which was speed - and these ships were fast! With favorable conditions, a full sail and all hands rowing, longships were able to reach speeds of up to 14 knots! This was extremely crucial to their success, as no other vessel of the age could catch up to them.

Last thing I wanna point out, you may have noticed the mention of how Morgan survived an encounter with another infamous pirate captain... I'm not spoiling anything, but just know that we have some major foreshadowing ahead for when we meet Usopp!