"I am great." said a big man in his office.

"Yes sir." agreed a marine behind him, though he could think of a thousand things about the the guy that proved him wrong. "You are indeed great."

"Then why is it that the 'tributes' from the townsfolk have dwindled?" he asked.

"Sir, the townsfolk haven't the money to-"

"It's not whether they have money! It's about whether they respect me." he said, clearly annoyed by the town's 'disrespect'.

"FATHER!" came the shrill cry of Helmeppo. "There's someone in town that I want you to kill for me!" Normally Morgan, Helmeppo's father, wouldn't even bother looking at his son for something like this. However, he turned and raised an eyebrow at what he saw and heard.

"Why is your voice so high?" he asked while seeing Helmeppo holding a bag of ice between his legs.

()()()()

Luffy was walking towards the marine base again while Coby was yelling at him not to do anything even more stupid.

"Are you okay with this?" Luffy suddenly asked as he looked back at Coby. Coby stopped ranting as he listened to Luffy. "Are you okay leaving this place as it is with guys marines like Morgan and Helmeppo in charge?" Coby slowly let Luffy's question sink in as he remembered how everyone reacted around them.

"Well no-"

"Then shut up and follow me." Luffy said with a smile as he started walking again.

()()()()

Zoro was jolted out his sleep. He looked around, remembering where he was before he saw Luffy standing in front of him and frowned again.

"You again? What do you want?" he asked. Luffy smiled as he said "I want you to join my pirate crew. Zoro just raised his eyebrow at him before answering.

"Not a chance. I got things I want to do, and becoming a pirate isn't one of them." Zoro said in a bored tone. Luffy smiled again as he crossed his arms.

"Sorry, but I've made up my mind. You're joining my crew Zoro." Luffy said.

"DID YOU NOT HEAR A WORD I SAID?! I SAID I'M NOT JOINING YOU!" Zoro screamed.

"By the way, where are you swords Zoro?" Luffy asked, ignoring Zoro's refusal. Zoro calmed down as he explained that Morgan's son took them away. Luffy smiled again. "Alright then. I'll go get your swords then."

"Huh?"

"And if you want them back, you have to join my crew."

"YOU LITTLE SHIT! THAT'S BLACKMAIL!" Zoro screamed. He just sighed as he lowered his head before looking up and seeing Luffy run off in away from the base. "Hey, it's in the other direction!" Zoro screamed. Luffy looked behind him and stopped.

'Just like last time. I thought the building was this way.' Luffy thought before muttering. "It's a mystery building." He then smiled as he got over the shock and stretched his arms out, rocketing over to the building, freaking Zoro out as he did. Luffy looked up at the roof, remembering that everyone was up there for some reason, and decided to figure out what this time. He then stretched his hand up to the roof, but slowly pulled himself up to see instead of flying over everyone. When he got up there, he peeked over the top to see the marines pulling up a giant statue that looked just like Morgan. He frowned as he looked and saw Morgan himself up there as well.

He was a tall man with blond hair and tan skin. He wore a Marine Captain's jacket, a blueish black button up shirt, pants that changed from light blue to dark blue all over it, and brown boots. He also had what looked like some weird metal jaw over his lower jaw, and an axe instead of a right hand. He also wore an annoyed look on his face due to Helmeppo yelling at him to kill Luffy for striking him.

"Even you've never hurt me before father!" he said, trying to lower his voice as Luffy's attack from earlier still hadn't fully worn off, as evident to the ice bag he held against himself. Luffy had to use all his willpower to not burst out laughing.

"Do you know why I've never hurt you?" Morgan asked.

"I-it's because I'm your beloved son, fath-"

"WRONG!" he shouted as he hit Helmeppo with his fist. "It's because you're a fool who's not worth striking!" He then hoisted him up by his collar with the tip of his axe and brought him to his face. "I allow you to use my status because it doesn't bother me. But don't you forget one thing. I am the one who is great!" he bellowed before dropping him. He then went on about how he got his rank through strength. How titles are what matters and that this statue would show everyone his greatness. Luffy just listened with a bored expression, but perked up when Morgan mentioned a little girl.

"A girl? Yes I dealt with her." Helmeppo said.

"Then that means she's dead right?" Morgan asked.

"What? No. She's just a little kid." Helmeppo said.

"You there. Find that girl and kill her!" Morgan ordered one of his men.

"What? I can't do that."

"Did I just hear you say you won't obey my orders?" Morgan said as he walked over towards the marine. "I said kill that little girl!"

"I...I won't. I won't do it!" the marine said. Morgan brought his axe down, aiming to kill the marine. His blade was stopped less than an inch away from the marine's shoulder, much to his and everyone else's surprise.

"That's enough." said Luffy. He had stepped in and was now holding Morgan's Axe in place with his thumb and forefinger, anger in his tone at Morgan's attempt to kill the man.

"What the?! Who are you?!" Morgan bellowed as he glared at Luffy. He tried pulling his axe away, but he couldn't budge it. Everyone stared before Helmeppo started screaming.

"It's him daddy! That's the guy who struck me!" Helmeppo said as he pointed at Luffy. Morgan glared at Luffy before bringing his fist towards him.

"BASTARD!" he screamed. Luffy smiled under his hat before he disappeared just before Morgan's fist hit him. Everyone went wide eyed as they looked around for him.

"Over here." Luffy said, gaining their attention. He was standing between the marines and the statue they were pulling. He then looked at the ropes before quickly bringing his left leg up in one swift motion. Nothing happened as he lowered his leg and muttered "Tempest kick."

No sooner did he say that, the ropes were all sliced, letting the giant statue fall back and break in half, leaving the top half to fall and shatter on impact. Everyone just gapped at Luffy, who was smiling at it all. "Shishishishi."

"SEIZE THAT LITTLE FUCKER!" Morgan belowed to his subordinates.

"Hey you." Luffy said as he appeared before Helmeppo, who just looked at him for a second before screaming and trying to run away. Luffy grabbed him by the collar as he smiled again. "You got something I need." he said before running off through the doorway into the base.

"He's got Helmeppo!" a marine yelled.

"Bring me that straw hatted fool!" Morgan ordered. "And one of you. Find and kill that little brat from earlier!"

"Captain. Someone's trying to free the prisoner from the yard!" shouted one of the marines who was pointing down at Coby and Zoro.

"I'm surrounded by treason!" Morgan growled as a vein stood out on his forehead.

()()()()

"Now where's Zoro's sword?" Luffy asked as he ran through the base, dragging Helmeppo along with him. Even though he'd done this before, he didn't care to remember what room was what in the base.

"I'll tell you where they are! Just stop dragging me across the carpet!" he shrieked. Luffy stopped as he looked at Helmeppo, who pointed down the direction they came from. "My room down there on the left. You just past it."

"Why didn't you say so earlier? Now we gotta go back."

"Drop Helmeppo and put your hands up!" shouted a marine as he and his comrades pointed their guns at Luffy.

"Wait a moment." Luffy said before putting Helmeppo between him and the marines and smiled. "Now you can shoot."

"NO NO NO NO! HOLD YOU FIRE!" Helmeppo screamed as Luffy used him to push past the marines.

()()()()

Coby was down in the yard, trying to untie Zoro from the post.

"You got a death wish kid? If they catch you, they'll kill you on sight." Zoro said.

"I can't sit back and watch these marines anymore. They're bringing shame to what a true marine is."

"Look kid. I've got 10 more days until-"

"More like ten minutes. They're gonna execute you anyway."

"What?" Zoro asked as his eyes widened.

"Helmeppo was never gonna honor your deal. Now you're only awaiting death if you stay here." Coby said. "Luffy's inside getting chased by the marines. I'm not gonna ask you to be a pirate, only to help him just this once. You have a lot of strength and can definitely help him out. Luffy's your only chance to getting out of here alive, just like you're the only one who can help him get out as well."

"Hold it right there!" bellowed Morgan as the marines aimed their guns at them. Zoro and Coby both looked at him in surprise.

()()()()

"Yep. This is your room alright." Luffy said as he looked around the girly room that was Helmeppo's. He immediately eyed Zoro's swords and smiled as he walked over to them. "Found them. Thanks for your help." he said before he dropped an unconcious Helmeppo on the floor. He then tied the swords onto his back, then walked to the window, spotting Morgan and the marines, all ready to kill Zoro and Coby. "Better get down there." he said before stretching his arms out and flying out the window.

"FIRE!" Morgan shouted before the marines fired away. Zoro and Coby looked away, expecting death. None of them expected Luffy to appear before them and step in front of the path of the bullets.

"WHAT?!"

"LUFFY NO!"

"STRAW HAT!"

Luffy just smiled as the bullets stretched back in body before he bounced them all back, laughing that it was useless as the marines ducked to avoid being hit. Zoro just stared at him as he asked what he was. Luffy turned around with a smile and a thumbs up. "My name's Luffy. And I'm the man who will be King of the Pirates."

"Do you have any idea what that means?" Zoro asked.

"King of the Pirates means King of the Pirates." Luffy answered.

"It sounds crazy, but he's dead serious about it." Coby said as Luffy untied the swords off his back and held them in front of Zoro.

"Got your sword for ya. There were three, so I grabbed them all. Are they all yours?" he asked, feigning stupidity as he already knew the answer.

"Actually they are. I use three sword style." Zoro said, moving his arms around in his bindings.

"Alright. I'll let you go. But if you fight now, you'll be labeled a criminal in the eye of the marines. So it's either fight or die. Well?"

"Hmph. Looks like a I don't have a choice huh?" Zoro said with a smirk. "Fine. I'm in."

"YES! Look Coby! I got my first crewmate!" Luffy said as he danced around. He was one step closer to getting his crew together again.

"Stop dancing and untie me you moron!" Zoro shouted. Luffy stopped and tried to untie Zoro, while Morgan ordered his men to attack.

"If guns won't work, use your swords!" he bellowed. Soon, all the marines were charging at them, ready to cut them down. Luffy pretended to untie the knot, waiting until they were close enough.

"Man, these are tight." Luffy said.

"Quit screwing around already!" Zoro said.

"There, got one." Luffy said as he untied his left arm.

"Give me my sword now!" Zoro screamed. Luffy gave him a sword, which he used in the blink of an eye to cut the ropes, unsheath his other blades, and stop the marine's attacks in mid swing.

"Whoa!" Coby said, while Luffy just smiled.

"Move and you die." Zoro threatened through his clenched teeth, causing the other marines to cry.

"Scary."

"Alright. I've fought the marines. That officially makes me a wanted criminal, so I'll join you as a pirate. But I'm only going to say this once. Even though I sail under you, I only care about my ambition."

"Which is?" Luffy asked, knowing the answer.

"To be the greatest swordsman in the world. And if you make me give up my dream for any reason, I'll cut you where you stand. Got it?"

Luffy just smiled, remembering this speech before as he nodded. "Got it. And it suits me just fine. King of the Pirates should only have the best on his crew."

"Heh. You're a cocky one." Zoro said with a smile.

"What are you standing around for?!" Morgan bellowed. "Kill all of them now!"

"Zoro. Duck." Luffy said before he pulled his leg back. Zoro did so as Luffy called out "Gum Gum...WHIP!" as his leg stretched out and swatted the marines away. Zoro just stared at him as he asked what he was. "I ate the Gum Gum fruit." Luffy said, leaving Zoro to stare at him. Morgan narrowed his eyes as he thought of the rumors of the Devil fruit. How eating one granted you a power of the Sea Devil, but made the ocean reject you and took away your ability to swim.

"Gum Gum fruit! This is insane!" one of the marines said, snapping Morgan out of his thoughts. He listened as the marines starting saying they were too strong to beat and that didn't stand a chance against the two of them.

"THIS IS AN ORDER! THOSE WHO JUST SPOUTED WEAKNESS, TAKE YOUR GUNS AND SHOOT YOURSELVES!" he shouted. All the marines stared at him as he went on. "I HAVE NO USE FOR COWARDLY WEAKLINGS LIKE YOU LOT!"

"The only weakling I see is you." Luffy said as he glared at Morgan. He smirked as Morgan glared right back as a few veins started sticking out on his face and neck. He seemed to snap as he threw his coat off.

"YOU LITTLE SHIT! I AM THE GREAT CAPTAIN 'AXE HAND' MORGAN!"

"Hi. I'm Luffy." he said as Zoro sheathed his swords, watching to see what his new Captain could do. "Zoro. This is my first order. No matter what happens, don't interfere. Got it?" Zoro nodded, wondering what Luffy would do as Luffy walked towards Morgan.

"Hey Morbib."

"MORGAN!"

"Right. How about a bet?" Luffy said. This got everyone's attention as Luffy smiled. "You win this fight, we die."

"And if you were to somehow win?" Morgan asked, wondering what the scrawny kid would want.

"We get a boat and sail away with no problems. And since I'm a fair man, I won't move" he said as he placed his straw hat to his chest before closing his eyes and bowing his head "and let you have first crack."

Everyone was now gapping at Luffy, thinking he really was insane as Morgan smiled.

"Peh. Fine you little brat. NOW DIE!" Morgan screamed as he raised his axe. He brought it down towards Luffy with all his strength, ready to kill him then and there. Everything seemed to slow down as Morgan's Axe, which was the bane of everyone on the island, connected with Luffy's head before it shattered, stunning everyone.

"WHAAAAT?!" Morgan screamed in horror at the sight of his now destroyed axe. The marines jaws hit the ground while Coby had fainted. Zoro stood there, wide eyed at the sight. He then noticed that the top of Luffy's head that the axe struck had changed into a grayish black color before returning to normal. Luffy smiled as he placed his hat back on his head and made a fist.

"My turn." he said before delivering a punch to Morgan's gut, making him cough up blood as he was sent crashing into the marine base, smashing into his son who was looking for them with a gun. Everyone just stared at the hole, while Luffy laughed. "I win. One boat please." he said, holding up a finger. The marines all looked at each other before cheering about Morgan's defeat. Luffy just smiled as Zoro tapped Coby with his foot to wake him up.

()()()()

Back in the pub, Luffy and Zoro were eating food like there was no tomorrow, while Coby had already finished.

"Ahhhh. That hit the spot." Zolo said. "Three weeks with no food sucked."

"If it was me, I'd be dead in three days." Luffy managed to say with a full mouth of food.

"How can you eat more than me anyway?" Zoro asked.

"Please, eat all you want." Rika's mother said with a smile, happy that the town was free from Morgan's reign.

"I'm sorry. You're feeding me, even though I wasn't any help." Coby said.

"It's alright." she said.

"So Luffy. Who else is on our crew?" Zolo asked.

"Us."

"Wait. Just...you and me?" he asked, pointing at them both.

"Yep."

"Our ship?"

"Don't know yet." he answered.

"Well, this is a great start." Zoro said sarcastically. Before they could discuss more, the marines arrived.

"You two are pirates?" the new leader asked.

"Yep."

"I see. As marines, we cannot harbor pirates, so we must ask that you leave this island immediately." he said, causing the villagers around them to go into an angry uproar.

"You guys were scared too."

"They're our saviors, as well as yours you jerk."

"However, we will not report you to HQ. Also, for defeating Morgan, as per your bet with him, a vessel has been prepared for you."

"Alright." Luffy said before standing up. "Let's go Zoro." he said he walked towards the door, with Zoro right behind him.

"And what about you?" the marine asked Coby. "Aren't you their friend?" he asked. Coby just stared at them as he turned back to Luffy. "Is this guy your friend?" Luffy looked back at him before smirking.

"Actually, he's a cabin boy." Luffy said. Coby went wide eyed as Luffy began to speak about Alvida, wishing for him to shut up or they won't let him in.

"And Coby here, well he-" Luffy said before Coby punched Luffy.

"SHUT UP!" he yelled. Zoro smiled as Luffy looked at Coby with a grin.

"You bastard!" he shouted before he started repeatedly punching Coby.

"Enough!" shouted the marine as Zoro held Luffy back. "It's clear that you guys are not friends! Leave this island at once!" he shouted. Both of them left while Coby lay on the floor, realizing that Luffy helped him yet again. He stood up, thinking that he needed Luffy's help in the end and asked himself if he was helpless.

"Sir. I wish to join the marines." Coby said as he stood up straight and looked the marine in the eye.

"Sir, I advise against this. Pirates are known to plant spies in the marines."

"I wish to join the marines to carry out real justice, and to stop all criminals!" Coby said with a steeled determination. The leader looked at Coby before tilting his hat down and stood next to him.

"I've seen many a marine stronger than you die at the hands of pirates. This life will not be easy. You're in kid."

Coby smiled, realizing that his dream had finally come true.

()()()()

"That was some bad acting." Zoro said as they loaded their stuff onto a small sail boat.

"Don't worry. He'll be fine." Luffy said. He was untying the boat, waiting for Coby to appear.

"Well, they hate us now. Best way to leave." Zoro said.

Luffy smiled as they sailed away when he sensed him, Rika, and her mother.

"LUFFY!" Coby shouted before throwing him a salute. "Thank you for everything. I will never forget this kindness!" Luffy and Zoro smiled before the rest of the marines showed up and saluted them as well. Coby looked back at the leader, who looked back.

"You have some good friends there kid." he said. "Men, what we've done is a complete violation against all we stand for. Therefore, no food for three days." he ordered.

"YES SIR!"

"SEE YA!" Luffy shouted as he waved them all goodbye. He then turned back to the sea, ready to get on with his adventure.