Hey, sorry for the long wait. If you wanna read my ramblings, then please read the author's notes at the end. Anyway, no more delays. Here's the new chapter.

Chapter 11: The Lighthouse to their Dreams

A day has passed since the Straw Hats left Cocoyashi. The Going Merry, currently traveling to their next destination, managed to catch a relatively strong breeze that cut their total travel time to a day and a half. During their planning, the crew decided to travel to Loguetown. Usopp and Sanji thought it would be a simple resupply stop before embarking on a long journey. But when Nami told them of the island's significance as the Pirate King's place of birth and death, coupled with Luffy's insistence that visiting the island before entering the Grand Line from East Blue is a pirate's tradition, they slowly became excited. Then, suddenly, it dawned on them.

"We're really heading to the Grand Line. I still can't believe that we're actually sailing to it…" Usopp said with a bit of awe and relative disbelief that they were headed there.

"Of course. You can't really be the Pirate King without conquering the Grand Line." Zoro replied.

"Well, we better prepare for the journey, then," Sanji said, heading back to the kitchen to check their supplies. At the same time, Usopp, despite the excitement, volunteered to check on Merry.

It's been a few hours since the group finished eating their lunch after making their preparations. Nami is currently on the top deck, maintaining the ship's course. Meanwhile, the rest of the crew do their own thing inside the kitchen. The captain, however...

"I'm bored," Luffy mumbles weakly, his head slumped at the dining table. Sanji continues preparing their snacks for later. Zoro, reading the new paper for some reason, glances at his captain. "Why don't you help Usopp with reinforcing the ship?"

"Have you seen him work on the fences around Nami's house? He had a very creative way of repairing things." The marksman then turns away from his task to face the rubber man. "Why didn't you train with Zoro if you're this bored?"

"Nah. I don't feel like kicking his ass again." The captain replied.

This caused the swordsman to narrow his eyes at him in irritation. "You saying something, rubber idiot?"

"Speaking of training." The three men turn towards Sanji upon hearing him. The chef was silent throughout the time he was in the kitchen. The sudden interruption grabs their attention. "I'd like to ask a favor from you two."

Luffy raises his head in interest, not expecting the sudden politeness from the chef. "Oh. What is it?"

"I'd like you guys to train me," Sanji says without looking away from his task.

Luffy's deflated mood from earlier is replaced with an expression of mild interest. "We don't mind. But why?"

"We're going to the Grand Line now, which means we'll start facing tougher opponents. After that whole Mihawk fiasco and after seeing what that bastard Arlong did to Nami-san, I don't want to become a liability to you three in case something happens.

Luffy's smile widens. Finally, he thought. He has something else to do. "Alright then! We can start right-"

"I-If you guys are gonna train, then I... I wanna join in."

Luffy and Zoro then turn to Usopp, surprised at the sniper's desire to participate. "Back in Arlong Park, I did beat up that big-lip Fishman. But like what Sanji said, I need to pull my own weight. I can't just run away immediately when the fighting starts."

"You beat a Fishman. Not a lot of people can say that. That's pretty good if you ask me." Zoro encourages.

"But I wouldn't have this issue if I was strong enough in the first place. Like Sanji said, I don't want to be a burden when something happens. I need to start pulling my weight. We're not playing pretend pirates. We're doing this for real." Usopp replies before putting down his tools. "I… I know I can't compare to all of you, but at least I can do it on my own."

The captain and the first mate share a look of pride and excitement.

"Colors?" Usopp and Sanji ask at the same time.

"That's right," Luffy replies. He and Zoro brought the two out to the deck after. When Nami saw them, she wondered what they were planning. But when Luffy said they would train, her face lit up with mild interest. The navigator decided to watch them from her spot near the ship's wheel.

Zoro nods in response. "There are three types. But since we're only concerned with the basics, I'll only talk about two. The first one is the Color of Armaments, which allows you to coat yourself in an invisible layer of armor using your inner strength and willpower."

While Usopp whistled in wondrous amazement, the chef was skeptical. Despite a large part of his mind telling him that he shouldn't doubt their strength and capabilities, that sort of power bordered on fantasy. Seriously, willpower? Still, there's no harm in listening.

Confusion fills the two when Luffy brings his arm to the side. But they started worrying when they saw Zoro pulling one of his swords out and lifting it above Luffy's arm.

"O-Oi Zoro, you're not gonna do what I think you're about to do. Right?" The long-nosed boy mutters in his trembling voice.

Sanji remained silent. If these two are going to such lengths to demonstrate it, maybe there's something else to it.

The swordsman ignores Usopp as he swings his sword down on Luffy's arm. Usopp couldn't look away in time while Sanji kept his eyes on the sword. They were shocked when, instead of hearing metal tear through flesh and bone, it sounded like a clash between two weapons.

Sanji was stunned, more so than Usopp. Seeing this power, the ability to use your will, and the thought of learning to harness it filled him with excitement.

"That's not even the best part," Sanji and Usopp became more curious. They were surprised when the color of Luffy's arm turned metallic black as it gleamed under the sunlight. "You can concentrate your Color of Armaments to harden anything. It's much stronger and more resilient than I showed you earlier. Pretty cool, right?"

"That's so cool." was only Usopp's response. Sanji, however, remained silent.

"Now, the next thing is called the Color of Observation," Nami chose to interrupt their training this time while keeping her hands on the wheel, causing everyone to turn to her. "Treat it like a sixth sense. Like how you use your eyes to see, you can use your Color of Observation to feel a person's spirit, if that makes sense. Unlike the Color of Armaments, whose use in combat is pretty obvious, using your Color of Observation in fights is much more vague. It lets you detect a person's presence even if you can't see them. It allows you to have a feel of someone else's emotions and gauge someone's strength. If you get better at it, you can use it to predict an opponent's next move, to some extent."

Upon hearing that, Usopp recalls the Baratie incident. "I remember seeing Zoro dodge Mihawk's attack during their fight. It was too fast to see clearly, so I thought that he just did that on instinct."

"Yeah. And if I remember correctly, Nami-san dodged those water bullets that weird-ass Fishman shot her with," Sanji adds.

"Well, they're both using the advanced techniques," Luffy says, causing them to raise their eyebrows in a mixture of curiosity and confusion.

Zoro decided to answer for him. "Those things we told you were the basics. And the hardening Luffy showed you guys was a slightly more advanced use of his Color of Armament. People who have mastered their Color of Armaments can project it out of their bodies. They can use it to deflect or repel an attack. And even damage something or someone from the inside."

"Woah..." Even Sanji was amazed after hearing that. "And what about the advanced use of Observation?"

"People who have mastered their Color of Observation can more precisely feel a person's inner thoughts. And a few rare individuals can use it to get a tiny glimpse into the future."

Sanji looks at Nami with awe and admiration in his eyes. "Nami-san, is that how you somehow know how to predict the weather?"

Nami nods, although Sanji can see that from her reaction, it isn't the entire truth. "Yes, and no. Although, it does help. I can feel what the wind speed, temperature, and pressure are and what they will become. But how I interpret it is based on my study and experience. I can't predict the weather with complete certainty."

"I see… Wait, you three can do all those things?!" Usopp shouts in surprise.

Nami shakes her head. "No, not really. In my case, I just recently learned how to control my Color of Armaments. It didn't come to me as easily as my Color of Observation."

"And that's what you two should keep in mind," Zoro added. "Everyone has an affinity to one of the two, making one type much easier to learn. For Nami, it was easier to master her Observation. But I had a hard time learning it. I sooner learned how to harden my weapons than sensing someone's aura."

"Also, remember that these powers will largely depend on your physical and mental conditioning. In my case, even if I sense someone attacking me, my ability to respond to my senses will still come down to how fast I react," Nami adds.

"I see, I see," Usopp nods as he absorbs everything they say. "So Zoro's better at Armaments, and Nami's better at Observation. So what's Luffy good at?"

Zoro pulls Luffy's cheeks, annoying the rubber man. "This special bastard is good at all three types, the lucky idiot."

"Of course I'm special! I'm gonna be the Pirate King!" Luffy exclaims. Though, it was hard to understand with the swordsman pulling on his cheek.

"Three? There's another one?" Sanji asks.

"Oh yeah. The third one. It's called the Color of the Supreme King. Only one in a few million people has that. Essentially, it's the ability to exert and physically manifest your willpower. Haven't you noticed? Some enemies we've faced during our journey seem to pass out suddenly." Nami responds. Now that she mentioned it, Usopp found it odd that most marines that tried to take Nami's treasure seemingly fainted out of nowhere. He remembered an oppressive feeling overwhelming his mind, which shook him. But luckily, he was able to hold on.

"So that was you..." Usopp says in awe. He wonders if he could learn something like that. He plans on becoming a brave warrior of the sea, after all. And the Color of the Supreme King sounds cool. Although, unbeknownst to him, he wasn't the only one thinking about that power.

To reign in the conversation, Zoro interrupts Usopp's musing. "So, yeah. Those are the basics. Are you guys ready? I'm going to warn you, though. It's going to be difficult, exhausting, and most of all, fucking frustrating."

Usopp and Sanji shared a look of determination. After hearing about those powers, they were excited to learn them. "Let's get started!" They both shout at the same time.

When Zoro said that their training would be exhausting, he wasn't kidding. And fucking frustrating is an understatement; they barely made any progress at all. Add the fact that their muscles were hurting almost everywhere. And to top it all off, their training methods were downright strange. The trying to dodge his scabbards while blindfolded? That's just absurd. Thankfully, Luffy and Nami reassured them that it's normal to have no visible progress on the first try. Haki is a difficult thing to learn, after all, so it's not a lost cause. If anything, their training will at least help their physical prowess.

Usopp is lying on his bed. It's been an hour or two since their training had finished, so he had some time to recover. Still, he was unused to the physical strain, so his body was stiff and aching.

"Well, I'm a pirate now. It's not a game anymore. If I want to get stronger, I must get used to this..." He mumbles to himself. There will be times that he'll get hurt, he thought. There will be times when his body will give out due to exhaustion. But this was what he signed himself in. He joined this crew. And after seeing everyone's capabilities, he doesn't want to become a liability. He wants to justify to himself and his crewmates that he is useful.

He was broken out of his musing when he heard someone knock on the door. "Usopp. You busy?"

"Oh, Nami. Come on in." He says while slowly sitting up from his bed. The navigator enters the room before closing the door behind her. "Is something wrong?" He asks.

"I'd like to ask you a favor. Remember my staff?" She inquires, earning a nod from Usopp. "Well, I kinda broke it back in Cocoyashi, and I was wondering if you could help me get a new one."

"Sure, I guess. Not that I mind, but can't you just buy one from a weapon shop or something?"

"I can handle the purchasing," Nami says as she waves his worries off. "I just have some ideas in mind for modifying it. You're the only one I know here that can do it. I'd be really grateful." She then puts her hands together with a pleading expression in an attempt to get her way.

"Well, I guess I can do it in my spare time. Just tell me what you need so that I can check the costs for-"

As soon as he said yes, her pleading look disappeared, replaced with a big smile and a wink as she moved back towards the door. "That's great! I knew I could count on you. Thanks a bunch~." Without waiting for Usopp's reply, she exits the room, gently closing the door as she leaves.

He sighs at Nami's antics. When it comes to getting other people to do stuff for her, she has her way. Still, she asked for his help. What kind of friend would he be if he denied her request? And besides, he was thinking of being helpful. He may not be strong now, but he can at least do something like this. It isn't much, but it's a start.

The crew finally spots Loguetown over the horizon on their fourth day in the sea. During their journey, they spent most of their time training and relaxing. Nami also told them how they would get into the Grand Line. While Usopp and Sanji have yet to make a breakthrough in either Color of Armament or Observation, they were happy to note that their training significantly improved their stamina and strength. However, Nami found it odd that Luffy had not received his bounty. If she remembered correctly, he received his first bounty poster around this time. Considering that it made leaving Loguetown harder, this may be a much more desirable outcome. Although, her captain seemed to really mind not having a bounty.

It took a few hours, but they managed to dock without problems. Upon seeing marine ships on the coast, they decided to dock at the cove on the other side of the island. The Marines may not recognize them, but a pirate flag is a pirate flag. And knowing who's in charge of this place, it'd be a pain to leave if they're not careful.

After setting foot on the island, the Straw Hats began taking in the sights and sounds around them. Sanji and Usopp were amazed after seeing the bustling crowd, the foreign architecture, and the various stalls selling an extensive collection of items. Their sense of adventure fills them with excitement. However, Luffy, Zoro, and Nami felt happiness, nostalgia, and relief. Finally, they thought. They were making progress, and their journey could begin.

"Oi Luffy, where are you going?" Usopp asked after noticing their captain walking away.

"Let him roam around. I'm sure he can handle himself." Zoro assured Usopp.

"I'm going to buy ingredients and supplies. Seems this place has some pretty exotic ones that I wanted to get my hands on."

"I'll start looking for materials for Nami's staff," Usopp pulls a piece of paper from his pocket. The navigator was generous enough to lend him some money for a favor she asked him to do without him needing to pay her back. Sometimes, he wonders what goes on in her mind.

"I'm gonna need to replace my broken swords."

At this, Nami turned around to the swordsman. "Oh, if I recall, you're broke. Do you wanna loan some Beri?"

Zoro clicked his tongue in annoyance. "And be in crippling debt to you? No thanks."

Nami shook her head. "Nope, not this time." She says before offering him a small pouch filled with cash. "This is a special occasion, so it will be interest-free."

Zoro looked at Nami, trying to look for any hit of deception before taking the bag from her. "Thanks."

"Well then, I'll see you guys back on the ship. Don't do anything stupid, alright?" Nami asks, earning a nod from the rest of the crew.

Zoro lets out a deep chuckle. "You should've said that before Luffy ran off."

Luffy is walking around the streets of Loguetown, trying to find the execution platform. Although he's seen it before, something about seeing the former Pirate King's place of death seems very fitting. That, and he just loves taking in the sights and sounds during his moments of peace.

They've done quite a lot, he thought to himself. But there are still a lot of things to do. He could count himself lucky that he was not doing this alone because he couldn't imagine going through this again. Seeing the faces of his loved ones and not being able to share his troubles seemed daunting to him. But most importantly, he can do many things with the benefit of hindsight.

This place really is the town of beginning. Hopefully, this time, it won't be the end.

His thoughts were interrupted when he accidentally bumped into someone.

"Ah, sorry about that, Mister." He says before looking at the person he bumped.

It was a Marine.

A Marine Officer.

Smoker, in fact.

He cursed himself inwardly. Maybe his Color of Observation wasn't entirely on point yet. Or perhaps he was distracted by his thoughts. Regardless, he should've been more careful. It'll be a huge pain if Smoker decides to fight with him before he even reaches the execution platform. Luckily, Smoker didn't seem to recognize him. Luffy guessed that not having a bounty poster this early was a blessing in disguise.

"No worries, Kid. You should be careful next time." The marine officer replied.

"Gotcha. Oh hey, mind telling me where the execution platform is?"

'This kid seems a bit rude,' Smoker thought. It's better than some of the people he's encountered, at least. "You'll see the main road at the end of this street. Turn left and head straight. You won't miss the platform. It's in the town square."

Luffy nods in recognition. "Alright. Thanks, cigarette guy. And sorry for bumping you again." He says before walking away, not even waiting for a response.

The Marine looks at the straw-hatted man as he leaves. He was planning on asking him why he wanted to see the platform. But he shrugged it off before walking in the opposite direction. "Cheeky kid."

Zoro's in surprisingly good spirits as he trekked through the streets, even though he got lost trying to remember where the shop that sells swords is. Nami was generous enough to lend him a large sum without any strings attached. A limited offer, she said. But in reality, she's in a better mood than him. He can practically sense the pulsating aura of joy emanating from her. Their navigator wouldn't allow anyone to borrow money from her except when a special occasion was about to happen. And even then, there's a massive interest involved.

And it is a special occasion. For the Usopp and Sanji, it's the final destination before finally entering the Grand Line. But for the others, it symbolized the rebirth of their dreams. Even though they've been here for at least a month, it still feels surreal that they have a chance to regain everything they've lost. Not only that, but they also have the opportunity to prevent some things from happening.

As he continued his stroll, he sensed a weak yet familiar aura in the intersection ahead. Looking closer, he recognizes the familiar marine officer: Captain Tashigi. Or just Tashigi in this case. The woman is kneeling on the streets, feeling the ground before her with a small crowd of people watching her. Behind her laid two men, battered and with visible wounds. It seems she's just finished beating up the pirates bothering her, and she's currently looking for her glasses that fell off during the ensuing scuffle. Sighing to himself, the swordsman walks towards the marine officer. He picks up the glasses on the ground after getting close.

"Hey miss, I think you're looking for this," Zoro informs her, grabbing the eyewear before moving it close to her. This catches Tashigi's attention, causing her to look up to face the generous man. Despite her terrible eyesight, she could see the blurred silhouette of a green-haired man with his arm outstretched toward her with her eyeglasses in his hand. She gingerly takes the glasses from him before wiping the lenses clean with her sleeve and putting them back on. The marine officer's eyes then land on Zoro, blinking a few times to readjust her vision before lowering her head.

"T-Thank you so much, sir. I'm sorry for the bother."

Zoro waves her off. "It's fine. It felt like you needed help."

"I see... Still, thanks a lot." Tashigi gently mumbled before rising to her feet and patting the dust off her clothes as she did. Luckily, her eyeglasses didn't suffer any damage. They may be cheap, but she'd like to prevent the hassle of getting a new one if she could.

As he kept his eyes on the woman before him, Zoro realized he no longer felt any form of discomfort towards the marine officer despite looking like his childhood friend. Instead, feeling a sense of respect and, dare he say, admiration towards the swordsman before him.

Zoro looks at the unconscious bodies lying behind her. "Seems that you had a bit of trouble."

Tashigi looks back before scratching the back of her head shyly. "Yeah. These pirates were bothering me. I guess it's just the job of being a Marine." She says before chuckling.

Zoro realizes that maybe saying he's a pirate is more trouble than it's worth, so he decides to play along. "I see. It's a good thing that you handled it well. I'm actually looking at a place I can buy some swords."

Tashigi's eyes brightened upon the mention of swords. "Oh, why don't you join me then? I just so happened to be on my way there."

"Are you sure?" Zoro asked. Sure, he's no longer uncomfortable. But if he remembered it, Tashigi wasn't a fan of his bounty hunting, so it would be bothersome once she recognizes him.

The Marine waved her off. "It's okay. It's the least I could do for helping me find my glasses. God knows it would've taken me a while alone."

Zoro sighs, relenting to Tashigi's offer. "Alright then. I'll follow your lead."

With a smile and a nod, Tashigi leads him to the weapons shop. He guessed it would be fine if she didn't recognize him.

"Y-You're the bounty hunter Zoro!" The shopkeeper exclaimed.

So much for that. Tashigi was caught off guard. Now that she had a good look at him, he did fit the description of the infamous swordsman.

"So you're the notorious and ruthless bounty hunter Roronoa Zoro? I can't believe I was fooled by how amicable you were." Tashigi said, her tone changing from kind and warm to wary and guarded.

"Oi, oi. Didn't I help you earlier, lady? And besides, I'm not a wanted criminal. In fact, you should be happy that I'm hunting criminals." Zoro retorted. The Marine didn't need to know that he was a pirate now. If she reacted this way, who knows what trouble she'll pull him to.

"And I'm tempted to seize your weapon here and now." She says, keeping her eye on the sword strapped to Zoro's sides before pulling a small notebook and flipping through the pages. "I can't believe that you have Wado Ichimonji with you. One of the 21 Great Grade Blades. I can't believe someone like you is using this fine blade for something as low as making money."

Zoro returns her glare, slightly irritated at the woman's accusations. "And what, are you going to try and take it away from me?"

"That's-"

"Hey, are you mad?" The shopkeeper shouted at Tashigi, causing the two swordsmen to face him. "You and your lot already drove many of my customers away, and you're planning on driving one of my most famous clients out, too?"

"But most of your clients were pirates and criminals."

"Yeah, and I can barely make money now. You marines don't even make for good customers." The shopkeeper replied, deflating some of Tashigi's anger. "You're here for your Shigure, right? Take it and get out." The man then throws the blade at the Marine, causing her to stumble. Fortunately, she was able to catch and steady herself before hitting the shelves.

The shopkeeper then turns to Zoro with a more accommodating tone. "And what can I do for such an esteemed client?"

"I'm just going to look around." And Zoro did just that. But he already knows his prize. He can remember it, and he could feel it. Walking towards the rack of swords worth 50,000 Beri, he began sifting through them, trying to find what he was looking for.

The shopkeeper wondered why such a famous swordsman was looking at cheap swords. Maybe a fine swordsman can make anything work. Or perhaps he's just broke. His thoughts were interrupted when the bounty hunter pulled out a familiar sword. He started sweating, knowing the blade that the man just pulled.

Tashigi, meanwhile, wondered the same. She then sees the sword Zoro took out before looking through her notebook. "That's… Sandai Kitetsu. One of the graded blades. Mister, are you really selling this for 50,000 Beri?"

"Well…" The shopkeeper stammers out.

She then glares at Zoro. "And someone like you is going to buy it. No, I cannot accept it." Tashigi exclaimed, moving closer to him while remaining unintimidated by his gaze.

"I'm taking it. And you're not going to stop me."

"Then I'll fight you for it. I've seen many scoundrels without respect for their weapon using it for no good. I'm not going to let another blade fall into your hands."

"I'm not selling it!" The shopkeeper interrupted the two. Tashigi then looks at the shopkeeper, happy that he agrees with her. Meanwhile, the shopkeeper looks at Zoro. "Look, I know you're a famous and powerful swordsman. But do you know what you're holding?"

The swordsman nods, inspecting the blade's edge. "It's a cursed weapon."

The shopkeeper was shocked. 'So it is true. A true swordsman can feel the weapon.', he thought. "Then you know why I don't plan on selling it. Everyone who's ever held a cursed blade has met a terrible fate. And I don't want to be responsible for your demise." The shopkeeper then leaves his stall to try to take the sword away from Zoro. "I've been trying to dispose of that cursed thing. But I'm afraid that I'll be sending some poor lad to death."

"Oh? Let's test it then. This cursed blade and my arm. Let's leave it to fate."

"What are you…" The shopkeeper started before seeing Zoro pull out Sandai Kitetsu, throw it into the air, and hold his arm out. "A-Are you mad?! You're gonna lose your arm!" The shopkeeper shouted. Even Tashigi was looking worriedly at the man. If that blade was really cursed, then that thing is dangerous. She covered her mouth, shocked and worried about what would happen.

Meanwhile, Zoro knew that he was taking a significant risk. There's no telling whether fate would play out the same. Maybe this time, the blade will cut through flesh. As the sharp edge meets his skin, time seems to slow down. Unbeknownst to the others, he could feel the sword testing him, trying to overpower his will. Was it like this the last time, and he was simply unaware? He didn't use his Color of Armaments but simply his sheer willpower and desire to tame the cursed blade. He could feel the sword shrinking in submission before rolling gently away from his arm, landing tip-first on the wooden floor below.

Zoro then picks up the sword and puts it back in its sheath. "I like it. How much for this one?"

The shopkeeper was stunned. The room was silent before he ran to the back door. Meanwhile, Tashigi was speechless, still reeling from the event she witnessed. After a while, the shopkeeper returns with a sword in hand. He pulls it out of its scabbard before motioning to it. "This has been in my family for generations. This is my best sword."

"How much for the two swords, then?"

The shopkeeper shakes his head. "No need. You can take these two free of charge. It's been said that the sword chooses its owner. I won't lie to you. I thought the rumor of Roronoa Zoro's skill with the blade was a bit exaggerated. But after seeing it personally, I'd be honored if someone like you could use my swords."

"Thank you," Zoro says before strapping the blades to his waist. He then leaves the shop, satisfied with his new swords.

Meanwhile, Tashigi recovered from her shock. She ran out of the shop to try and chase the bounty hunter. "Wait!"

Zoro sighs irritatedly before stopping in his tracks to face the Marine. "Look, I don't want any trouble- "

"It's so unfair," Tashigi said, her teeth clenched.

This caught him off guard. He had never seen this side of Tashigi before, even throughout his adventures in the Grand Line. He waited for the woman to continue.

"How is it that people like you get to use these swords? If the man said was true, are you saying your sword chose you to do… whatever you were doing?"

Zoro had no reply to that. He noticed a few people walking by, looking at them. He knows her motivations and why she acts this way. In all honesty, it kind of reminded him of his younger self. Headstrong, full of desire, but reckless. No wonder Mihawk didn't take him seriously during their first encounter. Maybe he could get through to her if he talked a bit. He scratches his head, trying to find the words to say. "Why are you so obsessed with these swords?"

Tashigi looked him straight in the eye. "Because I believe these swords should have a better purpose other than making money and causing injustice. They should be treated with more respect than that." She noticed she was getting heated, so she tried calming down. This isn't a look befitting of a marine. "I've seen and heard so many famous and graded blades landing at the hands of criminals. And it's my goal to take these swords from them."

The swordsman lets out another sigh before pulling his sword out. Seeing this, Tashigi puts her hand on her sword, preparing to counter the bounty hunter in case he plans on doing anything. Seeing the commotion, the crowd quickly moves away, afraid of being caught in the clash.

Instead of pointing it at the woman, however, Zoro simply moves the sword before him. "You're wrong if you think I'm simply using this sword to make money." He says, surprising the Marine. "I promised a childhood friend that with this, I'll become the strongest swordsman in the world. I also made a promise that I would protect the ones I love. This sword holds the weight of mine and my friends' dreams."

Tashigi didn't have any response to what the bounty hunter said as he placed his sword back in its sheath. She never expected something like that from Zoro, and to hear his conviction and sincerity stunned her. It made her realize a few things about others and herself. Perhaps she was too harsh.

"I… didn't think about that."

"It's fine," Zoro waves her off. "I do agree with you that there are shitty people out there that don't deserve to use such weapons. But not everyone follows the way of the sword for the same things."

The Marine nods, internalizing what Zoro said. After a while, she slightly bows at the swordsman. "I guess I should apologize to you for being harsh."

"Like I said, it's fine. You meant well, no harm done."

Tashigi coughs and covers her mouth awkwardly. "Well, I best go back to my duties." She says, bowing at the bounty hunter before walking away. As she left, Zoro let out a sigh of relief. Thank god that's over. He doesn't hate the future marine office, but dealing with her was a headache.

"I better get back to the ship then." Zoro walks away, unaware that he's heading in the wrong direction.

"This view still feels so different."

Luffy is currently sitting on the execution platform while dangling his legs. From this platform, you can see far away from the streets below. An officer below is shouting at him through a megaphone. At the same time, a crowd begins to gather around, wondering what the commotion is about.

"Oi kid! Get down from the platform! It's a restricted area, and it's not safe! Get down imme- Ahck!" The officer was hit in the face before he could finish.

A beautiful, slender woman walks over the downed officer, resting the mace over her shoulder. "My, oh my. It's been a while. Luffy." She says as a crowd of men swoon over her beauty. "I'm sure you recognize my beauty."

The face was different, but Luffy could recognize that aura. "You're Alvida, right? I remember you in that ship with Koby."

"Ah, splendid! I knew my beauty left an impression. Unfortunately, I'm here on a purely business matter. I actually met someone who's very excited to see you." Upon saying that, a hooded man stops beside Alvida. Removing his cloak reveals the face of one Buggy the Clown. "Good to see you, rubber bastard."

"Oh, it's you, Muggy!"

"It's Buggy, you cheeky asshole!"

"Captain Smoker!" The worried marine slams the door open to the steam bath. The officer glared at him for interrupting his free time.

"C-Captain-"

"What?"

"U-Uh, well." The officer takes his time to collect himself before continuing. "There's a commotion in the town square. It seems that a group led by Buggy the Clown and Iron Mace Alvida are causing trouble."

Wordlessly, Smoker stood up, walking past the Marine. "Prepare the squadron to set up a perimeter around the square and set up gunners in position to take aim. We'll arrest every single one of them."

"Yes, sir!" The Marine says with a salute before running away.

"I've never had a single pirate leave this town, and I don't plan on changing that." Smoker whispers to himself as he puts on his signature coat. As he leaves the marine office, he comes across his assistant. "Tashigi, where have you been?"

"Sorry, Smoker, Sir. I went to the weapon shop to pick up Shigure."

Smoker then motions her to follow him. "We need to go to the town square. Pirates're running amock."

"Alright." Tashigi simply says, her demeanor shifting from relaxed to a more serious one.

"Thank you, miss. Come again!"

Nami waved farewell at the shopkeeper before leaving. She looks at the stuff she bought and takes notes as she is leaving: Clothes, a set of log poses in case one breaks, some charts, a few bottles of ink, and some personal care items. She's all set, she thought.

Walking around, she occasionally glances at the sky. "Hmm. The weather's changing. At this rate, it seems like it's going to be windy in about… five minutes. A storm's probably coming in half an hour."

After a while, on her way to the ship, she felt the wind start picking up when suddenly, a bright and powerful aura briefly flashed near the center of Loguetown before disappearing. Was this person here before? She asked herself. Worried about her comrades, she was about to head out and meet them when she noticed something. It felt familiar, though she couldn't feel it clearly. She tries to tune to it carefully this time.

Then, it flashed once more. "There it is again," Nami says after detecting the same aura, seemingly in rhythm with the wind picking up speed. It seems like whoever this person is, they can use their Haki effectively. She stood there for a bit to try and get another feel for their aura to the annoyance of the people passing by the street. After scrutinizing the aura further, she shakes her head and starts giggling.

"Here to see your son off? That's honestly kinda sweet." She whispers to herself. It made her think about Bellemere and how she would react if Nami told her that she'd be a pirate. Maybe she'd convince her otherwise, or perhaps she'd fully support her decision. One thing's for sure. Her mother would be glad to see her finally see her happy and content. Ignoring the strange looks of the people weirded out by a woman talking to herself, Nami calmly heads back to the ship.

"It's Buggy the Clown!"

People ran away from the town square upon seeing Buggy. However, some of the people in the crowd pull out their guns and reveal themselves to be pirates. Which made those who were close enough to the platform stop moving.

"Hold it right there! Hand over all your stuff!" One of the pirates shouts.

As this was happening, Luffy just stood on the platform while looking at whatever was going on. Feeling something from behind, he deftly dodges. Cabaji, who was planning on restraining the straw-hatted man, misses entirely and plummets down to the ground below, faceplanting right before Buggy. This irritated the clown. Luffy then sits on the platform, further annoying him.

"You rubber bastard, this was supposed to be your execution!"

Luffy tilts his head. "Execution? For what?"

"For annoying me the fuck out, that's what! I want to cut your bastard throat so bad." Buggy shouted, full of rage. The wind starts picking up speed as it begins to rain.

"Ah, I was right for going after such a man," Alvida says, content in her judgment.

"Who's side are you on?!" This was Buggy's breaking point. He pulls out a sword and points it at Luffy, sitting from above. "That's it. Any last words, you smug prick?"

"Nope. I don't plan on dying here. Not to you or anyone else."

"What made you so sure about that?"

"Because I'm gonna be the Pirate King!" Luffy says with complete conviction, which stunned everyone, including the pirates, to silence. Moments later, silence turned to murmuring, eventually morphing into chuckles and some occasional laughter.

"Pirate King? Another one of those dreamers, huh?"

"Here of all places? Good luck getting past the Marines."

People can hear chuckling, snide remarks, and even the occasional insult from the pirates and some of the people in the crowd. He didn't know why, but for some reason, Buggy seemed annoyed about this. Meanwhile, Smoker, watching from a vantage point with a pair of binoculars, watched the scene as it unfolded. First, he was surprised to see someone like him turn out to be a pirate. He remembered that the man with the straw hat asked him for directions to the execution platform, which made sense in retrospect. Second, there's something different about this kid. The confidence to say that he will conquer the seas. Something tells him that this kid is going to be trouble if he doesn't weed this out right now.

However, not everyone who saw it felt the same. There were some in the crowd who were hooked by this strange man in a straw hat. Maybe it was his foolhardy confidence or his seemingly carefree demeanor. But some felt inspired.

Throughout this time, the rain has developed into a complete thunderstorm. The heavy rains, wind, and lightning caused some of the people to take shelter. Some who were close enough to the pirates shielded themselves using an umbrella.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, powerful lightning struck the execution platform, causing everyone to turn their attention to it. The platform caught fire and collapsed with a loud roar of crumbling wood and steel moments later. Buggy slowly became elated. It seems that the gods themselves decided to punish the rubber bastard by killing him. Meanwhile, the Marines took this opportunity to surround the pirates and try to arrest them. Seeing this as a chance to escape, the people still in the town square chose to run away.

The pirates and marines were about to clash when they heard a noise coming from the burned platform. They were about to move away, thinking that the platform was collapsing further when, to their surprise, the kid walked out of the smoldering remains of the platform. He grabs the straw hat fluttering in the wind before it hits the ground.

"That was a close one." He says before laughing loudly. He looks around, seeing the pirates and marines about to fight, before bolting out of the area.

"Wha- That cheeky brat," Buggy says through clenched teeth.

"What's the plan now, Buggy?" Alvida asks, preparing to use her weapons on the oncoming marines.

The clown grins, remembering something. "That kid can't sail off this island. His ship is probably burnt. We'll chase him, then slit his throat." He says before transforming into some sort of weird vehicle and "driving" away. Alvida followed suit, using her powers to skate through the streets. However, their efforts were in vain when they and their entire crew were surrounded by a thick blanket of white smoke. After a while, they were subdued by Smoker with ease and were restrained by the marines.

"Captain Smoker. We've captured all pirates in this town square."

"Not yet." Was Smoker's immediate response.

"Sir?"

"That kid from the platform. Said he wanted to be the Pirate King. If he's claiming to be a pirate, then we must catch him. We've never let a single pirate leave this town, and I don't plan on starting now." Smoker then turns to his men and points in the direction where Luffy runs. "Chase him. And send a platoon to block all ports. If he's a pirate, then he plans on setting sail."

"Sir!" One of the marines says to get his attention. "Some of our men went back to retrieve some gunpowder. The sudden rain affected all our stock."

The officer clicks his tongue in annoyance. That means that the ports are effectively unguarded. It seems that the gods themselves are trying to let this man through his grasp. "Fine. I'll personally chase the bastard."

"But sir, maybe that kid was joking. He doesn't look like a pirate to me. And besides, he doesn't even have a bounty."

Smoker glared intensely at the Marine, frightening him to no end. "No one means no one, Marine. With or without a bounty." The captain says before flying into the air to try and chase the kid with the straw hat.

Nami arrives at the cove where they docked their ship. On her way, she spots a large lion and one of Buggy's men, both bruised and beaten hard, lying on the shore.

"Welcome back, Nami-swan!"

She turns to Sanji, who is resting his head on the railings of the ship. "Oh hey, Sanji. Do you mind preparing to undock Merry while I put my stuff back in my room? This storm's getting worse, and I don't want the ship to hit the cove."

"Everything for you, Nami-san!" Nami smiles at the chef before running to her room, returning to the deck a few moments later. She walks to the ship's helm as Sanji begins untying the sail.

"Nami-san."

"Hmm?"

Sanji points at the downed pirate on the shore. "That guy said his captain is hunting Luffy. Do you think he's alright?" He asked, worried that his captain might get himself in trouble.

"Yeah, don't worry about Luffy. You can put your faith in him. He'll be fine."

"Alright then." The chef says, content with Nami's reassurance. From the distance, Sanji sees Zoro walking towards the ship before clicking his tongue. "Tsk. Thought you lost, would've been fun to leave you behind."

"Who's going to clean up after your mess then, crap cook?" Zoro says before turning to Nami. "Is Luffy here?"

"He's on his way."

Luffy kept on running. Despite the rain, the commotion from afar, and the gloomy weather, he felt excited to go back to the Grand Line and meet all his friends again. Despite knowing what was to come, the thrill of adventure and the chance to do everything again made him feel alive.

"Grand Line, here I come!"

"Like hell you are!"

Diving from above with his Logia powers, Smoker tries to tackle Luffy. The rubber man dodges deftly and lands on his feet, facing the marine officer.

"Oh hey, you're that cigarette guy from earlier." He says, feigning ignorance of the officer's identity. "Sorry for bumping you earlier. Can you let me go?"

Smoker ignores Luffy and begins walking towards him. "I'm Captain Smoker of the Marines. I saw what you did in the town square. You're under arrest for suspicion of committing piracy." He transforms his arms into smoke and begins surrounding the rubber man. "I'm not taking my chances and let you get away. White Out!"

Luffy understood that since this was East Blue, Smoker felt pretty confident with his abilities. He should, Luffy thought. Because he remembers quite vividly how he was almost captured in Loguetown the last time he was here. Practically speaking, Smoker is the strongest in East Blue right now. So he wasn't surprised that Smoker did not bother dodging Luffy's fist heading straight for the Marine's abdomen.

"Gomu Gomu no, Pistol!"

Smoker was caught off guard when, not only did it turn out that the pirate had devil fruit abilities, but that his attack managed to bypass his Logia abilities, sending him back a few meters away kneeling. Smoker stared at the pirate, still reeling in from the attack. Looking at him, Smoker didn't see any sort of Sea Stone weapons on him. The pirate's use of his devil fruit ability was a dead giveaway.

'How could he have hit me. Could it be… No, there's no way he was able to use the Color of Armaments…'

Smoker was familiar with the ability. During his training at the Navy Headquarters, he saw how the higher-ranked Marines demonstrated this ability. Especially hearing some of the stories he's heard in the New World. Even though he was familiar with the ability, he still couldn't use it properly. To think that someone in East Blue could harness such powers, he was right to be wary of this pirate.

Luffy, meanwhile, was kind of glad that despite being a Logia user, Smoker was pretty durable when it came to physical attacks. Seems like he trained his body and was not totally dependent on his devil fruit, even here in East Blue.

"I underestimated you, pirate." He says before slowly getting up and pulling out his jutte. "Seems like you have devil fruit abilities, and you seem to be able to use your Color of Armaments."

"Oh? You know Haki?"

Smoker nods. "I've been trained by the finest Marines in the headquarters. I've seen it before." The marine officer then turns his entire body into smoke. "I won't make the same mistake of underestimating you. White Launcher!"

He charges Luffy with his sea stone weapon. He moves out of the way before launching another attack at the Marine. "Gomu Gomu no, Pistol!" This time, Smoker barely dodged before charging the pirate once more with his jutte. The pirate didn't dodge this time but instead clashed with Smoker using his Haki-coated fist.

"Got you, pirate!"

Thinking that Luffy is unaware of his weapon's ability to nullify devil fruit powers, he turns his arm into smoke to surround and capture him. But instead of the familiar shock he's seen on other devil fruit users' faces, he only saw a confident grin.

"Sorry, but my friends are waiting for me. I can't afford to waste too much time here."

"What the-!" It was the only thing Smoker managed to say before Luffy clocked him in the face, sending the Marine crashing away. The training was paying off, he thought. It seems like even without his devil fruit, changing his training regimen was effective. Still, he needed to train his mind and body without the aid of his devil fruit if he wanted to return to form.

However, his attention was caught by a hooded man standing on a rooftop. It seems like he's been watching the entire fight. As the lightning flashes in the sky above, the illuminated face of the man reveals it to be none other than his father, Monkey D. Dragon. He only saw his father a few times. Even then, it was through newspaper articles, even when he was in the New World. The two shared a look that conveyed a hundred words. Despite not talking, their familial bond and the Will of D they shared was something they understood. Luffy then nods before running back to the Merry.

Dragon watches as his son's silhouette disappears through the intense rain. It seemed like his son knew how to use his Color of Armaments as he was watching the fight. And he guessed that he may know how to use his Color of Observation as well. Was this due to his grandfather training him, or was it something else? Nevertheless, it's not important. What matters is your ability and power to impose your will and vision on the world, he thought to himself.

Spotting movement down the street, he sees the Marine that Luffy fought slowly getting up.

Smoker massages his jaw. That straw-hat bastard did a number on him. He didn't expect that not only would a pirate escape Loguetown, but he would also be beaten on the same day.

"I'm gonna get you, pirate." Smoker stands up before retrieving his fallen Jutte on the ground. Sheathing his weapon to his back, he pulls out a Den Den Mushi from his pocket. He was about to contact the rest of the Marines in Loguetown when he felt someone grab his shoulder.

"I would advise against it, Marine."

Turning around, his eyes widen upon seeing the man in front of him. "You're- The Revolutionary Dragon." He mutters, too stunned to move.

Dragon lets go of Smoker, keeping his grin and his eye on the Marine. After a while, he walks away as if nothing happens.

Smoker, meanwhile, regains his capacity to talk. "The World Government has deemed you a top-priority criminal and is after your head."

The revolutionary chuckles. "The world is waiting for our answer, but those who are terrified cover the ears of the masses." He says cryptically, never looking at the Marine. After a while, Smoker calls his attention.

"Answer me this Dragon. Are you helping that pirate?"

He stops in his tracks to look at the marine officer behind him. "What reason would you, or anyone else have, to stop a man from his journey?"

Standing at the helm and ready to set sail, Nami patiently looks around for signs of marine ships. Luffy should be here any second. A few sets of rope are the only things keeping the ship from drifting into the sea. After a while, she spots his captain in the distance running towards the Merry.

"Luffy, Everyone's ready to head out!"

"Yeah, everyone's excited to head out!" Usopp chimes in.

Luffy unties the ropes before jumping on board the ship while shouting. "Alright then, set sail!"

With a broad smile, Nami maneuvers the ship safely out of the cove despite the strong waves and intense wind. After sailing for a bit, the crew spots a lighthouse off in the distance.

"That's it. We're about to enter the Grand Line." Nami says with uncharacteristic glee. In their previous voyage, she was the one trying to temper the crew's expectations and try to caution them when they were heading out on their adventures. Now, though, the thought of heading back to the Grand Line made her feel a level of excitement she hadn't felt in a while.

Carrying a barrel of booze on his shoulder, Zoro walks out from the store room before plopping the barrel down onto the deck. "Entering the Grand Line calls for a pirate tradition."

"Are we really going to do it in the middle of a storm?" Usopp inquires.

Without waiting for anyone, Sanji places his foot on top of the barrel. "I'm going to find All Blue!"

Usopp follows suit. "I'm gonna be a brave warrior of the sea!"

Nami does the same. "I'm going to draw a map of the world, and I'm going to guide the Pirate King to Laugh Tale!" She says before briefly glancing at Luffy and Zoro.

"I'm going to be the greatest swordsman and the right hand of the Pirate King!"

Sharing a look with each and every one in the crew, Luffy puts his foot down last. "And I'm gonna be the Pirate King!"

"To the Grand Line!" they all shouted.

-A day later-

Smoker, still reeling in from being beaten by the first pirate that eluded his grasp, is currently preparing to set sail with his platoon.

"Captain Smoker, you sure aren't letting them go," Tashigi says, looking at the list of supplies they have. "And to the Grand Line as well. I'm surprised that they granted you permission.

"I told them what happened and what that kid's capable of. They don't want someone like that wreaking havoc in the Grand Line. And I need to hunt him down. It's my fault for failing to arrest him."

Tashigi giggles. "You're too harsh on yourself, sir."

"Just keep your eye on that-"

"Captain Smoker!"

Tashigi and Smoker were interrupted when a marine came up to them with what seemed to be bounty posters. "Captain Smoker, the Marine Headquarters just sent these this morning. And I think you'd want to see this."

Taking the posters from the Marine, his grip tightened as he saw the man on one of them.

"Commodore Brannew, are you sure that the Marines in East Blue can't handle these pirates?"

"Of course. Buggy the Clown, 15 million. Don Krieg, 17 million. Saw-tooth Arlong, 20 million. Not only did they beat the most powerful captain in East Blue, which our own Marines in the area were having trouble with, but they were defeated relatively quickly."

"But to issue two unprecedented bounties in East Blue, where the average is 3 million."

Brannew then pulls out a list of their crimes. "Attacking a marine officer in Baratie and Cocoyashi, failure to return stolen property, on top of the pirates they defeated. With their combined force, I believe that these two warrant these bounties due to the direct threat they pose to the Marines."

The Marines in the room looked at each other before nodding in agreement.

"Luffy's now a wanted man!" The townsfolk of Foosha village cheered. Although, if someone else heard this, they would question these men's sanity.

"We should celebrate! Luffy's gonna be world famous now!"

"Shut up, you fools! Are you happy that this village is going to be known as a village of criminals?!" Woop Slap shouts, berating those who are celebrating Luffy's new bounty. "I can't believe these people are happy that Luffy's going to be hunted by marines and bounty hunters."

Meanwhile, Makino happily served the townsfolk drinks before returning to the counter. "Don't be too harsh on them, Mayor. And besides, Luffy's strong. The news said that he did beat some pretty powerful pirates. They're just happy that Luffy's started his dream quite nicely."

Woop Slap takes a sip of his drink. "His dream? Or his fate?"

"I can't accept this!" Genzo slams his hand on the table.

"What's wrong, Gen-san?" Nojiko enters Genzo's office after hearing the noise, wondering what's happening. Peering at his table, she starts giggling upon seeing the poster of her little sister, bloodied and bruised but still smiling broadly. It appears that the Marines took a photo of her after her fight with Arlong.

"Oh my, it seems that Na-chan is going to be chased by a lot of men."

Genzo then grabs the poster tightly before moving it closer to Nojiko. "That's not the problem here, Nojiko! They used a crap picture for her poster! I mean, look at this! She looks horrible!" He says before putting the poster down. "It's not fitting for our little girl."

"I do have to say that she looks cool, though." She says before turning to Genzo with a sly grin. "Why, do you prefer her in something more appropriate like, let's say, a swimsuit perhaps?"

"…..No."

Straw Hat Luffy: 25 Million Beli

Lightning Thief Nami: 20 Million Beli

Smoker grips the posters tightly in frustration. "So that kid has the highest bounty in East Blue, and I let him get away."

"The Headquarters apologized for the delays. They were trying to sort through various information about Straw Hat Luffy and his crew because of conflicting reports."

"Wait, who's the woman in the poster?" Tashigi asks, trying to lighten the mood.

"She's one of Straw Hat Luffy's crew mates. The Marine Headquarters said they are working together. It was unexpected when the two highest bounties in East Blue were in the same crew."

Tashgi looks at Smoker as the marine officer lets out a sigh to ease his growing frustrations. "Tashigi, order some more supplies. It seems like we're going to stay in the Grand Line for a long while."

A/N: And, welcome to the end of the chapter. Wow, it's been nearly three years since my last update. I know it's been a while, but I did promise to continue writing this one. During the pandemic, I had to balance working part-time, studying, and managing my physical and mental health. During my downtime, I tried working on this fic, but I really was never content with my skills at the time. So, I decided to first try to work on my personal stuff first, then go back to this fic when I had enough experience. And reading my old chapters, it seems like I did have pretty alright improvements.

Speaking of old chapters, I'm planning on rewriting the old chapters to try and fix some of the issues I saw once I read through the entire fanfic again, like grammatical errors, story inconsistencies, and just stuff that I'm not a fan of. Hopefully, I can do that while working on the following chapters.

Anyway, It's good to be back. And I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Reviews and feedback are always appreciated. I'm going to be editing the stuff as I go along based on people's comments about story consistency, naming, titles, and minor errors after reading them. But nothing major like plot lines and other stuff.

Thanks for reading.