Hey Guys! Crescent Rider here and I am back with another chapter!
Though there isn't much for me to say at the moment, I will say that this chapter is the end of the Shells Town Arc and the Beginning of the Orange Town Arc.
That is all and enjoy the chapter!
Ririka's Tavern
After Morgan had been defeated, the townsfolk gathered around the tavern and watched as Ririka and her daughter served some food to the four. While Luffy and Zoro stuffed their faces, Marie was eating her share in a well-mannered way and properly stacked the empty plates and glasses.
Purist Marie was present, and she would carry the dirty plates and glasses for Rika.
"Wooh! I am stuffed!" Zoro exclaimed, "Having not eaten for three weeks, I was ready to gnaw through my bootstraps!"
Rika, her mother, and Koby laughed at Zoro's relief while Luffy had just finished his twelfth plate, "Hmph, I can't believe your finish. Lightweight,"
"How the hell can you have a bigger appetite than a guy who hasn't eaten for three weeks?" Zoro questioned,
"You'd be surprised at how much he eats, Zoro-san," Marie remarked, "Even when he was seven, he could eat more than anyone,"
"And this food tastes good, I guess," Luffy added,
"I'll take that to the sink," Purist said as she took Luffy's plate and brought it to Ririka,
"Well, Luffy's stomach aside. I'm quite surprised that you ate a Devil Fruit too," Zoro said, "First those weird limbs that sprout from your body, then those clones of yours. Just what kind of power is it?"
"The Jiga-Jiga no Mi," Marie replied, "Back then, I used to sprout out clones that only possessed a specific personality like Purist and Fury. But after some experimentation, I can do what you saw earlier and more,"
"That's pretty cool, Marie-san!" Rika applauded,
"Thank you, Rika-chan," Marie thanked,
"So you can sprout limbs and clones," Zoro summarized, "That's nifty like Luffy being made of rubber,"
"That isn't the only thing I could do," Marie said, "Recently, after our battle with Morgan, I just got to new clones!"
"Really?! That's awesome! I thought you could only have three clones, Marie!" Luffy remarked,
"I thought so too, but it would appear that that isn't the case," Marie said,
"Are you going to let them out now?" Luffy inquired,
"Not yet, Luffy. But I can talk to them, so give it some time and they'll come out themselves," Marie assured,
"Oh, okay," Luffy said before eating again, "Man, this food is really good,"
"We have to thank you for it too, Miss," Marie said,
"My pleasure, after all, you guys did save the town," Ririka obliged,
"You two are the most amazing people I've ever met!" Rika cheeringly said,
"You bet we are, and I'll even be more amazing when I'm King of the Pirates and have the One Piece," Luffy said with a mouthful, "Oh, and the best crew on the seas,"
"So, how many others have you gathered beside me and Marie?" Zoro inquired, and Luffy glanced at him, "You told me you were in the middle of gathering together the crew for your ship. If you're going to be King of the Pirates, I assume you already have some waiting in the wings,"
"Nope, it's just you and Marie," Luffy said,
Zoro shot his eyes wide open, and pointed Luffy, Marie, and himself, "Wha?! Just..."
"Yep! it's just us," Luffy replied, "But even if we have more to gather, Marie could fill the other roles while we get more,"
"You, Marie, and I are what amounts to an entire pirate crew. Apart from her clones, is that all there is," Zoro said,
"That's pretty much the gist of it," Marie said and Purist submerged into her,
"And what's wrong with that? We're strong guys!" Luffy added,
"Okay, but please tell me you two have a ship," Zoro assumed,
"It isn't great, but it did get us to places," Marie said as she pointed out of the window and pointed at the small boat,
Zoro stood from his chair and went to the window. There he spots the only boat at the harbor, "You're kidding,"
"Nope! But we'll have an enormous one before long!" Luffy declared, "Just wait and see!"
Zoro sarcastically laughed at Luffy and looked at him, "And how's that?"
"With a great big pirate flag on top!" Luffy said, and stuffed his mouth again, "Hmm... I can't wait!"
Zoro then proceeded to press his fingers against his forehead for Luffy's dense nature, and Marie just giggled to herself.
"I think Luffy-san was born without that part of the brain that allows the rest of us to plan out what we have to do," Koby remarked,
"I can't believe I let myself get suckered into having him as my Captain," Zoro loudly remarked,
"I'm sure we'll get by when we cross that bridge, Zoro-san," Marie said, "And besides, Luffy chose you out of his best intentions,"
"Yeah! And we'll have a ton of crewmates in no time!" Luffy added,
"Luffy, where are you and your crew planning on traveling when you leave here?" Rika curiously asked,
"You mean it's not obvious? We're heading straight for the Grand Line!" Luffy revealed, causing Koby to spew his juice out of his mouth and nostrils,
Moments later, Koby went on about his usual behavior about Luffy being out of his mind and Rika had heard about the Grand Line being a terrible place but never knew it herself.
That's when Koby began elaborating the common description of the Grand Line. The world has about two oceans, but there is a large land mass that separates them known as the 'Red Line'. There are tales of a town that sits at the very center of the Red Line and the Grand Line is said to cut through this town at a right angle and stretch all the way around the rest of the world.
Then the King of the Pirates, Gold Roger, was said to have obtained everything the world has to offer and before his death, he left this great treasure there and Pirates from all over the world set sail through the Grand Line.
To this day, the Grand Line is nothing but a Battlefield and some call it the Pirate Graveyard. Ririka would add more to Koby's explanation as she had heard from several customers that no one who had entered the Grand Line had ever been out of that place alive.
"Which is really too bad, because that's where the One Piece is said to be and that's exactly where we're going!" Luffy declared,
"Guess we'll have to live with it," Zoro remarked,
"Certainly, and it might even be fun along the way," Marie added with a beaming smile,
"No! You can't agree!" Koby objected,
"Why do you care? You're not going with us, are you?" Zoro inquired,
"N-No, but I'm still worried. Is it so wrong to care about the three of you?" Koby stated, "Luffy-san, Marie-san, and I haven't known each other for years or anything. But I'm still concerned since we're friends, wouldn't you say?"
"Of course! We may have to part ways, but we'll always be friends!" Luffy cheeringly assured, and Marie hummed in agreement,
Koby then stated he didn't have any friends before, much less anyone who bothered to fight on his behalf. But today, he's learned quite a lesson from the three that he could not learn on his own; How to believe in himself.
He then plans on making his dream into a reality by becoming a Marine. But Zoro pointed out a particular problem, where the Marines would do a background check on every recruit they enlist within their ranks.
Even if Koby worked for Alvida as her cabin boy, he's still a member of a pirate crew, and the Marines' information gathering is top-notch. No doubt they'll uncover Koby's involvement with pirates.
Koby had never thought about that before, then came a squad of Marines and their acting officer, "Hey, you there! We heard that you three are actually pirates. Is this rumor true?"
"Right, and I just added our first member to my crew. So pretty much, the whole thing has just become official,"
"We appreciate everything you did to save our town from that horrible tyrant who terrorized us for so long," The Officer stated, "However, now that we know you're all pirates. As Marines, we cannot stand idly by and watch you go about your business. Therefore, you and your crew need to leave this town immediately. But out of respect for what you've done, we will not report you to Headquarters,"
This earned the ire of the townsfolk as the Marines were practically kicking out the ones who saved the town, especially when the Marines themselves turned a blind eye and let Morgan terrorize them.
As for Luffy and his crew, they agreed as they stood up from their chairs, "Well, time to go,"
"Take care, Rika-chan," Marie said, as she patted the girl's head, then bowed to Rika's mother, "And thank you for the food, Miss,"
"You're already leaving?" Rika asked,
"Yeah," Luffy replied, and they walked past Koby,
Then the officer asked Koby if he was going with Luffy. Naturally, Koby was too nervous to answer, but the officer soon turned to Luffy and asked if Koby was part of his crew or not.
Rather than give a direct answer, Luffy inexplicitly admitted that Koby was doing something else than being a member of his crew. This caused Koby to tense up and turn to him with shocked eyes.
Moments later, Luffy provides a short description of a fat pirate lady and wrongly recalls her name as Albida instead of Alvida. He then pointed out a few more details about her and approached Koby.
As it went on, Luffy then nudged Koby's head with his finger and was about to admit that he spent two years on Alvida's ship.
Because of this, Koby then proceeded to punch Luffy and shocked Rika, her mother, and the Marines. Before long, Luffy straightened his posture and started beating up Koby for all to see
This ruckus soon infuriated the Marine Officer who yelled, "Get out of here now! We can have you pirates disturbing this town more than you already have! You hear me!"
"That's enough, Luffy," Marie intervened and tugged onto his shoulder, "He's had enough, so let's go already,"
Koby soon falls to the floor and the Marine Officer points out the obvious that Koby isn't part of Luffy's crew and orders them to leave at once.
This time, Luffy abides as he, Marie, and Zoro leave the tavern and make their way to the harbor. Marie and Zoro already knew that Luffy purposely beat Koby into a pulp was convince the Marine Captain that he wasn't part of the crew without an outright answer.
Harbor
"That was a thin act you put on back there," Zoro remarked, "I wouldn't be surprised if they see right through it,"
Luffy just chuckled, while Marie stated, "But with what they saw, I'm sure Koby-san will handle the rest,"
"Yeah, he will. I have faith in him," Luffy agreed,
"It is a fitting way to leave this place," Zoro remarked, "Unable to turn back as everyone hates us now... Very pirate-like,"
Luffy laughed while removing the rope from the bollard while Marie boarded the ship first, "Yeah! It sure is!"
"Luffy-san! Marie-san!" Koby called out as he rushed to them,
The three then turned and they saw Koby, along with Rika and her mother. Then Koby saluted to them, "I can never thank you both enough! You've done more for me than anyone ever has!"
"I never heard of a Marine thanking a Pirate before. That's one for the history books," Zoro remarked while Luffy and Marie chuckled,
With the rope removed and the sails pulled down, they depart while Luffy yells out, "We'll meet again, Koby! Someday!"
Rika waved at them while Koby watched them go. Then the Marines showed up and saluted to their departure...
A Few Days Later...
As the crew was sailing the seas, they've run of food and Luffy was loudly moaning about it, "I'm so hungry..."
"When are we going to reach land anyway," Zoro said as he was hungry too,
"That's the real question, Zoro-san," Marie calmly remarked, "The other is what lies thereafter we arrive,"
"You don't seem bothered at all, aren't you hungry?" Zoro inquired,
"I am, I just learned how to tolerate it especially when my Devil Fruit's involved," Marie revealed,
"How can your Devil Fruit be involved with the situation?" Zoro asked,
Marie then revealed that her Devil Fruit Power also affects several aspects of her body after consumption. In this case, she can go hungry at a much faster pace than Luffy would and eat at the same pace as him.
It has nothing to do with her natural metabolism, rather the primary cause is the existence of her clones. It's oddly similar to a ship filled with a small crew except they're all made out of just one individual.
When the user feels hungry or thirsty, it would be shared with the clones residing within her mind and they'll amplify the urge and sensations to quench that need even if she wants it or not.
In other words, Marie would feel hungrier than the two combined...
"I'm surprised that you haven't collapsed on us yet," Zoro remarked,
"That's the power of the mind for you," Marie passively remarked, "But that doesn't mean I can tolerate it forever. One way or another, the hunger will get to me and I'd die,"
"So how are you able to tolerate it so easily? Most people would have gone crazy if they were feeling hungry with that kind of power," Zoro asked,
"I trained myself, of course," Marie revealed with a beaming smile,
Zoro sweatdrops at this sight before striking up a conversation with Luffy about their current state. This soon leads to Zoro pointing out how dumb someone who wants to become the King of the Pirates if he doesn't possess a single navigational skill. The same can be said for Marie as she never sail before.
Luffy wasn't bothered, then asked if Zoro had such a skill. To which he reveals that he never had recollection of ever calling himself a bounty hunter. He only set out seas to search for one man, but he couldn't get back to his village.
By that time, Zoro had no other choice but to go after pirates to earn a living.
"Oh I see, so you're just lost," Luffy bluntly summarized,
"Hey, don't put it like that!" Zoro yelled and stomped on the boat,
This rocked the boat and Luffy's hat flew off of his head. Before it could go towards the sails, Marie had climbed the mast and grabbed it before sliding down and giving Luffy's hat back, "You should be more careful with this Luffy. You don't want to lose it, do you?"
"Yeah, thanks, Marie," Luffy thanked and took his hat back,
But he wouldn't wear it for a bit as he remembered the importance of this hat first as well as its former owner.
Flashback...
On Dawn Island, Marie had returned Luffy's hat after a monkey had stolen it from him and watched him cheerfully place it back onto his head.
Then curiosity came into Marie's mind, "Luffy, may I ask why you always wear that hat? You've never really told me why,"
Luffy blinks then he tips the straw hat that covered his eyes and conjures a smile on his face, "This hat belonged to Shanks. And I made a promise that if I saw him again, I would be King of the Pirates! Until then, this hat is my treasure and I won't let anything happen to it"
Marie just smiles and keeps this in mind. Then they'd go on with their usual antics in the forest
Present...
After a short silence, Zoro spoke about a different topic, "That reminds me, are you sure you and Luffy are related? You don't bear much of a resemblance to him and you seem to act like you are the oldest rather than the youngest,"
"That's because Luffy is my adoptive brother, Zoro-san," Marie revealed, "Also I'm his older sister since I'm one year older than him,"
"Wait, seriously? How can you be the older one here and not be the Captain?" Zoro asked in minor disbelief, "You seem capable for the job,"
"It's a choice I've made since we were kids," Marie declared, "And a choice I will stay to the very end of this voyage,"
Zoro wouldn't understand at first, but he had to admit that her choice to stay as Luffy's crewmate was commendable.
After that, Zoro reminds themselves of their hunger and Luffy soon spots a bird flying above their heads.
"Hey look, a bird," Zoro noted,
"I know! Let's eat it?" Luffy suggested,
"Eat it, how do we catch it?" Zoro questioned,
"As well as cook it since we're on a small boat," Marie added,
"We'll figure that part out later," Luffy declared, then stretched his arms towards the mast poles, "Gomu Gomu no..."
Then Luffy launches himself towards the bird, "Roketto!"
"Makes sense," Zoro remarked as he and Marie watched,
As soon as Luffy reached the bird, he yelped much to Zoro and Marie's confusion. Then came a desperate cry from their rubber captain as he was being taken away by the bird, "AH! HELP ME!"
"YOU MORON! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON NOW!" Zoro yelled as he and Marie started rowing the bow as fast as they could,
"We'll figure it out after we save Luffy! So keep paddling!" Marie yelled with utmost concern,
But as they paddled, they soon heard a cry from another person, "Hey! You there, stop! Man overboard! Stop! Man overboard!"
"Zoro, we've got shipwreckers straight ahead!" Marie said as she briefly glanced at the voice,
"Seriously?! At a time like this!" Zoro said, "We can't stop! You're just going to have to jump in!"
"WHAT?!" Three men exclaimed, and they soon found themselves clinging to the boat with dear life as it was going fast,
"I'm actually impressed you made it on board!" Zoro praised,
"Yeah, and lucky too!" Marie added,
"Are you two trying to kill us!?" The men yelled, and then one of them proceeded to his sword at them, "Stop the boat now. The three of us are members of Buggy the Clown's pirate crew. This is ours now"
"Huh?" Marie and Zoro mouthed, the latter with a glare and the former with a clueless stare,
In just three seconds, Zoro easily beats these three pirates while Marie keeps her eyes on the sky. Much to her dismay, the bird and Luffy were nowhere to be seen, "Sorry, Zoro. I'm afraid the bird and Luffy are too far gone for us to see,"
Zoro clicked his tongue in annoyance while one of the pirates jolted his head up, "Z-Zoro? Are you by any chance-"
"Roronoa Zoro, the Pirate Hunter?" Marie inquired, and the three briefly turned to her, "Why of course, who else would he be?"
The three squeaked as they turned back to Zoro and saw his glare, "If you value your lives, you'd start paddling,"
Without a second thought, two of the men started paddling in their stead while the one in the middle nervously chuckled to the three, "I'm sorry, we had no idea you were the famous Pirate Hunter Zoro,"
"Please forgive us!" the three simultaneously pleaded,
"Thanks to you three, we lost sight of our friend. So just keep paddling," Zoro ordered,
"Yes sir!" The three agreed,
"Do you think Luffy will reach land before we do?" Marie inquired,
"I asked you that, but knowing him. He'll pull off something when he does," Zoro said,
As the boat is being paddled by these three, Marie and Zoro soon overhears their conversation about their Captain who's called Buggy. Then Zoro asks them a question, "Huh? Who is this Buggy guy?"
"Ugh, you've never heard of Buggy the Clown?"
"Nope," Zoro replied,
"He's the ruthless captain of our pirate ship. And he's eaten one of the Devil Fruits," The Buggy Pirate explained, "Above everything else, he is one truly terrifying man,"
"Devil Fruit? Can you tell me what kind of Devil Fruit he ate?" Marie inquired,
"Sorry, Little Girl. But we swore secrecy in the name and loyalty of our Captain," The Buggy Pirate 2 said, "Therefore we can't tell you, even when you saved our lives just now,"
Without hesitation, Fury appears from Marie's back and confronts the three in the most startling way possible, "Why don't you start telling! Or I'll start snapping fingers until you talk!"
The three men screamed in utter fright while Zoro watched from the railing.
"Fury, if they don't want to tell. Then don't force them to tell," Marie said, "We'll find out one way or another,"
Fury glanced at Marie for a moment, and then she clicked her tongue before submerging into Marie's body again.
"I'm really sorry about that," Marie sincerely apologized, "Just keep paddling for us, okay?"
"Y-Yes, ma'am," The three men replied, but in a much calmer state,
For Zoro, he didn't care as long as they were able to find Luffy again.
As Marie sat on the opposite side of the boat, what awaited them was the island where Buggy the Clown is currently residing...
That is it for this chapter, as for what comes next. It'll be their arrival in Orange Town and their first encounter with Buggy the Clown and Nami.
Also, I hope you all appreciate the drawback I've made with Marie's Devil Fruit. If not, I wouldn't mind revising the details.
And always remember, I am open to questions and What If Scenarios from the readers
Marie's Jiga Fomu (Ego Forms):
Supaida Hensei (Spider Formation)
Marie's Jiga Kuron (Ego Clones):
Ecstatic Marie
Purist Marie
Fury Marie
Two unspecified Maries