Legal stuff: All original characters, settings, and plot belong to Eiichiro Oda. I did not receive any revenue for writing this fan fiction. Enjoy Chapter 33!

He was meditating when something caught his eye. At first, Zoro thought that the captain of the weird ship was just eccentric. The giant dog motif was extremely specific. He was just going to ignore it when the ship's colors finally registered. Zoro jumped off the broken mast and sprinted as fast as he could toward Galley La.

"Darn it! Luffy's still sleeping! I need to warn them!"

Zoro went straight down the deserted street and turned right. The street corners were a blur as he rushed by them. The directions were simple; he remembered the way the merchant showed him. He went straight two blocks before turning right again. Again, he ran two blocks straight and then turned right around a corner. There was more right turn and then he had to run straight again. Every street corner he turned on was supposed to lead him closer to the shipwrights' headquarters. And yet, instead of making headway, Zoro found himself staring at the ocean.

He panted for a second. "Where am I? This was the way to get back!"

Maybe he mistook the route. He took off, this time taking a left instead of a right. He followed the same instructions, but after a few minutes, the cape came into view again. He growled. So, it wasn't that direction after all. Zoro tried once more, using the opposite way, only to be staring directly at the cape…again.

"What the hell?! Wasn't the headquarters right around here?"

"Stranger, you must be an idiot."

"Yeah. We'll take you where you need to go but in exchange…"

Two brats came up behind him and rubbed their hands together greedily.

"Give us all your money!" they shouted before attacking him together.

Zoro didn't have time for this. These brats didn't know who they were dealing with. He dodged and punched each brat three times on the head in quick succession. Large bumps swelled immediately, one on top of the other. Still, maybe this encounter could help him after all.

"Listen, if you don't want me to beat you up more, guide me to the Galley La Headquarters. Right now. My nakama are in danger."

Their hands trembled and there were tears in their eyes but they both saluted.

"Yes, sir!"

The two brats kept their promise. They led him through the confusing streets of Water 7. He really didn't get lost. The city was just built wrong. Who could keep the streets and waterways straight? The path they took seemed to take him a backway. He didn't care, as long as they reached Galley La as fast as possible. Soon, he saw the large gates of the headquarters. Zoro sighed in relief. The boys saluted again.

"Headquarters are just up ahead!" one boy called.

"We're sorry that we tried robbing you!" the other boy yelled.

Zoro kept running but turned his head to call back to them.

"No problem! You guys were helpful after all. Thanks for taking me here. See you!"

The Marines were already gathered in front of their lodging. If he didn't cut through them quickly, the others would be in danger! Zoro swung wildly, concentrating more on sending the Marines flying, rather than on killing blows. An order was bellowed, though Zoro wasn't close enough to hear the exact order. An enemy presence leaped in front of him, brandishing an unusual weapon. Zoro was interested right away.

"Oh, you're using kukuri knives."

The enemy's large cleft chin and broad smirk triggered a vague memory, but Zoro couldn't place it. The enemy was stronger than a normal Marine, but he didn't compare to CP9 in terms of deadly power. Zoro dodged and weaved around the curved blades. He thought that he even heard Luffy trying to stop the fight before also getting attacked.

Well, at least his captain was awake. It was time to end this. Zoro blocked each strike. He disarmed his opponent, his katana poised on either side of the enemy's neck. As long as the guy didn't move, he wouldn't get hurt. Luffy defeated his enemy at the same time. The other Marines cried out, while an old man just stood back and laughed.

"You guys were completely outmatched!"

Luffy's opponent just grinned while on the ground.

"Just as expected, Luffy-san. You're as strong as ever! I completely lost!"

The will to fight dissipated. It didn't seem like the other Marines were going to attack. Zoro sheathed his katana. Did Luffy know his attacker? He was surprised when he was also addressed.

"Luffy-san, Zoro-san. It's been a long time. Do you happen to recognize me?"

His captain's confusion was hard to miss.

"Recognize you? Who?"

"So, you don't remember me after all. Well, I've changed a lot since we saw each other last. It's me, Coby!"

Luffy tried to remember. Zoro was having a hard time believing it. The person in front of them was scarred and tough. The Coby he remembered was tiny and round.

"I remember Coby, but you don't really look like him. He was smaller and a real crybaby," Luffy said.

"That's me! The crybaby who couldn't do anything. I'm that Coby!"

"Eh? You're lying!"

He just couldn't believe it. And Luffy was in as much shock as he was. The boy standing in front of him didn't resemble the old Coby at all!

"You're really him?! But why are you here on the Grand Line? Weren't you still in East Blue?"

Coby laughed sheepishly and scratched the back of his head.

"After you two left the island, we began training with Vice-Admiral Garp. We're still not used to our new ranks but when we heard that the Straw Hats were nearby, we just had to see you. After all, we owe both of you so much."

"Hmph," the guy grunted. "Well, you're not completely wrong, but it feels weird to grovel too much. Let's just leave it at that."

His captain giggled. "Gramps must be training you hard. He can be a real demon sometimes."

Coby waved it off. "No, we're really grateful that he took a chance and started training us in the first place."

Zoro wondered what sort of regime they were put through. Coby now had a scar across his forehead. The once small and pudgy boy was toned and taller. His pink hair was still recognizable, but the wild locks didn't resemble his old style at all. Zoro smirked. His glasses still sat proudly on his head, though it didn't seem like Coby needed them now. Zoro followed Luffy and Coby back to their room as they chatted, catching up since they last saw each other.

"Hey, don't tell me that you guys don't remember me! I didn't change that much!" his attacker called after them.

Zoro turned to face the man. He studied his face carefully but couldn't recognize him.

"Who?" he asked.

"Yeah, I don't remember. Who are you?" Luffy asked.

The guy started shouting. "It's me! You know, I was the guy that almost executed you, Roronoa! It's me, Helmeppo, the son of Captain Morgan!"

Zoro scrunched up his face, trying to place the name with the face. Captain Morgan was a familiar name. His one hand was an axe. He wasn't about to forget that. That man had a son? He still wasn't coming up with anything.

"How can you not remember?! You almost faced the death penalty because of me!"

Zoro tilted his head. His life had been on the line many times before. Facing the death penalty was nothing new. This guy really had to narrow it down if he wanted to be remembered. No matter how much he searched his memory, he could not place the name.

"Fine! Fine! I'm the idiot son who abused my father's position in the Navy!"

"Ah, it's you…" Zoro finally replied. The idiot son, there weren't too many like him.

"So, it's that guy…" Luffy said.

"Coby! I really can't forgive these guys, even after all this time!"

Matters moved quickly after those final introductions. Marines started fixing the wall. Even Luffy's grandfather pitched in. He talked about Luffy's father while he pounded nails into the wood.

"Wait. I have a father?" Luffy asked.

"Of course, you do. It seems Dragon sent you off on your journey in Rogue Town," Luffy's grandpa said.

The whole room went silent after the introduction. Robin, of course, knew the man and his importance. After another moment of silence, Luffy's grandpa turned towards the group.

"Ah, that was supposed to be a secret. Just forget that I ever mentioned it!"

The shocked silence lasted in the room for only a moment later before exploding.

"EH?!"

…

"Come on, Magina. This is the best opportunity to relax a little. How many times do you get the chance to play in the water? All you normally do is fish. You need to take this chance to have some fun!" Nami tried coaxing her.

Magina pursed her lips.

"You're teasing me again, Nami. You just want to see me in a bathing suit. I wouldn't look good in a bathing suit."

Nami chuckled, solidifying her belief that the navigator was teasing her.

"Zoro certainly looked interested in seeing you in a swimsuit. You were right about the outfit on the train. I picked out one that will match you much better. Wouldn't it be great to stun him again? Besides, isn't this the best way to thank him? He took such good care of you on Iceburg's ship."

Magina was going to protest again until Nami brought up Zoro. She never needed to look pretty before. She was a true fisherman. But Zoro, he did say that he wanted to see her in a swimsuit. There probably would never be a better opportunity. Nami smiled at her hesitation and pulled her to the dressing room.

"Don't underestimate your natural charms, Magina. You should take this chance and make a move on the slowpoke! Have some confidence!"

Magina sighed and let herself be pushed into the changing room. There hadn't been a lot of time for either of them to 'make a move', as Nami put it. And she was feeling uneasy. The problem wasn't their interest in each other. Something, some danger was wriggling its way closer and closer to her security and she didn't know what to do about it. So, maybe Nami was right. She needed to take a chance.

Magina took her time putting on the red one-piece suit. Despite her initial misgivings, it fit her well. Even though the sides of the suit were slit open more than she liked, Nami left her a matching filmy over layer. Magina sighed in relief. What was Zoro going to say when he saw her? Would he think she was cute? Magina self-consciously came out by the pool. Nami, already lounging on a lawn chair, clapped her hands in delight, her face wreathed in a huge smile.

"I knew that bathing suit would match you! Zoro is going to be super stunned when he sees you!"

Magina tried to smile. Why was she so nervous? He wasn't even around yet to see her!

"You really think so?" she asked, plucking at the over layer.

Nami's grin broadened. "You look really cute. But if you don't believe me, maybe you should ask our guests."

There were a couple of photographers standing at the back gate. They waved and called them over.

"Hey! You two are both Straw Hats, right? Can we take your pictures for our portfolios?"

Nami strolled over. Her confidence made Magina jealous. If only she could pull off an outfit like that! Nami smiled sweetly.

"If you want to take our pictures so badly, then you must be prepared to pay our modeling fee. It'll be 100,000 Beli for each picture!"

The photographers glanced at each other.

"We'll give you 300,000 Beli for two pictures! We know that your pictures will make our portfolios famous. We're willing to pay you extra," the elder cameraman said.

Beli signs flashed in Nami's eyes as she did the calculations in her head. Magina swallowed as Nami started chuckling greedily.

"Nami, I can't model! I don't know how! I'm just a fisherman!" Magina pulled her aside and whispered desperately.

"Magina." Nami paused and placed her hands on Magina's shoulders seriously. "Didn't I say it already? This is a great opportunity. You need to break out of your whole 'I'm just a fisherman' faze."

"But I am just a fisherman!" she protested.

"You're also a woman. If you keep refusing to try new things, how are you going to know if you like it or not? Isn't that right?"

Magina was too flustered to really argue. "I—I mean, that's right, but—"

"Photographer-san! My friend agreed! Pay us up front or you can forget the whole thing!" Nami called out happily.

Magina opened her mouth to protest but Nami was already gleefully accepting the money and posing for her picture on the lawn chair. Magina posed in front of the wall, fully aware that her nakama had manipulated her into this situation. Looks like I was tricked she thought ruefully as the shutter clicked.

I can't believe that we're on Chapter 33 already! We're getting closer to the end of the Water 7 arc. My ending for this story is a bit after the Thriller Bark arc, so we have a lot of material to get through yet. Here's to hoping that you're enjoying it so far! Favorite, review, whichever you want! Good luck with your own projects and I hope you're staying healthy (and not too bored)! I hope you all had wonderful holidays and here's looking forward to a New Year!