Chapter 4: Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro
The day was clear, and the sun was high in the sky. Nami stretched her arms above her head with a groan, before standing up and checking the boat's heading. Once she did, she realized she still had Luffy's coat and spun around to give it to him, but what she saw stopped her in her tracks. Luffy was at the back of the sloop shirtless, practicing swinging his sword. She noticed he had worked up quite a sweat and that he was very muscular with well-defined abs and a broad chest and shoulders.
She shook her head loose turning her back to him while unintentionally clutching his coat, ''What the hell is wrong with me?! He's a stinking pirate! Like I could ever find him and all muscles attractive! I just need to get to the next island, and I'll be rid of him forever!' she thought to herself. A few minutes later Coby had woken up and they went through the bags of food stored on the ship, searching for some breakfast. They were soon joined by Luffy once he got a whiff a of food but had to cut his meal short seeing as his 'breakfast' was didn't than normal people.
"Come on, just a little bit more," Luffy pouted.
"NO, we have no idea how close the next island is and I'm not starving on account of you!" Nami yelled.
"Well, that sucks. So, where are we headed?" he asked, trying to forget his hunger.
"Shell Town, there's a Marine Base there and I need to find something on that island. You should be good once we get there." She said as she leaned back against her bag of treasure, closing her eyes.
"Wow. So, you really are a pretty good Navigator." He complimented her with his trademark grin.
"Not just good. I'm the best Navigator in the entire East Blue." she said, opening her eyes to see Luffy's face right in front of hers causing her to blush and lean further back. "Why are you so close!" she yelled.
"The best?! That's amazing! You should join my crew!" he said excitedly with stars in his eyes.
"Hell no! I hate pirates! Why would I ever want to be one?!" Nami yelled at Luffy making him inch back a little.
"I refuse your refusal! You will be my Navigator. Shishishi!" Luffy started laughing as if it was fact.
"That's not how this works!" Nami yelled, taking another swing at him and missing again as he sidestepped her. This caused her to lose her balance and she would have fallen if Luffy didn't grab her arm and pull her back up. He used a little too much strength which resulted in her being pulled flush onto his body. She was caught off guard as she now had her hands placed on his broad shoulders and unintentionally began tracing his arms and his upper chest. Finally realizing what she was doing, she pushed him away and turned her back to him with her arms folded. Coby noticed the tension between the two and decided to wisely stay out of it.
Luffy ever oblivious to a woman's charms, "So, how long until we reach this Shells Town place?"
"Probably early tomorrow morning." Nami said pulling a map out of her bag and looking it over.
"Well, I'm going to pass the time getting acquainted with this," he said holding up his new sword in its sheath. "If you wanna talk about something just holler." Luffy said retaking his position on the back of the boat to begin his practice swings anew.
"Why do you need to get acquainted with a sword? It's just a dumb sword. A weapon." she asked, watching him go through his various swings.
"It's not just a dumb sword," Luffy said glaring at her for the first time making her nervous, "This cutlass was gift given to me by the man I looked up to. I promised him I'd be a great pirate like him someday and he gave me this sword and that coat to help me do it."
"Really? At what 'great pirate' did you make this promise to?" Nami asked sarcastically and with a hint of anger as well as curiosity. Luffy stopped swinging momentarily and clutched his straw hat while grinning, "His name is Shanks. He and his crew stayed in my village for a year when I was a kid. They threw parties every single day while getting drunk, singing, and telling stories of their many adventures. Man, I miss those guys. He's the one who had the devil fruit that I ate." While Luffy was reminiscing Coby and Nami were both shocked beyond belief.
"SHANKS?! You mean Red-Haired Shanks?! One of the four strongest pirates in the world?!" Coby asked screaming.
"Yeah." Luffy answered nonchalantly.
Nami was speechless. Not only did this guy know one of the big-name Pirates, but he also said that they weren't anything like the pirates she became accustomed to. Shanks and his crew sounded like good, fun people to be around, while 'him' and his crew were the exact opposite.
"Red-Haired Shanks. Fire Fist Ace. How is it you know this many heavy hitters?!" Coby asked clutching both sides of his head.
"It doesn't matter. Their reputations have nothing to do with my adventure! They're them and I'm me!" Luffy said smiling while returning to his workout.
"Wow." Coby was once again in awe of Luffy. 'He wants to make it big with his name alone. You're so cool Luffy!' he thought to himself excitedly. If Shells Town was a Marine Base like the orangette said, then he was one step closer to achieving his own dream.
"Well lucky you. Not everyone can know a notorious pirate and be given a devil fruit from them." Nami said pouting with agitation.
"He didn't give it to me," Luffy was still swinging his sword, "I found it on one of their treasure chests' and thought it was some kind of dessert. Boy was I wrong. It was the worst thing I ever ate. It tasted like spoiled milk and was weirdly hot and cold at the same time." Luffy said shuddering remembering the experience.
"So, you really are lucky." Nami said sounding a bit defeated.
"I guess, but it isn't like I'm invincible or anything. Anyone with devil fruit powers can be beaten, you just have to know how to hurt them. Anyways," Luffy sheathed his sword and set it down on the boat deck. "You should definitely become my Navigator!" He said grinning and sweating all over distracting Nami for a moment. 'Jeez. His body is so well built and is very attractive' she thought before shaking loose her perverted thoughts. She swung at him with the same result as the first few times she tried to hit him by missing again.
"How the hell do you keep doing that?! You even dodged without looking." Nami asked, getting frustrated with the young pirate. He just grinned in response.
"I'm not telling" Luffy replied to singsong like, "You aren't apart of my crew, so I'm not obligated to teach you anything." He stuck his tongue at her making her chase him around the boat for the next few hours with Coby quietly watching the exchange between the two.
Sometime later night had finally fallen and Luffy and Nami were the only two awake as Coby was sound asleep. "So, why are you stealing money/treasure from pirates?" he asked, placing his red cardigan over Coby as a makeshift blanket. "Its pretty dangerous even with the weaker crews out there."
"None your business! Besides, why would I tell you? You might try to steal it!" she whisper screamed trying not to wake up Coby.
"I have my own money. Why would I need yours?" Luffy asked while picking his ear. This surprised her. She hadn't seen him with any money, nor did he ever mention having some before.
"Is that why you refused to help me earlier? Because you already have money and don't think you could use my help?" Nami asked sitting down with her back to the boat's edge arms folded over her large breast.
"No. I said no because I came out to sea to find the One Piece and become the King of the Pirates. Robbing other pirates wouldn't be worth it in the long run because most people tend to hold grudges myself included." He paused to make sure he had Nami's attention, "You don't seem like you're doing this for personal gain though, so why are you risking your life to rob criminals of their valuables." he asked, finally taking a seat in front of her. She was going to say no again but thought about the little tidbits of information he dropped yesterday and the night before. 'Let's see if he's as 'honorable' as he makes himself out to be' she thought with her index finger under her chin.
"Fine. I'll tell you if you tell me what you meant last night about finding out the hard way that this world isn't black and white." She sat up and placed her cleavage before his eyes, "I might even throw in an extra reward." Nami replied saucily.
"Fine," Luffy said grabbing her shoulder making her sit down, "But just an answer to my question is reward enough." He said earnestly causing Nami to blush in confusion and admiration. "Are you sure?" she asked with her hands behind her head sticking her breast out.
"Yeah. Makino taught us that a woman's womanhood shouldn't be bargained with. It should be given willingly. I can't ask you to do that." He said genuinely. She was shocked to say the least. Most men looked at her with lust, especially pirates. He turned her down like it was easy leaving her speechless. "When I was about 8 years old, me and my brothers were running through a place called the Grey Terminal when someone shot me." Nami had a look of horror on her face.
Luffy placated her by raising his hands. "It's ok. I'm a Logia Devil Fruit user so bullets go right through me." She let out a breath in relief. "Wait, you have another brother?"
"Yeah, his name is Sabo. Anyways the one who shot me was a guy named Porchemy and he was a member of the Bluejam Pirates. He told us he was there to kill us and capture Sabo by orders of his father. We kicked his butt easily seeing how we had been trained by our grandpa for a year by then and began to interrogate him. It was then me and Ace found out that Sabo was the son of a noble in the Goa Kingdom that resided on Dawn Island. That didn't matter to us though seeing as we already were bonded as brothers. We left the Grey Terminal, but later that night we awoke to see Grey Terminal in its entirety on fire." Luffy developed a solemn look.
"I still can remember the screams of all the people there who couldn't escape, but most of all I remember my feeling of helplessness that I couldn't stop them from suffering. I couldn't use my powers back then like I can now so my attempts to put out the fire were in vain. The next day we found out that it was Sabo's father and the other nobles who ordered the Grey Terminal and its inhabitants to burn away. The Celestial Dragons were visiting the Goa Kingdom for the Heavenly Tribute, and they didn't want them to encounter the 'trash' of the island." Luffy said emphasizing the word trash clinching his fists.
"I couldn't understand how people could be so cruel or evil. It's the main reason I told my grandpa I couldn't be a Marine. It's a Marine's job to protect the Celestial Dragons."
Nami didn't know how to process this information. They were so different and at the same time so similar in the fact that they found love in their respective adoptive families as well as pain and suffering at the hands of those presumed to be their betters.
"That's a hell of a story. I suppose it's only fair I hold up my end of the bargain." Nami said softly. She then began the tale of her long, arduous journey. How she was living in peace as a little girl in Cocoyashi village with her adoptive older sister and mother when everything went to hell when the Arlong Pirates came to the Conomi Islands. How Arlong shot her mother through the eye right in front of her and her sister. How he forced her to draw sea charts and steal from pirates to buy her village back from him. By the time she had finished her tale she was crying and trembling in sadness and anger. Luffy surprised her by suddenly pulling her close for a hug with her ear to his chest. 'I feel so safe in his arms. Like a little kid again.' She thought. That sat like that for about an hour with Luffy allowing her to let out all her pain and grief before pulling back and wiping away her tears.
"Nami, let's make a deal," He said getting her attention, "Be my navigator until we reach the Conomi Islands. If you take there in exchange, I'll wipe the floor with this Arlong guy." Luffy said staring into her eyes.
"I appreciate that, but you can't beat him. He's a Fishman and he's ten time stronger than the average human, not to mention what he can do in the water." Nami said with her arms across her knees with her head down. She would've continued sulking, but Luffy bonked her on the head. "Ow! What the hell was that for?!" Nami yelled with whited out eyes and sharklike teeth clutching the top of her head.
"Because I felt like it. Don't decide what I can and can't do." Luffy said holding up his fist, "You haven't seen what I'm capable of by a long shot so trust me when I say I'll beat him." Luffy said grinning. Nami wanted to believe him but was still unsure about him beating Arlong. She'd seen him flip a house upside down with ease just because he felt like.
"Fine. I'll be your navigator, but you must show me proof along the way that you could beat him." Nami said with a newfound conviction.
"Ok, that'll be easy enough to do. Shishishi." Luffy then got up to go lie down, but not before placing his coat onto her shoulders again. "See you in the morning." He said pulling his hat down over his eyes.
Nami lay down on top of her bag of treasure while clutching his coat around her body. She drifted off to sleep feeling a small sliver of hope in her heart for the first time in years.
The next morning the trio started the day with breakfast. By the time they finished the destination was on sight. The large tower of the Marine Base of Shells Town was becoming more clearer the closer they got to the island. Luffy's excitement was palpable while Coby was super nervous about his future enlistment. Nami was focused on the task at hand.
"Looks like you were right about our arrival. You're awesome Nami!" Luffy cheered as they approached the docks.
"All you must do is follow the compass and check your map to make sure you're going in the right direction. How did you plan on navigating anyway?" she asked curiously.
"I was going to find one eventually. Old Man Ben told me Shanks roamed the seas at random and assorted his crew, so I'm going to do the same. Luckily, I found the best Navigator in the East Blue first." Nami turned away from him to hide her blush and small smile that formed on her lips.
They paid the Dock Master and began walking through the town keeping to themselves, "So Coby, I remember you mentioning something about some Zoro guy who's here?"
"Yeah, 'Pirate Hunter' Zoro is being held prisoner by the Marines here in Shells Town, why?" Coby asked but was afraid he already knew the answer.
"Is he strong?" Luffy asked as the three continued down the main road.
"According to some stories I've heard he's rumored to be a demon in human skin. They say he's never missed a mark since he started bounty hunting." Coby replied, becoming wary of the grin on Luffy's face. 'Don't tell me he's gonna-.'
"Interesting. I should see if he wants to join my crew." Luffy grinned widely while Nami just shook her head in disbelief.
"No way, Luffy! He'll cut you down rather than hear you out! He's notorious for his swordsmanship! You'll be killed." Coby said trying his best to convince his friend to forego this course of action.
"Relax, it'll be fine. I'm strong and plus I have my own sword so everything will work out." Luffy said while walking towards the Marine Base. "So, he's in there?"
"I'm sure they would have someone as dangerous as him in the deepest part of the base." Coby stated only now realizing that Luffy and Nami were already in front of the base hanging over the top of the wall, though Nami was doing it to scope out the base itself.
"Really? Well, there is someone tied to a post over here." Luffy said looking at the young man who looked extremely exhausted.
"That's Zoro? I thought you said he was strong. Those ropes look pretty flimsy to me." Luffy wasn't sure about this guy yet, but Coby was. 'Green hair and haramaki as well a black bandana. That's definitely Roronoa Zoro.' His thoughts were cut off when heard wood hitting the wall. He, Nami, and Luffy looked to their left and saw a wooden ladder had been propped up against the wall. A small, brunette girl in a striped dress turned to them with a finger to her lips shushing, before climbing over the wall and using a rope to descend to the ground.
"Luffy! Go get her before he hurts her!" Coby yelled in fear as she approached Zoro.
"I doubt it. He doesn't seem like the type." Luffy said still observing the man while Nami was looking at him curiously. 'He just met the guy. How would he know what kind of person he is.' She thought to herself.
"What are you doing here?" Zoro asked with his voice extremely hoarse. "Do you want to die? Get lost." The girl squealed, before revealing what she had been carrying.
"I made you some rice balls, Big Brother Zoro! You haven't eaten in days, right?" She looked at him timidly. "This is my first-time making rice balls myself so…"
"Get out of here! I'm not hungry!" Zoro cut her off with a growl.
"But it's been…"
"Leave! Or else I'll kill you!" Zoro threatened the girl.
"You sure you want a guy like him on your crew?" Nami questioned Luffy with a grimace, but before he could say something, the two were being approached by someone. The person was a tall, rather skinny boy in a purple suit. He had an oval-shaped bowl cut with the bangs parted in the front.
"So rude, you'd better not be picking on little girls, Roronoa Zoro, otherwise I'll have to tell my father." The smugness coming of this guy made Nami's flesh crawl.
"Is he a Marine?" Coby asked seeing two Marines trailing the blonde. "She'll be ok now." He visibly deflated while Nami looked at him perturbed. 'I guess the kid can't see scumbag written all over this guy.
"Well. If it isn't the Captain's weakling son?" Zoro spat out mocking the purple suited blonde.
"My dad's a Marine Captain, don't push your luck." The blonde sneered at him before turning his attention to the small girl. "Hello, little girl, oh are those rice balls? Don't mind if I do!" He grabbed one of them and took a bite, ignoring the girl's protests of them being for Zoro. He choked before spitting out all the rice. "What the hell did you put in this?! Sugar? You put salt in rice balls you stupid brat! Salt!"
"I-I thought they would taste better sweet!" she stuttered out.
"How could anyone eat something like this?" He then snatched the other rice ball from her and threw in on the ground and began stomping it repeatedly.
"No! Stop it! He won't be able to eat them anymore!" The girl dropped to her knees crying.
"That's so cruel!" Coby exclaimed while Nami was glaring daggers at the blond and Luffy's hat shadowed his eyes.
"That's so mean. I did my best on them." The little girl got out through her tears.
"Don't cry, see this is why I hate brats." The blonde pointed to a sign near Zoro. "This is your own fault you know. Can't you read? It says, 'Anyone caught helping a prisoner shall be charged with the same crime.' You know how scary my dad can be, right?" He turned to one of the Marines. "Toss her over the wall."
"But sir, she's just a little girl!" The Marine replied appalled.
"Are you questioning my orders?! Throw her out of here or I'll tell my dad!" The blonde yelled, spittle flying from his mouth.
"Yes, Helmeppo sir!" The Marine then approached the girl and picked her up gently. "Just tuck into a ball and try to roll, it should minimize any damage." He whispered to her before throwing her clear over the wall.
Nami gasped as she saw her fly over the wall. She wanted to catch the small girl, but she couldn't get to her fast enough. Suddenly, she stopped mid-air and was floating right above them. She looked at Luffy and saw he hand his hand extended towards the girl and when he brought it down, she slowly came down from the sky with it. When her feet hit the ground, she ran to Luffy hugging his torso and crying.
"Hey now, don't cry. You're a big girl, aren't you?" Luffy asked softly ruffling her hair. He got a small nod and sniffling from the girl who was trying to stop her tears. "Run on home, ok?" The little girl nodded before making her way down the street and was soon far from sight. Nami was surprised by his gentle nature with the little kid, but as soon as she was out of sight his smile disappeared and he glared at the wall where the blonde was behind it.
"Man, I didn't think you would have this kind of endurance." Helmeppo said trying to taunt Zoro.
"This is nothing. I'll last the whole month. You better keep your word." Zoro snarled at Helmeppo.
"Yeah, I'll keep it alright. If you can survive the whole month, that is." Helmeppo laughed as he and his bodyguards walked away.
"Annoying bastard." Zoro muttered before closing his eyes to rest. A sudden noise in front of him made him open them, only to see Luffy standing in front of him with his coat hanging off his shoulders blowing in the wind. "Who are you? Doesn't matter anyways, you should leave otherwise that kid will go crying to his daddy."
"Says the guy who could easily beat everyone here." Luffy grinned, causing Zoro to smile in response. "Man, a whole month without food. I don't think I could go a couple days without eating."
"That's what makes us different. You need an unbreakable will to fulfill your dreams." Zoro stated with fire in his eyes.
"Dreams, huh? I like that word" Luffy said sizing Zoro up. "I want you to join crew." He grinned.
"Crew? You're a pirate?" Zoro asked in astonishment. The guy in front of didn't seem like a scoundrel.
"That's right." Luffy grinned. "I'm going to be King of the Pirates!"
"Not interested. Why don't you look for another sucker to make a criminal out of." Zoro laughed which quickly turned to coughing.
"I think you have the wrong idea about pirates." Luffy said shaking his head.
"Pirates are evil, right? I'll never join you. I have my own goal to accomplish." Zoro said, staring Luffy in the eye.
"Just like Marines stand for 'Absolute Justice', right?" Luffy grinned, getting another smirk from Zoro. "Well, I'll be here for a little while, so let me know if you change your mind." He walked away waving.
"Wait!" Zoro called out, getting Luffy to turn around with a curious look. "That rice ball. Can you get that for me?" He motioned to the one lying in the dirt with his head.
"Where did all that conviction go?" Luffy snickered. "This thing is more dirt than rice now."
"It doesn't matter. Just give it here! I'm eating all of it." He opened his mouth wide. Luffy tossed the remains of the rice ball to Zoro who chewed and swallowed it with a look of discomfort written over his face. A look that Coby and Nami both had, having witnessed the whole thing.
"It was delicious. The best thing I've ever eaten. Make sure to tell the little girl that, for me." Zoro demanding after choking down the dirt ball.
"Sure thing." Luffy grinned and turned to walk back towards the wall. His coat blowing in the wind had revealed his hip with a sword attached to it that Zoro recognized instantly.
"Oh, that sword!" Luffy turned to see the green-haired man with wide eyes and visibly shaken. "Where did you get that cutlass?" He asked in anger thinking the young man stole it somehow. The answer he got in response killed all doubts he had about the raven-haired man.
Luffy grinned widely. "It was a gift. A gift from a very dear friend." He said honestly with his right hand over the hilt of the sheathed blade.
Luffy finally walked away leaving Zoro with his mind racing a mile a minute. 'I know I'm not crazy. That sword. That was the sword the old man in my village made for that red-haired guy. Was he who he bet the future on?' Zoro thought now slightly reconsidering the offer made to him.
Luffy made it back over the wall to Nami who looked a tad green from watching him struggle to eat the deformed rice ball. "What an interesting guy! I want him to join my crew."
"Idiot. Didn't you hear what he said? He doesn't want to be a pirate." Nami shook her head in frustration.
"Yeah, come on. We have a little girl to make feel better." Luffy said walking back into the town with Nami and Coby following. She had scouted the building well enough, so all she needed was to steal what she needed. Once they got back, they found the little girl inside a restaurant run by her mother.
"Really? He ate everything?" The girl smiled elated.
"He did Rika. He told me to tell you it was the most delicious thing he's ever eaten." Luffy smiled ruffling her hair.
"I don't understand. Isn't he supposed to be some kind of monster or something?" Coby contemplated out loud.
"No!" Rika screamed in his face, making the chubby pinkette almost fall from his stool.
"Then why is he being held prisoner here?" Nami asked her while sitting on the other side of Luffy.
"It's because of me. That jerk Helmeppo had a wolf that he used to terrorize the town!" She explained heatedly. "It came here to mom's restaurant and started disturbing all our customers! It almost attacked me before Big Bro Zoro sliced it up. Helmeppo wanted me and my mother to be executed, but Big Bro Zoro made a deal with him!"
"That's terrible! Why aren't the Marines doing anything to stop him?" Nami asked incredulously.
"Because he's Captain Morgan's son, everyone is too afraid to stop him," Rika dropped her head and began crying. "Big Brother Zoro is suffering because of me. That stupid meanie even punches and kicks him while he's tied up! I hate the Morgans! They're bad people, but everyone is too scared to fight them!" The door suddenly swung open revealing the bothersome blonde himself.
"I'm so hungry." Helmeppo sneered at Rika's mother. "We're eating for free, got it? Hurry up and bring me some alcohol! What's taking so long?" Helmeppo looked around the restaurant before speaking again. "Oh, since I'm bored, I've decided to execute Zoro tomorrow." Rika gasped in fright. "Look forward to it, everyone!" Helmeppo said laughing gaudily.
His words had struck a chord with Luffy who had had enough of him. He stood up with his hat shadowing his eyes walking towards Helmeppo.
"Luffy?" Nami asked apprehensively, already sure of what was about to happen.
Luffy stalked towards the laughing blonde and launched his fist into his jaw. Helmeppo's head warped around Luffy's fist, and the rest of his body lifted clean off his chair before being sent flying into the wall breaking through it and landing in a heap in the street in front of the restaurant. The other customers wore looks of shock as the pirate then grabbed the faces of both the Marines who were with Helmeppo and smashed the back of their heads together before throwing them through the newly made hole in the wall.
Helmeppo was barely able to see because his vision was spotty and blurry. The ground kept coming up at him no matter how hard he tried to stand. When he shook off some of the concussed feeling, he saw that his blood was all over the street. As well as the two Marines who escorted him lying in their own bloody heaps barely conscious. He then noticed the man who punched him slowly approaching.
"Who the hel..." Helmeppo clutched his jaw in pain. "Who the hell are you?! Do you know who I am?!" he asked, trying to speak with his now swollen face.
"You're a weakling who's garbage, nothing more or less." Luffy snarled at the crying blonde.
"I'm Captain Morgan's son! I'll have you executed for this!" Helmeppo yelled.
"You better go cry to your daddy, before I really kick your ass." Luffy threatened to make Helmeppo shudder in fear. His bodyguards finally pulled themselves together and picked Helmeppo up before running off back to the base.
"You know you just put them on high alert, right? How am I supposed to get what I came for now? It's in the Marine Base."
"Oh, why didn't you say that earlier? I could have grabbed it, no problem! It's fine though, going back gives me a chance to talk to Zoro again as well as slug this Captain Morgan asshole." Luffy grinned, getting Nami to shake her head with a small grin of her own.
"Well, just make sure you cause a good ruckus, so you distract them for me." Nami requested with a smirk.
"Sure thing." Luffy grinned. "I'm pretty sure Zoro will change his tune when he finds out the crybaby is deciding to back out of their deal. I can't wait to have a new nakama!" Luffy yelled picking up his pace to the Marine base.
Nami just shook her head and followed behind him. 'How did I ever agree to dealing with a carefree guy like him? It doesn't matter anyway. This will be my first chance to see if he can hold up his end of the bargain' Nami thought as she tried to catch up to Luffy.
Zoro was in the courtyard, eyes downcast and shadowed. He snapped them open when he heard someone approaching him. He looked up to see the raven-haired pirate from before. "You again? Didn't I tell you I'm not interested?"
"I'm going to get you down from there." Luffy looked serious and Zoro wondered where this attitude had come from. "You're going to be my nakama!"
"Like I said, I have no interest in being a criminal. I refuse! You're starting to annoy me!"
"What's wrong with being a pirate?" Luffy asked with a tilt of his head.
"Pirates are scum. Who in their right mind would want to be one? Zoro shouted back.
"Why do you care? Aren't you already known as a demon in human skin? A vicious, ruthless bounty hunter?" Luffy grinned widely.
"I don't care what the world says about me. Nothing matters except achieving my ambition. Zoro replied calmly before smirking savagely. "I will survive! I will accomplish what I set out to do!"
"That's awesome, but I've already decided you're going to be joining my crew!" Luffy grinned.
"You don't get to decide that for others!" Zoro roared back at the pirate.
"You're a swordsman, right?" Luffy inquired.
Zoro nodded. "That's right. I'm going to be the World's Strongest Swordsman!" He yelled his dream loud enough to be heard in the heavens.
"That's great! The Pirate King would expect no less from his crew, right?" Luffy laughed with his large grin still plastered on his face.
"Pirate King?" Zoro laughed. "Yeah right!" He smirked, looking at the still grinning Luffy. "Thanks, but no thanks. I already said I have no intention of joining you. I'll last the rest of the week and leave on my own."
"How're you going to do that when that blonde bastard is planning on executing you tomorrow?" Luffy questioned raising an eyebrow.
"What did you say?" Zoro growled.
"You should know better than to trust weak scum like that to keep their word. He's already declared to a restaurant full of people that he's moving up your execution simply because he's bored."
"Really? That little bastard." Said Zoro while clenching his fists.
"So, where's your sword, future World's Greatest Swordsman?" Luffy asked with a grin.
"That bastard took them. They're in the base." Zoro said with a expression of anger on his face.
"Them? As in more than one?" Luffy asked now even more intrigued with the green-haired man.
"Yeah. I have three katanas, and I need all three of them back." Zoro said adopting a serious look.
"Three swords? I knew you were a cool guy!" Luffy laughed. "Alright, I'll get your swords and then we can be nakama. Plus, I hope I run into this Captain Morgan bastard." Luffy said before vanishing before Zoro's very eyes. 'What the hell?' he thought in befuddlement.
Meanwhile Luffy had used his Observation Haki to quickly find the blonde inside the Marine Base. "Found you!" He said causing Helmeppo to look around his room looking for the owner of the voice he heard, only for Luffy to appear out of thin air right in front of him causing him to fall flat in his as in shock. "How did you get in here?! What do you want he asked in terror.
"I need Zoro's swords." He demanded from the blonde.
"They're over there." Helmeppo pointed towards a corner of the room where three swords sat against the wall. The blonde was shaking and sweating profusely.
"Thanks." Luffy smiled picking up the three swords and attached them to the sash on his hip opposite if his own sword. Turning around he noticed Helmeppo trying to escape the room and dashed forward punching the blonde in the back of the head. The blonde went flying through his room wall and several others before he came to a stop on a balcony inside the base. Luffy then extended his Observation range and found Nami on the floor below him. He dematerialized into the air and appeared right next to her as she entered a room. "Hey Nami!" he shouted.
She whipped around to punch him only for him to dodge and catch her like last time making her blush. "Why do you keep trying to hit me?" Luffy asked in confusion.
"You scared me! I didn't expect you to appear behind me!" She said still unconsciously clutching onto Luffy. Realizing this she let him go and straightened her clothes.
"Sorry Nami!" Luffy grinned. "What are you trying to get from here anyway?"
Nami smirked. "A map of the Grand Line. With this I can keep robbing tons of pirates. But if you can beat Arlong like you say you can then all that money will be just for me." She said holding her arms close to her with Beli signs for eyes. Luffy grinned in excitement as he followed Nami to the safe on the wall.
"Damn. That'll take me a while to crack open. It's a newer model than most." Luffy smirked at her before flexing his right hand, cracking his fingers in the process. "What are you-…" Nami stopped speaking when she saw every finger on his right hand turn black and he thrusted them through the safe door and yanked it off, throwing it across the room ruining Captain Morgan's office.
"One open safe, as requested." Luffy smiled with an exaggerated bow. Nami was staring at him in disbelief with her eyes bugged out, but they soon went back to Beli marks when she spotted all the cash inside the safe.
"You know, I think traveling with you is going to be a good thing." She said as they started loading their pockets with as much cash as possible. Luffy laughed as she started sifting through the papers and documents in the safe once, she had every single Beli she could carry stuffed in her various pockets. "It's not here! Why?! It's supposed to be here!" Nami ground out while holding up a single sheet of paper. It read 'It's my map now.' There was an image of a Pirate Jolly Roger on it, a grinning skull with star-shaped cuts on the eye holes and a large red nose.
"Who's Jolly Roger is that?" Luffy asked looking over Nami's shoulder.
"The Buggy Pirates, damn it! They beat me to the map!" Nami growled.
"Well, we know what our next heading is." Luffy grinned with Nami looking at him in surprise.
"Really?! You'll help me get the map?" Nami asked, getting right in his face, and she started blushing when she realized how close she was. When she turned away in embarrassment Luffy responded by laughing when suddenly he felt a large amount of hostility down in the courtyard with his observation and looked out the window. His eyes widened when he saw Coby and Zoro being held at gunpoint by various soldiers.
"That's not good!" Luffy yelled, grabbing a startled Nami in a princess carry.
"Luffy what are you...?" Her last words were cut off as she and Luffy were enveloped in a small funnel of wind vanishing from the room.
"Fire!" Morgan ordered his men as the dozen rifles aimed at Coby and Zoro fired off their rounds.
"Current Wall!" Luffy exclaimed as a light blue wall of wind appeared in front of him as he was now standing between the Marines and the 'criminals'. The bullets struck the wall and were ground into dust as they came into contact with it. Nami was still trying to get her bearings after suddenly being brought to the courtyard when she was in the Marine Base half a second ago. "Shishishi, that's my nakama and a helpful coward you were trying to shoot." Luffy chuckled. Coby dropped to the ground in relief, but also wearing an uneasy smile from being called a coward for like the millionth time by Luffy.
"What the hell was that?!" Zoro demanded with a look of shock written on his face.
"I'll explain later!" Luffy then tore off the ropes, holding Zoro to the post and unclipped his swords. "Here are your swords, as promised!" Zoro took them and secured them in his haramaki eagerly.
"This Straw Hat isn't normal." Morgan grumbled as he cracked his neck. "He must have eaten one of the Devil Fruits. No matter, anyone who defies me must perish! Charge!" He ordered his soldiers.
The Marines drew their swords with loud battle cries and charged haphazardly. Zoro's eyes narrowed as he stepped from the post and drew all three of his swords, one in each hand and one in his mouth. His three clashed with and easily blocked every single Marine sword.
"Move and you die." Zoro threatened as he eyed Luffy. "Since I'm resisting, I'll officially be a criminal now." He ground out even with his sword handle clenched between his teeth. "I'll join you crew!" Luffy exclaimed in excitement pumping his fist in the air. "Good guy or bad guy no longer matters to me anymore! I'll be the World's Strongest Swordsman! If you thwart by ambition in anyway, I expect you to cut your belly open then and there!"
"Shishishi, World's Strongest Swordsman? The King of the Pirates would need no less on his crew! You got a deal!"
Still by the base of the tower Nami stared in awe. 'Maybe he's not just overconfident. I didn't even see him bring me down here and he was standing next to Zoro before I even opened my eyes.' She was given further evidence to his bold claim of kicking Arlong's ass. With a powerful swing of his swords, Zoro flung every single Marine trying to kill him backwards into the dirt. They all hit the ground rolling, dropping their swords in the process.
"We can't beat these two, Captain! They're too strong!" A Marine said to Morgan as he struggled to even sit up.
"This is an order…anyone who had those thoughts will turn their guns on themselves and pull the trigger! I don't need weak subordinates!" Morgan howled getting looks of shock from his men. They all pulled out their pistols with shaky hands and tears rolling down their faces before putting them to their own heads.
Suddenly everyone in the courtyard felt intense pressure. The Marines holding pistols to their heads had passed out while Morgans stood there with a hint of fear in his eyes.
Before he could say anything, he suddenly skidded across the dirt and bounced a few times before coming to a stop. When he looked up the Straw Hat boy was standing over him with his coat flowing in the wind behind him. "You bast…" He was cut off by Luffy slugging him right in the jaw, leaving a large imprint of his fist in Morgan's metal jaw.
"Another weakling bullying the weak. Garbage like you doesn't deserve to command others." Luffy growled at the corrupt Marine.
"You damned brat!" Morgan roared as he swung his axe down trying to bisect Luffy down the middle.
"Luffy!" Nami, Zoro, and Coby all shrieked in horror as the axe drew closer to their friend/captain. The dull thud of the axe made Nami open her eyes as she closed them to avoid seeing the guy she had just begun to start trusting's grizzly death.
"Impossible..." Coby whispered not believing what he was seeing.
"Man, I knew you were weak, but this is embarrassing." Luffy said as he held back Morgan's axe with just his index finger. If one could look closely, Luffy had a transparent haze of Haki coating his finger protecting it from damage.
"What…" Morgan tried to say only to receive another punch from Luffy to his chest. All his ribs were shattered as well as his sternum with blood flying out of his mouth. He fell into the dirt, unmoving. Luffy raised a fist in the air with his widest smile on display.
"What the hell are you?" Zoro questioned his new Captain in shock.
"I ate the Kaze Kaze no Mi! I'm a Wind Man!" Luffy turned and grinned at his new crewmate. Nami rushed over to Luffy, and his eyes bugged out as he thought she was going to slap him, but she hugged him close instead. "You idiot! How dare you make me worry about you?!" Nami asked with tears of fear and relief falling from her eyes. Luffy stared down at her in shock, he could feel her breast pressing into his chest making him blush and look away.
"Nami I'm sorry…" He tried to apologize, but was cut off by Nami.
"Shut up! Don't do something like that again without warning!" Nami said with a pleading look in her eyes. Luffy could do nothing but nod in response and held her close.
Before anyone else could chime in, a frenzied cheer rang throughout the base. "Captain Morgan has been beaten! We're free!" Every single Marine shouted in joy as they threw their hats into the air.
Coby was stunned to find out that Captain Morgan's own men hated him so but was happy to know not all the Marines in Shells Town was corrupt.
Later- Ririka's Restaurant-
"Hmmm." Nami stared at Luffy from across the table while he was eating.
"I said I was sorry." Luffy pouted while picking at his food. "I told you I was a Wind Man. I even told you I was really strong, and you've seen for yourself how strong I am."
"Hmph!" Nami crossed her arms and turned away from Luffy. "You really are an idiot." Luffy was still confused. He was okay so why was she so angry at him. 'I'll figure that out later.' He thought as he went back to stuffing his face.
"Ah, now that hit the spot!" Zoro happily patted his stomach. "After three whole weeks, I was starving!"
"What happened to lasting the whole month?" Luffy grinned at his new nakama.
"How in the hell are you eating more than me?! You didn't starve for weeks!" The green-haired swordsman yelled at his new Captain. Luffy had been stuffing his face for an hour now, with no signs of the food showing up on his toned and bulky body.
"Even I ate a lot…sorry about that." Coby said sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.
"It's not a problem! You're our town's heroes, so eat as much as you like!" Ririka, Rika's mother, smiled happily as she continued to clean the dishes.
"You're so strong, Big Brother Luffy!" Rika praised staring at Luffy in awe. He grinned at the girl and playfully ruffled her hair.
"I forgot to ask, but where are we headed next?" Zoro asked after down a mug of sake.
"To get Nami's map from the Buggy Pirates!" Luffy said with a hint of doubt in his voice.
"What's wrong Luffy, are you ok?" Coby inquired about making Zoro and Nami look at Luffy to see something was on his mind. "I don't know. It just feels like I've heard that name mentioned before." Luffy said with a hand on his chin.
"The Captain of the Buggy Pirates has one of the highest bounties in East Blue, but after what I witnessed today, I think he won't be a problem." Zoro nodded as he leaned back in his chair. The door of the restaurant opened before another word could be spoken. A bearded Marine was standing in the doorway, arms behind his back.
"Good day. I'm sorry to interrupt, but as Marines, we must know. Are you pirates?" The Marine asked.
"Yep." Luffy confirmed with a nod.
"You're brutally honest." Nami sighed, with a small smile on her lips staring at Luffy.
"I see. You all are the town's heroes! We will be eternally grateful to you for defeating Captain Morgan!"
Luffy chuckled. "But?" he said making Nami stifle a giggle from his straightforwardness.
"But see as you are Pirates, we can't allow you to stay here any longer. We won't report you to Marine Headquarters, but you must leave immediately." The Marine explained formally. The townspeople were in an uproar cursing and shouting at the Marines. They hadn't done anything to stop Morgan, but wanted to kick the ones who saved them out.
"That's fine." Luffy said as he stood up with Zoro and Nami taking that as their cue to leave as well. "But before we go allow me to make a one quick phone call." The Marine stopped his next line of questioning and acquiesced to the pirate's request. Luffy reached into his coat inside pocket and pulled out a small ,black Den Den Mushi that began ringing. Pura pura pura pura, pura pura...-gatcha. "Vice Admiral Garp, what is it?" the other voice answered the line.
"Shishishi. How's it going, grandpa?" Luffy asked casually as everyone in the bar exclaimed in surprise.
"Luffy, what do you want brat? Don't you know a Marines job is demanding?" Garp asked slightly irritated thinking his grandson used the secure line just to chat.
"I won't bother you too much, but really quick I have this kid here who wants to be a Marine, and I figured you wanted a young protégé to train under you anyway seeing as you tried to force me to be one for so many years."
"HAHAHAHA, my tough love didn't work on you boys at all! So, this kid, is he strong?" Luffy looked at Coby and smiled.
"Nope. He's super weak and flabby, on top of that he's a coward." Coby hung his head in shame. "But his heart is strong. He wants to be a Marine Admiral one day." Coby raised his head with tears in his eyes. Garp laughed hard in response.
"An Admiral?! He has ambition. Fine, I'll train him personally. Where is he?"
"Shells Town in the East Blue." Luffy stated.
"Alright I can be there in a few weeks' time. Tell him to be prepared for 'hell'." Garp said hanging up the phone. Luffy, Nami, and Zoro then left the bar leaving Coby there, crying in thanks.
The small pirate crew of three reached the docks with grins on their faces. "Nice job, Captain." Zoro clapped his shoulder as they prepared to set sail.
"Shishishi. He won't be thanking me when he meets him. He will have to go through hell under grandpa's tutelage, but he'll be all the stronger for it." Luffy laughed.
"We're ready to go! Heading towards Orange Town!" Nami set their course since it was the last known location of the Buggy Pirates. As they sailed away, Coby's voice rang out to them.
"Luffy! Thank you! I'll never forget you for the rest of my life!" Coby saluted them. To Zoro and Nami's shock, the rest of the Marines in Shells Town had lined up next to the pinkette with salutes of their own presented proudly.
"Coby! Let's meet again someday!" Luffy waved as the island got further and further away.
"Marines saluting pirates? Now, I've seen everything." Nami said with a shake of her head.
"This day has been very strange." Zoro nodded agreeing with her.
"You have good friends, cadet Coby." The Commander said to him. Coby nodded imperceptibly. "Soldiers! We have saluted Pirates and violated the code of the Marines! As punishment, we shall not eat for the rest of the week!"
"Sir! Yes Sir!" The Marines responded together.