A young man sat near the town's pub, looking around idly. There were hardly any people out and about once again, b unlike when he first arrived, he knew exactly why.

His approaching companion may have initially been taken as the cause thanks to his reputation, but it was actually much worse than that. If anything, the new arrival had actually tried to do something about the trouble only for it to blow up in his face.

Gray eyes met blue green as the green haired young man sighed, the first tilting his head ''What, no good?''

''Yeah…that spoiled idiot son probably took the good stuff too. Can't even get a good buzz.''

The former thought that was quite a statement, considering the near table full of mugs behind him. Just how much of a drunk was he, really?

He'd heard of the man in passing but Roronoa Zoro certainly wasn't anything like he'd expected. First of all, he'd only gotten in trouble with the authorities here because they were corrupt. One of them had nearly endangered a little girl had it not been for Zoro's intervention. If that weren't bad enough, he'd forced Zoro into being tied to a pole and starved for a month lest he kill the girl.

But it was all a sick lie for the brat's amusement. He'd soon interfered upon hearing talk of how he could get Zoro killed whenever he felt like it, leaving him to free Zoro and force the marines to back off even if by force.

''Then how about we figure out a way to get your swords back?''

The green haired man blinked ''You sure? You already busted me out, fed me and forced that idiot brat and his flunkies to back off. That's plenty.''

''Well, I don't see any reason not to help. I'm used to being on the marines' bad side anyway.''

''You don't say? You a pirate?''

He scoffed, platinum blond hair waving a bit as he shook his head ''I almost wish it was that simple…''

Zoro wasn't quite sure what to make of his newfound ally.

Oh, don't get him wrong, Miguel had been nothing but friendly and helpful right from the start. Both had discovered too late that the town was practically under siege by the marines' corrupt captain Morgan. His bratty son Helmeppo used all the power from his father's name to keep causing trouble everywhere. Zoro had killed his pet wolf to stop the beast attacking the little girl from the tavern, one would think the marines would at least have the decency to let the brat have it but they'd not only stood aside, they followed his orders to the letter and left Zoro at that pole for weeks.

Learning of the truth thanks to Helmeppo's gloating, Miguel had broken into the base and swiftly cut him free, explaining the situation. Thinking back, it did actually make sense and Zoro hated that he didn't see it. Why did he even think the moron would've honoured the deal?

Miguel was a swordsman like himself but he'd never seen any sword users fight the way he did. He distinctly recalled hearing a couple of the marines panicking about fighting a Devil Fruit user but he had to wonder if it was really that. And what did he mean he was used to being on the marines' bad side anyway?

Shaking the thought, he narrowed his eyes ''So remind me again, why breaking's a bad idea? You handled those wimps like nothing on your own and now it's two of us against them.''

''We don't know where your swords are.'' The latter reminded ''Unless you want to risk losing them for good, it's not worth the risk.''

Zoro clicked his tongue, conceding the point. Loathe as he was to lose his blades, he could replace them if the need arose. But…

A white hilted sword immediately came to mind. Wado Ichimonji was her blade. A reminder of their shared dream and that he was now carrying it for the both of them…he couldn't take the chance.

Miguel seemed to catch on to his expression ''…All the more reason to be careful, right?''

''…Thanks, I owe ya.''

''Don't worry about that, I'm doing this because I felt like it, remember?'' He kept walking ''I've been trying to see if anyone knew something about this but even if they would, they're scared stiff of Morgan. I wouldn't be too surprised if that brat Helmeppo had them but considering you scare him even more than I do…''

''Yeah, damn brat would probably be all the way on the opposite end of the island and he'd still be quivering in his boots.'' Zoro spat. ''If the marines wouldn't even do anything about Morgan before, they're going to be worse than useless either way. Like hell I'd leave things this way…!''

''Calm down, we're trying to make sure it doesn't come to that.'' His companion reminded ''I figure the best thing we can do is just keep watch, the more we learn, the better. You're not wrong about the marines though, I didn't expect much of them but they all know Morgan's messed up in the head and they just roll with it?''

A scoff ''Yeah, a lot of those weaklings act like lemmings. They just have to follow orders, it's completely pathetic. Anyway, it's not worth…''

''Ah, there you are!''

Startled, he turned to find the little girl he'd saved running over with a pair of rice balls in hand ''I know you said you were coming over later but I was too excited to wait, they turned out a whole lot better than my last batch. Here!''

Both couldn't help smiling at her sheer energy, Miguel readily taking a bite of the offered food ''You're right, Rika, you just keep getting better.''

She beamed back, looking hopefully at Zoro as he tasted his own rice ball. ''Absolutely, you've come a long way in such a short time.''

''You think so? Yay!'' Rika couldn't help bouncing in place in delight ''So, what were you guys doing? Mom said she saw Miguel-san going around town again before…''

''Actually…''

Rika was more than willing to do all she could to help, brushing off their concerns by assuring that she can easily act as an informant. After all, she and her mother had come to learn quite a bit about Morgan just because Helmeppo liked to run his mouth. And neither nor the soldiers ever suspected a thing.

Zoro's attempts at dissuading her had been put to a quick halt when she revealed how guilty she felt for the whole situation. Even though he never considered blaming her, Rika had been feeling terrible ever since he made that deal to save her life. Knowing they couldn't change her mind, Miguel had conceded-not without extracting a promise from the girl that she wouldn't take any risks.

''Stubborn brat…'' Despite the words, Zoro couldn't muster any annoyance with the girl.

Miguel half-smiled, well aware that Rika had grown on him too ''You've got to give her credit. She at least wants to do the right thing, that's more than I can say for at least half the town.''

''Yeah, she makes them look bad without even trying.'' He had a bunch of questions for his newfound companion but chose to dismiss them in favour of the most important one. ''So, how do we go about this?''

The following day…

''Man, this is a weird town.'' A black-haired teen clad in a red shirt, blue short and sandals continued his trek down the street with his friend ''Were you serious about that Zoro guy being tied up out in the open, Coby? If he's such a bad guy, why can't they just throw him in a cell? It's what Gramps would've done.''

''I'm…not actually sure.'' Dark eyes narrowed in confusion, the other boy scratching his head ''That's what those people said but you do have a point-wait, what do you mean Gramps?''

''Oh, he's a marine.'' Coby's jaw dropped, making him snigger ''He wanted to make us marines too, like that was ever going to work.''

The pink haired boy found it hard to picture his new friend as a marine but it did raise another concern ''What's he going to do if he finds out what you're up to now?'' Luffy stiffened for a moment, Coby could've sworn his face went blue ''Whoa…that bad?''

He'd never seen the boy show even an ounce of fear. Considering he'd sailed through a whirlpool, beat the pirates that held Coby captive for two years and apparently even beat a Sea King with a punch, that was saying something.

What kind of man was his grandfather anyway?

''So how would you even join the marines? Just go to the base and tell them you want to?'' Luffy prompted.

''O-oh, yeah…that's how it goes really…'' Coby fidgeted. Was he even ready for this though? He'd wanted this for so long but now that he was here, it was like butterflies erupted in his stomach. ''I heard his place is run by this guy who arrested a really clever pirate called Kuro, his name's Captain Morgan.''

Anyone in the vicinity seemed to freeze up the moment he mentioned the name, immediately avoiding their startled gazes.

''…What just happened?'' Luffy goggled.

''I have no idea.'' Coby could understand people being afraid of someone like the Pirate Hunter but even Captain Morgan? What was going on?

The marine soldier could barely stop shaking. He could admit that Roronoa Zoro had plenty of reason to be furious with them but he never saw THIS coming!

Apparently, the bounty hunter had been watching him all along, grabbing him and pulling him into an alley in the midst of patrol. What he really hadn't expected was the interrogation about his swords. He kept getting punched every time Zoro hadn't liked his answer, his nose was broken and he wasn't sure it would ever be the same again.

''Zoro.'' The new voice was a very welcome relief, perhaps he'd finally get help ''Can you stop traumatizing the poor guy? You know you're just venting at this point.''

The soldier couldn't help nodding desperately. He didn't know anything about those missing swords, why would he?! He just wanted out of here, he'd happily forget this ever happened if he could just leave!

Zoro's disgusted expression made him realize he'd verbalized the thought ''…Wimps, every last one of you. Tch, get lost!''

He happily did so at once.

Miguel wasn't the biggest fan of the marines but even he thought that was a bit over kill ''I was going to tell you that Helmeppo stays as close to the base as possible, he's avoiding the tavern since he knows we've been sticking around there a bunch. Apparently, he tried getting Morgan to do something but I'm pretty sure he was completely ignored. So, either daddy dearest doesn't care enough about his 'precious son' or we barely rate a blip on his radar.''

''Wait, how'd you figure all that out so fast?''

''I asked the delivery guys.''

''That's it?!'' Zoro couldn't help it, after all the work he put in…

The platinum blond held back a laugh ''Come on, no point sticking around here.''

Both left the alley, passing a couple of stores when they heard a stomach growl. Zoro touched his stomach as Miguel gave him an amused look ''Hungry already?''

''I…don't think so?'' He was pretty sure it hadn't been his stomach, although he hadn't eaten in hours so maybe…

The source happened to be none other than Luffy, who was wandering about trying to find a delicious smell he picked up on. But he seemed to be all over the place, the sheer weariness on his face suggesting that he hadn't eaten in quite a long time.

''Wait, what's he even doing…?'' Zoro began, Luffy drawing closer to the marine base in his apparent daze.

''Excuse me!'' Coby ran over. ''Have you seen a boy with a Straw Hat?'' Zoro pointed ahead. ''Luffy-san, what're you…wait, no!''

He held back a groan as Luffy finally honed in on the source of the smell, which happened to be one of the marines' lunch. Said owner could only gawk as the teen swallowed his chicken in one bite, bone and all.

''What're you doing?!''

Luffy gave a happy hum ''It's meat.''

As if that explained anything! ''That was my lunch, you little brat!''

''Really? It's small, you got anymore?''

An irritated noise cut his furious retort off ''What're you even doing, you fool? You're supposed to pick up my…ahhh!''

A blond-haired boy in purple recoiled, his eyes falling on Zoro ''Y-y-you!''

He wore a shark-like grin ''Oho, look who we have here, the bastard son!''

''W-what was that?! I'll have you know, I only had mercy on you-don't you dare look down on me!''

''You've got a funny way of showing it.'' Helmeppo's growing fear when he registered Miguel's presence wasn't lost on anyone.

Zoro immediately made to grab him, but he was closer to the base's gate, immediately hurrying inside. Seconds later, the large gates were shut.

''Dammit!''

''Roronoa Zoro! What do you want with Helmeppo-san?'' The soldier demanded, missing Luffy and Coby's clear surprise at the reveal of his identity.

''He's only getting what he's due, that brat stole something very important from him. Why do you think he holed up in there? He knows Zoro's looking to get them back.'' Miguel explained as the other swordsman glared the soldier down. ''And really, do you think he actually deserves any of the respect you keep giving him?''

The silence was notable at that, making him shake his head ''I don't even know why I bother. Clearly expecting you lot to stand up for the justice you claim to represent is a lost cause.''

Zoro couldn't have said it better himself. As much as he hated walking away, he couldn't see any other choice.

''Hey!'' Luffy caught up with them ''What's going on? You're that Zoro guy, Coby said they caught you at the base.''

''That was two days ago. I'm just lucky not everyone here is a moronic lemming.'' He added with a nod at Miguel.

Coby looked at him in clear alarm ''Why would you help him? He's…!''

''All I saw is someone who saved a little girl from a monster before that idiot you saw back there decided to hold her life over his head.'' The pink haired boy could only gawk ''I wouldn't stand for it so I fought the soldiers off and freed him. You might notice that not one of them even considered going after us again or even getting back up from their allies. And really think about it, if Zoro's so-called crimes were that bad, wouldn't word have gotten out by now?''

Coby's mouth shut, acknowledging the reasoning. Luffy was looking at them with a growing frown ''So they're rotten jerks, huh? Did they steal your treasure?''

Zoro wasn't sure he'd ever put it that way but…well, his weapons were of the utmost importance to him so it wasn't wrong. ''Yeah, I always take good care of my swords and one of them…I've had it for years, I have to get it back. It's a symbol of my dream.''

The former's interest piqued at that, Coby still trying to see the good side here ''Well…if you just tell the marines-they'll help! They wouldn't just…''

Zoro's loud scoff cut him off ''We wouldn't be here if they actually would get off their asses. The idiots are so scared of that Morgan guy and he's been terrorizing the town since he was made captain.''

''Being marines doesn't make them saints.'' Miguel concurred ''Power can corrupt anyone and it doesn't help that they've hardly done anything about him all this time. They can fight back; they just don't want to.''

Coby's heart sank at this, he still wanted to believe the best of the marines. He wanted to argue that they had no proof but they didn't seem to be lying. He didn't see why they would at all, but…if this was true…

The sound of a loud growl snapped him out of his thoughts.

''Didn't you just eat?!'' Zoro barked at the sight of Luffy's hangdog expression.

''Well…it is almost lunch time, how about you come with us?'' Miguel offered

Luffy's grin was wide ''That was good!''

The other three could only stare at the sheer amount of food he'd consumed, Coby wincing as he remembered how much Luffy ate on Alvida's ship ''I'm sorry, Miguel-san, I should've warned you about his appetite…''

''You're a really nice guy, huh? Thanks!'' The former added.

Miguel seemed mildly amused ''We were going to eat and it wasn't much trouble swinging you by. I've got to say, you guys have me really curious, if Coby wants to be a marine, what about you?''

''I've set out to be Pirate King!''

Zoro quirked a brow ''You're a pirate? Where's your crew?''

''I don't have one yet but I'm working on it-I was looking for some real tough and great people to join me. Then we heard about you from that chunky lady!''

Baffled, the former looked at Coby for help. The currently embarrassed boy explained how they encountered each other on Alvida's, with Coby being stuck as her cabin boy and Luffy wound up taking her out with such ease that he simply couldn't believe it.

''My dream is to become a marine, to fight for justice and to capture bad guys like Alvida. But then we come here and apparently, it's the marines who are the villains! You both seem like good people but I just can't believe this…'' He bemoaned.

''Well, it's true!'' Rika made her way over ''Everything's been awful since Morgan came, this doesn't feel like home anymore. Sometimes I wish we can just leave-even those marines know Morgan's awful but they won't do anything-!''

Her mother came over, draping a hand over her shoulder before looking at the quartet ''I'm sorry but she's right, there are good marines as well but we've hardly seen them in quite a long time. Morgan and his son are just getting worse…'' Her expression grew pained. ''…that awful Helmeppo has been making passes at my friend's daughter and now she's scared that pushing him away is going to get her friend in trouble. They keep treating everyone so terribly. We can't even go look for help because anyone who steps a toe out of line gets killed.''

Coby's expression was one of complete horror, Zoro clenched his jaw while Luffy's expression turned grim. Miguel suddenly stood ''…I hate to say it but this is just going to keep getting worse.''

Following his line of sight, the others immediately understood. A couple of marines were apparently having some sort of argument with a family of four while Helmeppo looked on smugly. The man seemed to be trying to shield his wife and children while yelling at them. Whatever Helmeppo said next seemed to make him stop before his rage returned in full and he almost lunged at the boy only for one of the soldiers to strike him in the gut with the butt of his rifle. His expression remained regretful as the man seemed to gag, Helmeppo clearly taking glee in this as he kicked the man in the same area.

''What's he doing?'' Coby wondered.

Rika was grinding her teeth ''They must be going on about raising the taxes again. It's really making life harder on everyone but Morgan doesn't care. We could probably starve and that bastard would just laugh if he gets his way.''

This seemed to the limit for Luffy, who was all set to interfere when Zoro held up an arm before him. The reason turned out to be that someone else had already beaten him to the punch.

Luffy's eyes widened as he found Miguel in front of the family, staring Helmeppo and his flunkies down. The blond had predictably scampered away in fear, Miguel swiftly taking the rifle before knocking both soldiers with a couple of swift strikes.

Coby held back a squeak of surprise as Zoro addressed Luffy ''You know how you mentioned us handling those idiots on our own before? Thing is, we probably could but Miguel wanted to avoid us just breaking into the base because it could get the townspeople in trouble.'' Rika and her mother were taken aback ''But now…''

He didn't carry on but there was no need, it was just like Rika said. Their wellbeing was moot so long as their oppressors get what they want.

Miguel came back after helping the family, his next words proving that he'd come to the same conclusion. ''…Zoro? We're doing this your way.''

Having thought the declaration would bring him satisfaction, Zoro found himself concerned with what caused the sudden change ''…That bad?''

''He flat out said that Morgan owns this town and everyone in it and apparently by extension that meant the same went for him. If they don't get the money Morgan wants then they'd take over their house and force them to work at the base.'' Luffy appeared outraged while anger flashed in Zoro's eyes. This was basically slavery.

''They really are horrible…'' Coby's heart sank to his stomach. He couldn't make excuses anymore, it didn't matter if the soldiers were against this, they could've done something already!

''Well then, what're we waiting for?'' Zoro began.

''I'm coming too!'' Luffy's declaration was immediate ''I want to punch that scumbag's face in, and maybe his lousy old man too! They're no better than scum!''

''You sure you can take 'em on? I mean, you're obviously good in a fight but still…''

His grin was fierce ''just wait and see, Zoro. Wait and see!''

So, now that I've realized how different I can make things now, I've decied to rewrite a few things here and there.

It feels like a I stuck a little too much to canon. I didn't even think I'd be able to handle a One Piece story and I was dealing with some RL crap when I started this but now that I've got it out of the way, I'm in much a better position to do this.

This was actually the first challenge I was asked to do...but I botched it a little. I wound up forgetting a couple of the details about the OC early on but by the time I did remember those, I already finished three arcs. And I got into it so I didn't want to drop it in the end.

I've decided to take some good advice I was offered and post a few chapters to test the waters. So please tell me if you like it. If it doesn't work out, I'll probably re-write it. Just so we're clear, this likely won't involve any of the Fairy Tail characters. Except maybe the spirits if I decide to use Celestial spirit magic but I did mix certain elements of the Fairy Tail verse in the story. I hope you liked this.