One Piece: Brave New World

by ShadowNinja77

Monkey D. Luffy sets out to find the One Piece in a world that is more expansive than expected, with vast characters and locations. Expanded crew, story arcs, and settings in general. I do not own One Piece or anything else I bring in. Closed to art commissions!

4. Roronoa Zoro

"What a day!" Luffy exclaimed, throwing his arms out wide as he smiled. "It's gorgeous!"

"Well, as long as stay on this heading, we should reach the Marine base in Shells Town pretty quickly," Shang-Chi said, keeping a hand on the tiller.

"Wahoo!"

"You know, there's really nothing to be so happy about," Coby commented. "Because, at the Marine base, they're holding the great Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro. This is the man who's diced up his bounties like an animal bent on carnage. A bloodthirsty beast. He's been called nothing less than a living, breathing demon in human form."

"Sounds awesome!" Luffy cheered. "The more I hear about him, the more I want to meet him."

"Same here," Shang-Chi added. "Though I must say, stories tend to get taller the more they're spread until it's hard to tell truth from legend."

"Huh?"

"I have no doubt Zoro is a great warrior and swordsman. But I choose not to believe he is some sort of beast or demon until I meet him. People often say that about anyone who likes to fight."

"Especially the Marines." They all looked over at Sabine who was lying in the back of the boat with her hands behind her head. "I mean, they keep sprouting stuff like how pirates are nothing but horrible criminals who want nothing more than to kill and burn. But you guys aren't anything like that."

"I know many pirates who aren't like that," Shang-Chi added.

"Exactly. So, this Zoro probably won't be what you imagine either. Especially if he's been captured."

"Well I still want to meet him!"

"I don't. Why anyone would want to meet him is beyond me."

"We should probably drop you off there too, Coby," Shang-Chi told the kid. "Sorry we couldn't at the last base."

"That's alright. Thanks."

"Drop him off?" Sabine questioned. "I thought pinky here was part of your crew."

"Nah," Luffy replied. "He's just along for the ride for now. He's got his heart set on being a Marine."

Sabine raised an eyebrow. "Good luck with that, buddy."

"Hey, what's that supposed to mean! I will be a Marine, an admiral even! You just watch."

"Whatever." She was tempted to tell him what being a Marine in this world actually meant, about her whole story, but held back. When she had first joined up, she hadn't wanted to hear a single bad thing about them and from his declaration there, she assumed he was the same. He would just have to find out for himself.

About thirty minutes later, they arrived. Shells Town was a small island, basically just a rock jutting out of the sea with the town built into the side of it and the Marine base, two gray cylindrical buildings with one bigger than the other, perched at the center. The word MARINE was written on the side of the taller one. There was some greenery in a few places but it was sparse.

"Here we are," Shang-Chi said as they arrived at the port, tying up the boat.

Luffy stepped off and shouted out, "we're here! The Marine Base city!"

"It's more of a town than anything," Sabine noted. "Probably smaller."

"So, where's Zoro at?"

"There would be my guess," Shang-Chi pointed at the Marine Base.

"Then let's go!"

"Hold up," Sabine stopped them. "Seeing as I just escaped one Marine base, I'm not too eager to go gallivanting off to another one just like that."

"Fair enough," Shang-Chi nodded. "Here, why don't you go get us some food and other supplies in the market. We weren't able to in Lothal and Luffy here is a big eater so try to buy in bulk." He handed her a small wad of Berries. "That should be enough."

"A pirate buying things," Sabine muttered, shaking her head. "Guess the stories are wrong. Alright, I'm on it. See you later then. And hope Zoro, if he's not an asshole, does join up too."

"I still don't understand why you people aren't terrified of him!"

Luffy, Coby, and Shang-Chi walked up the main street headed to the base, passing by several food stalls as they did.

"Luffy, seriously you're out of your mind if you think the right thing to do is get this guy to join you," Coby tried but his argument fell on deaf ears.

"Well, I haven't made up my mind yet," Luffy told him. "I gotta see if he's a good guy."

"He's imprisoned because he's obviously not."

"That raises a good question. Why was he imprisoned in the first place?" Shang-Chi wondered. "He's a bounty hunter, isn't he? They operate within the law, unlike pirates. So what could he have done to warrant an arrest?"

"Probably from slaughtering a whole bunch of people."

Luffy ignored them, picking up a pear from a cart and taking a bite out of it. "Thanks," he told the owner, flipping her a coin. "Is that guy Zoro around here somewhere?"

The woman gasped and suddenly she, and everyone else nearby, jumped aside with terrified expressions on their faces. A few clambered up onto the stalls while some hid behind them.

"What an odd response," Shang-Chi commented.

"Maybe we shouldn't mention the name Zoro here, ok?"

"Let's head to the base and check it out," Luffy said, walking on. "And if you really want to be a Marine, you really should try and stick around this time."

"Well of course I do Luffy, but I really don't think I'm ready just yet. From what I've heard, the man in charge of this place is named Captain Morgan."

Suddenly, it happened again as everyone nearby dashed away from them with even more terrified expressions on their faces.

Luffy busted out laughing as he kept walking. "This town is such a weird place."

"I don't think that's it," Shang-Chi said, looking around carefully.

"That was odd," Coby added. "I mean, I understand if they're scared of Zoro but why did they flip when I mentioned the Marine captain's name."

"Probably because he's not a good man," Shang-Chi told him. "They seemed to be more scared of him than Zoro. I have a feeling there's more to this imprisonment than we may think."

Coby looked at him like he wanted to argue but couldn't. "I hope you're wrong," he said. "But I've got a bad feeling about this."

"Maybe they were all just jumping around for the fun of it."

"And how would that make any sense?" Coby asked Luffy.

"Actually, I've seen that happen before," Shang-Chi said.

"Where?"

A few minutes later, they arrived in front of the Marine base, the large iron gates blocking their way forward. It also had the word MARINE written on the side, like everyone needed the reminder.

"This looks like the place," Luffy said.

"What gave it away?" Shang-Chi asked dryly.

Coby stared at the gates with tears brimming in his eyes. "I made it," This was it. He hadn't gotten close to the previous base but now he was here. An actual Marine base. Where the people doled out justice for all the people of the world. And hopefully, he would get to be one of them.

But Luffy and Shang-Chi wouldn't.

He started crying a little into his arm at the thought. "This is where you guys and I part ways. We didn't have long together, but-"

"Where's the foot hole?" Luffy grunted, trying to climb over the wall.

"Get down from there! What are you doing? They'll see you!" Coby cried out. "Shang-Chi, help…" he stopped as he saw his other friend already seated on top of the wall. "Not you too!"

"Now where's this demon?" Luffy asked after making it up, looking around.

"Maybe don't call him that when you meet him," Shang-Chi said.

"They wouldn't keep him out in the open," Coby said, having given up on getting them back down. "He's probably tucked in a prison cell below ground."

"There he is!" Luffy exclaimed, spotting him. He hopped down and started running around the base wall. "I'm gonna get closer."

"Hey, wait up!" Shang-Chi said, right on his tail.

They managed to find a new spot along the wall with a much better view of the courtyard. And the man inside of it.

"Coby look!" Luffy said excitedly.

"Ugh, I'm telling you, he's not-ah!" Coby exclaimed, seeing him now too.

The man was tied to a cross in the center of the yard. He had green trousers and a white shirt. He also had a green hood on his head and a green haramaki across his stomach as well as three golden earrings on his right ear.

"That certainly looks like him," Shang-Chi said.

"If we untie those ropes, he can just walk away," Luffy pointed out.

"Oh don't be such an idiot Luffy! There's no telling what a bandit like him will do if you let him go! He might just kill us!" Coby shrieked.

"Don't worry, I'm strong. I can protect us," Luffy assured him.

"Same here," Shang-Chi nodded. After all the stories, he'd heard about the man, he could honestly say that so far he wasn't disappointed. Even tied up, the way he held himself was remarkable. As his father liked to say, that was the true measure of a person.

They've lost their minds, Coby thought to himself.

"Hey, you three!"

Coby shivered at the voice while the others looked over.

"You're an eyesore. Get lost," Zoro said.

"YAAIIIIEEE!" Coby shrieked. "Luffy, trust me, there's no chance to survive with someone like him on your crew. Come on Shang-Chi, back me up here."

Shang-Chi, however, was distracted when a ladder suddenly popped up next to him. He looked over and was surprised to see a young girl climbing up it to the top of the wall. She looked at him and the others and said, "shush!" while putting a finger to her mouth. She then looked around quickly before throwing a rope over the side of the wall and dropping down.

"Yah! Luffy, we've got to stop her. She'll be killed. Either by the Marines or the demon himself!" Coby cried as the girl ran over to Zoro.

"Calm down Coby, she looks fine to me," Shang-Chi said. "Besides, I want to see what happens."

"What do you want?" Zoro asked the girl.

"I thought you might be getting hungry now," she said, smiling. "So I made you a couple of rice balls."

"You got a death wish kid? Just scram."

"But you haven't eaten anything the whole time you've been tied up. Here," she opened up the small package in her hands, revealing two large rice balls. "I've never really made them before. But I did my best so I think they're fine."

"That's very nice of her," Shang-Chi commented.

"I wish I could eat those rice balls," Luffy added.

Zoro's eyes widened at the sight of the food. "Listen kid, I'm not hungry." As he said that, Shang-Chi frowned, hearing a slight falter in his voice. He was lying. "Now stop irritating me and get out of here."

"But…" the girl started, looking crestfallen.

"Do not make me kick your ass little girl!" Zoro shouted.

"Now, now," someone said as a sliding gate was heard. "No one likes a bully."

Everyone turned to see three figures approaching. Two of them were Marines with stoic expressions while the third was a tall young man in formal wear with bright blonde hair.

"Roronoa Zoro, you seem to be handling this well," the blonde man said. "Don't you agree?"

"Hey look, now there's another weird guy," Luffy said.

"That's great, he must be with the Marines," Coby said, relieved. "Now we know the girl will be safe."

"I'm not so sure about that," Shang-Chi said, almost to himself. The way the guy was acting contrary to how Zoro was worried him. There was something else going on here.

"Lookie," the blonde guy said to the rice balls. "Some tasty rice balls." He suddenly grabbed one and took a bite.

"That's not for you!" the girl complained.

The man's eyes suddenly widened. "Blah! Too sweet!" he gasped. He turned on the girl. "They're packed with sugar! You're supposed to use salt, you idiot! Salt!"

"But I…I thought they'd taste better sweet," the girl said sadly.

"Give me that!" The man smacked the other ball out of the girl's hand onto the ground where he started stomping on it.

"No, stop!" the girl complained. "I worked so hard."

"That's just awful," Coby muttered.

"I knew something was off," Shang-Chi said.

Luffy said nothing, watching the scene unfold without expression.

The blonde man rubbed the rice into the ground hard before letting up while the girl cried, staring at it. "But I…worked so hard to make those," she sobbed.

"Too bad," the man said. "You must not have read the notice that was posted." He pulled it out. "Those who assist criminals in any way will be executed. Signed Marine Captain Morgan." The girl gasped at his words while he chuckled. "It seems, even little brats fear my daddy."

"His daddy?" Luffy asked.

"He must be Morgan's son," Shang-Chi said. "I'm guessing that means he can do whatever he wants."

"Captain Morgan's…son?" Coby said.

"You," the man pointed at one of the Marines. "Toss this kid out, right now."

The man gasped.

"I said, throw her over the wall, soldier!" the blonde man told him, grabbing his collar. "Now if you won't follow my orders, I'll tell my father."

"Yes sir, I'll do it," the Marine said quickly, albeit reluctantly.

The girl gasped shakily as the Marine approached. "No!" she screamed as he reached for her.

"Sorry about this," he told her. "Try curling up into a ball." He then threw her over.

She screamed as she was launched through the air. Coby ducked away, not wanting to see, but Luffy didn't hesitate, throwing himself backwards and reaching out with extended arms to grab her midair. He then held her tight as he landed, grunting.

Shang-Chi smiled. "Nice work, captain."

"Thanks Mister!" the girl grinned at Luffy.

"Luffy!" Coby gasped. "Are you two ok? What about you little girl?" he asked as Luffy got up, perfectly fine. "Are you alright? I can't believe how wretched a person he is. Where are you hurt, anywhere?"

As he talked, Luffy picked up his hat from where it had fallen and put it back on, turning towards the Marine base.

"Damn you," Zoro muttered as the blonde man passed him, laughing. He wanted nothing more than to tear these damn ropes off and cut this guy down. But if he did that, all this pain would be for nothing. He just had to bear it.

"You're just dead set on staying alive, aren't you?" the blonde man snorted.

"That's right. I'm going to make it to the month without any problems."

"Right, good luck with that. HAHAHAHAHAHA!" He walked off, still chortling. The Marines followed close behind.

"Only ten days left!" Zoro reminded him.

"Oh, you still assume you'll make it to the end of those ten days? WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

"How can that man be so cruel?" Coby asked, almost to himself. Marines were supposed to be good. The best of the best, protecting the innocent and beating the bad guys. But this guy was the opposite of all that. He was no better than Alvida.

Coby sat up, realizing something. "Eh, Luffy?" He turned around and gasped, seeing his friend was gone. "What the? Where did he go?"

Zoro inhaled sharply, seeing the straw hat kid standing in front of him.

"So, I hear you're a bad guy."

"You still here?"

"You're stuck out here for all the world to see and nothing. Are you really all that strong?"

"Mind your own business!"

Luffy sighed, walking up to the man. "If I were you, I'd probably starve to death in 3 days."

"I've got more spirit than you could ever have," Zoro grinned fiercely. "Which is how I'm going to survive this ordeal. This I swear." This was nothing but a stepping stone on his path to his dream. He wouldn't let anything stop him, just use it all to grow stronger.

"Ha! What a weirdo," Luffy said with a grin.

"Wait, hold on," Zoro said as Luffy turned to go. He looked down at the fallen food, his voice dropping a little. "Could you…pick that up for me?"

He didn't particularly want to give in to his hunger or eat the dirt. But the girl had made it for him. And it would dishonor him to let it just go to waste.

Shang-Chi watched carefully, nodding along. It seemed he had been right about all the stories about Zoro. They hid the truth about him. This was the real man in front of him.

Luffy kneeled down next to the smushed rice, with a frown. "You're going to eat this?" he questioned, picking it up and eyeing it with disgust. "Cause it's mostly a ball of mud."

"SHUT UP AND GIVE IT TO ME! NOW!"

Luffy blinked before he put the mud-rice into the man's mouth. Zoro instantly gobbled it down, coughing a little.

"Should have listened to me," Luffy told him.

"It was good," Zoro said, surprising Luffy. "Thanks for the food."

Luffy smiled a little in response.

---

"Oh hey, I found you guys," Sabine said, spotting Shang-Chi and Coby as she walked up in a small alleyway. She had just returned from the market where she had been able to get most what they needed. She'd even found a small junkshop where she'd managed to buy plenty of knickknacks for her smoke bombs and other weapons as well as an armory to get a tune up on her guns and knives. She was all set for life on the seas as a pirate now.

As she approached, she noticed the little girl with them and frowned. "Uh, that's not Zoro is it?"

"No, this is not Zoro," Shang-Chi replied. "She is…actually, we haven't been introduced yet."

"Oh, I'm Rika," she told them.

"Nice to meet you Rika. My name is Shang-Chi. This is Coby and that's Sabine."

"Yo," Sabine nodded. "Where's Luffy?"

"Talking with Zoro."

"Oh, so you did find him. Great. He as terrifying as Coby said he was?"

Coby didn't answer, lost in his own thoughts. He didn't even know what to think after what he'd seen.

"He is…interesting," Shang-Chi said. "I think he would make a good addition to the crew. He is terrifying in his own way but does not seem to be, as Coby put it, a demon in human form."

"Well, alright then," Sabine nodded. Truth be told, she hadn't thought Zoro would be like that anyway. She'd honestly been curious to meet him. She had been considering over the last few months to become a bounty hunter herself. At least that way she wouldn't become a full criminal after leaving the Marines. And she'd always looked up to some of the bounty hunters out there, especially the Mandalorians. But after she'd learned the full truth, she had turned fully against the Marines and any hope of being a bounty hunter had died. Not that she had any regrets. Life as a pirate seemed like fun right now anyway.

"By the way, I got all our supplies." Sabine showed them the bags she was toting. "Plenty of food that should last us a week. Some maps and charts of the area. Some weapons as well."

"I don't really use weapons and neither does Luffy," Shang-Chi pointed out.

"Oh good, cause I really only bought them for me. And just some other stuff that might come in handy. Now, what's our next move?"

Shang-Chi started to answer when he saw Luffy walking up. "How'd it go?" he asked.

Luffy shrugged. "He seems like a pretty cool guy but I don't know yet. Oh hey," he said, noticing Rika. "He ate your balls of rice by the way."

"Really?" Rika stared at Luffy with wide eyes and big smile.

"That's right," Luffy told her. "He ate every last grain of rice there was."

"That's great." She had been so worried about him after all he'd endured these past few weeks. Now she could rest a little easier, knowing he'd at least eaten something. Though she hoped to serve him a better meal soon.

"I wonder if Zoro is really as evil as everyone thinks that he is," Coby muttered, almost to himself.

"He's not!" Rika argued. "He's good because he got himself punished for us."

"You're uh…you're making no sense," Luffy told her.

"Tell us," Shang-Chi said. "What happened? How did Zoro get caught?"

"It's that dumb Helmeppo," Rika told them sourly. "He's the son of Captain Morgan. He uses his father's influence to bully and harass the town, doing whatever he wants. He has this pet wolf who he lets run rampant and none of us can do anything about it or else he'll kill us. One time, he brought it into my mom's restaurant. It started terrorizing the customers and I know…I know I shouldn't have but I couldn't take it anymore." She trembled, her guilt swelling up inside of her. If she had just done nothing, maybe…maybe Zoro wouldn't be suffering. "I tried to get it away but then it attacked me. And then Zoro hit it with one blow, knocking it back. He even punched Helmeppo when he attacked as well. But then Helmeppo threatened to have me and my mom executed unless Zoro agreed to be tied up with no food or water for a whole month. If he survives, then he can go free and me and my mom will be spared. It's been 3 weeks since that day. Helmeppo keeps punching and kicking him while he's tied up. He's being so unfair. I don't…I don't know how to help him."

"I see why you're upset," Coby said softly. So Zoro wasn't a demon after all. He was a good and honorable man while Helmeppo was the true monster. A Marine captain's son. Coby didn't know what to think about that.

"This…this is why I left the Marines," Sabine said, her fists clenched. "There are too many people like him. Too many who use their power to exploit others, to do whatever the hell they want and push down the people beneath them. It makes me sick." She shook her head. "I can't believe that Zoro guy lasted this long with no food or water. I mean, how is that even possible?"

"Through his own life force and willpower," Shang-Chi replied.

"That…doesn't make sense."

"No, it's true. I've seen it before. He's using the energy in his body to keep himself alive, creating a sort of balance. Only those with immense will and drive can do that. He must be a very driven and powerful person to be able to do it."

Luffy said nothing, simply absorbing everything he was hearing, until there was a sudden crash from the building next to them.

Inside, Helmeppo sat down with his foot on the table in the restaurant belonging to Rika's mother. "I'm hungry," he told her. "Bring us whatever you got and keep the check for yourself. Heheheheheh. And bring me a bottle of your finest moonshine or whatever crap you serve and put some speed to it lady. I don't have all day."

Luffy and the others walked in to see what all the commotion was about, passing by a familiar orange-haired girl seated there as they did.

"Ah, that's more like it," Helmeppo grinned as his drink was poured. "I'm trying to think of something interesting to do seeing as how I'm bored out of my skull here. I suppose I could execute Zoro. Ahahahahahaha!"

As soon as he said those words, Luffy moved without thinking, running right at Helmeppo. He threw his fist back and then punched the guy right across the face, smacking him into the wall. Everyone stared in shock at the sight except for Shang-Chi, who smiled, and Sabine, who frowned as she wanted to be the one to do it.

The marines rushed to his side, helping him up, though tiny smiles could be seen on their faces.

"You…you just hit me!" Helmeppo gasped at Luffy in shock and pain.

"Luffy, no! You can't hit him!" Coby said, trying to hold him back.

"Yeah. I want to do it!" Sabine said, rushing forward herself. However, instead of hitting him, she decided on a different approach and kicked him right in his coconuts.

"AHHHHHH!"

"Sabine!"

"Nice one," Shang-Chi nodded. He was tempted himself to get a few good hits in but he thought it best to prevent Sabine from killing him for the moment.

"This guy's scum!" Luffy growled. He had made a promise, a deal, and he was planning on going back on it, just like that. All the pain he had caused this town and Rika was bad enough, but to break a promise he'd made so easily, without care, was going too far.

"You kicked me!" Helmeppo cried out, clutching his groin tightly. "And you…you actually hit me! I am Captain Morgan's son you know!"

"Yeah, like I care!" Luffy fired back.

"You'll care after he executes you for this! Both of you!"

Sabine sniffed. "Yeah, really scary threat from a crybaby like you."

"Why don't you just be a man and fight?"

"Luffy, just ease off some. Why are you trying to get on the Marines' bad side?" Coby asked, still holding his friend back. While he did think Helmeppo deserved that punch and kick, this could only make things worse.

"I've made up my mind," Luffy suddenly said. "Today, Zoro joins my crew."

Shang-Chi smiled. "Sounds good to me."

"If he punched this guy, I'm cool with it," Sabine said, glaring at Helmeppo.

"You just wait until I tell my daddy," Helmeppo warned them. "Then you'll be in for it. I'll have your heads on spikes by dusk!" He then ran outside followed by his Marine entourage.

"That's right, you go run to daddy!" Sabine shouted at him. "I'll just kick him in his over-inflated coconuts too!"

"That's a disturbing image," Shang-Chi commented.

"Yeah, sorry. Heat of the moment."

"Come on," Luffy told them, walking out as well. "We've got a crew member to save."

---

At the Marine Base, Captain Morgan stared out the window to the town below and the sea beyond, leaning back in his chair. "I am great," he announced.

"Yes, sir!" the stationed Marine saluted. "You are right Captain Morgan, sir."

"And yet the taxes we collect don't even compare to my sheer degree of greatness."

"Yes, right, sir," the Marine said, sweating a little. "I guess that the citizens' wallets just aren't very deep these days, sir."

"The issue at hand here is their level of respect for me. Wouldn't you agree?"

At that moment, Helmeppo came charging in through the doors to Morgan's office, crying the whole way and rubbing his cheek and groin. "Daddy!" he cried out as he entered. "There's someone outside I want you to slaughter. And I want it done now!"

---

As Zoro stood there, tied to the pole in the pounding heat, his throat parched and stomach void, he found his mind drifting back. Back to when it all began.

CRACK! CRACK CRACK CRACK! CRACK CRACK!

SMACK!

Zoro went down, bested yet again. "You're weak, Zoro," his opponent said, holding up the wooden practice sword to him. "Nothing ever changes."

I made a promise to her, he thought. And I can't afford to die in a place like this.

"Huh," he woke up from his daze, something startling him. He looked up and let out a soft sigh and the familiar sight. "You again? Don't you have things to do?"

"I'll untie you, but only if you promise to join my crew," Luffy told him.

"Your what?"

"I run a pirate crew and I'm looking for people to join up."

"No way. I'd never stoop to joining up with a criminal. Screw that business."

"Ha!" Sabine laughed. "I thought the same thing once. Then I met this guy. And he changed my mind."

"Well maybe I just have a stronger will than you."

Sabine's laugh died and she reached for her pistol. "Say that again when you're untied and I'll give you a bullet right between your eyes."

Zoro just grinned. "Do it right now, if you can."

"Easy," Shang-Chi told her before she could do anything.

"And what's wrong with being a pirate?" Luffy asked.

"They're despicable," Zoro said. "Like I'd ever want to join up with one."

"Oh come on, give me a break. Everyone already knows you as some vicious bounty hunter, always out for blood."

"People can say whatever they want about me, but I've never done a single thing in my life that I regret." He grinned. "I will make it through this challenge. And after that, I'll accomplish what I want."

"Damn," Shang-Chi said, taken aback a little. There were many things in his life he regretted and from the look on Sabine's face, she was feeling the same way. But this Zoro guy…he was something else.

"That's great," Luffy said. "But I've already decided that you're going to be on my crew."

"What! You can't do that!" Zoro yelled, incredulous. Who the hell was this kid?

Sabine just laughed, remembering how she met Luffy just a couple of hours ago. And how he had pretty much said the same thing to her. She thought she'd never join up with him. Yet, here she was, part of his crew. Zoro stood no chance.

"I hear you're one of the best swordsmen around," Luffy said.

"Well I am! But that idiot captain's son took mine away."

"Guess I'll just have to go get it back for you."

"What?" Zoro questioned. The more he talked with this guy, the more his brain hurt. Who the hell was he?

Luffy just grinned. "So if you want your sword, you're just going to have to join my crew."

"Now you're really pissing me off!" Zoro yelled.

"Little underhanded, don't you think?" Sabine asked, her eyebrow raised. She could understand where Zoro was coming from here. If someone held onto her armor and wouldn't give it back until she did what they wanted, she'd be furious too.

"Let's see how it plays out first," Shang-Chi replied. Though he too didn't like it.

Luffy laughed and started running, surprising them. "Wait, he's actually going to bust in there?" He turned to the others. "Aren't you going to help him? He's your captain, isn't he?"

"Good point. Yo Luffy, you want us to come with you?" Shang-Chi called out.

"Nah, I got it!"

"Ok," Shang-Chi relaxed again.

"He's going in alone?" Zoro asked. For the third time, he wondered who the hell was this kid? Then he noticed something. "Hey genius, the base is in the other direction."

"Huh?" Luffy turned and saw he was right. But he didn't feel like running the whole way there. "Gum Gum…" he stretched out his arms as he said it…"ROCKET!"

He flew right past Zoro who gaped at the sight. "Wha-what the hell is this guy?"

"He ate the Gum-Gum fruit," Shang-Chi told him.

Zoro blinked. "What's the Gum-Gum fruit?" he asked.

"A Devil Fruit," Shang-Chi informed him. "Makes his body all stretchy and rubbery."

That got Zoro's attention. He'd only heard rumors about Devil Fruits but had never really seen one in person. Evidently, they were as strange as the legends said. To be able to do that with your body…

"I better go with him anyway. I've been in enough Marine bases to know where most things are," Sabine said, running after him. "Hey Luffy, wait up!"

Zoro stared after them, wondering why they were so eager to help him out. They were willing to storm a Marine base just to get his swords? To free him? To get him to join their crew? None of this made any sense.

"So how'd you end up joining that weirdo's crew anyway?" he asked Shang-Chi.

"He asked me," Shang-Chi shrugged. "His words and conviction were what convinced me. I truly do believe in him and his dream. And he believes in mine as well."

Zoro absorbed that carefully. His dream was the most important thing in the world to him. No matter what came his way, he would achieve it. For her sake. He wondered what Luffy's dream was. He guessed it probably had something to do with One Piece if he wanted to be a pirate. But was that it? Or was there something more? And if that was it, what was Shang-Chi's?

"Well that's weird," Luffy said, coming to a stop right in front of the main entrance to the base and looking around. "There's nobody here. I've gotta find that crazy idiot's son and get Zoro's sword back for him. Huh?" he looked up, spotting something.

"HEAVE HO! HEAVE HO! HEAVE HO!"

Zoro and Shang-Chi both looked up as well to the top of the base where they could just see a large statue being lifted up on it.

"What the hell is that?" Shang-Chi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's the Marine captain's statue of himself. He wants to place it at the top to remind everyone who's in charge or something," Zoro replied.

Shang-Chi sighed. It seemed that everywhere in the world, there were those who had too much power and weren't satisfied with it alone, needing to lord it over everyone else just to remind them. What a pitiful waste.

---

BONG!

"Hmm?" Luffy looked up again at the noise. "Sounds like something's going on up there." He let off a wild grin. "Guess I should check it out." He threw his arm back. "GUM GUM…"

"Luffy, wait up!" Sabine called out, finally managing to catch up with him but it was too late.

"ROCKET!"

He soared straight up to the tower and then above it, flying right into the sky. "Whoa, I jumped too far!" he yelled, panicking a little. Below, Captain Morgan looked up at him, distracted for the moment from killing the Marine who bumped his statue.

"What is that thing?"

"It flew up from the ground."

Acting fast, Luffy reached out and grabbed hold of a nearby rope, holding onto it for dear life. "Got it!" he yelled triumphantly. As he held on, he began to pull on it dangerously. He also failed to notice that the rope was connected to the statue and that he was now pulling it out of the hands of the Marines who had been hoisting it up. It wobbled and then fell to the side, crashing back down hard despite the Marines' best efforts.

And then it cracked in half, the top part falling below.

"AUUUGGGHH!" Captain Morgan gasped in shock.

"AHHHHHHHHHH!" everyone else cried out in terror, knowing that their Captain's rage would be legendary.

Luffy just looked confused for a second, wondering what happened, before it hit him. "Sorry about that," he said sheepishly.

The top half of the statue continued to fall down below.

"Now what do I do?" Sabine wondered. "Doesn't look like there are any guards about so I guess I could just sneak in. Let's see."

She took a single step forward when she noticed the shadow forming beneath her. She frowned and looked upwards in time to see the statue falling right down on top of her.

"WAAAHHHHH!" she screamed and dove aside in the nick of time, the statue crashing to the earth and shattering into a million pieces.

---

CRASH!

Zoro and Shang-Chi both jumped at the noise, turning to see the rubble that had been the statue.

"Let me guess, your captain?"

"Highly likely."

---

SEIZE HIM AND HOLD HIM SO I CAN KILL HIM MYSELF!" Morgan bellowed, his rage indescribable towards the one who had destroyed his precious statue of himself.

"Sir, right away!"

"That's him! That's the guy! He's the one who punched me daddy!" Helmeppo cried out, pointing.

"Hey it's you."

Helmeppo blinked, seeing Luffy standing only a few inches away from him all of a sudden before he shrieked in terror and tried to run away.

"Hey, I've been looking for you all over the place. You have something that I really need to get back," Luffy told him, still smiling. He then hoisted the still screaming man up and started walking to the doorway on the other end of the roof.

"Helmeppo!" the Marines cried as the two disappeared.

"Do not let that man escape!" Morgan ordered.

"Captain, there's someone in the crucifixion yard! And it looks like a second person is coming now as well."

'What?" Morgan turned, his anger mounting with each second that passed. What the hell was going on here? He marched to the side of the roof and looked down, gritting his teeth as he saw two figures around the Pirate Hunter. "I'm surrounded by traitors."

---

"GUYS!" Coby suddenly yelled out, running towards them.

"Oh hey Coby," Shang-Chi greeted. "I thought you were too scared to come near Zoro."

"What?" he gasped. "Uh…n-no I wasn't."

"And yet you still won't look him in the eye."

Zoro snorted. "Will you two focus! That maniac's going to kill you for even being here, much less helping me."

"That doesn't matter! I came here because I can't stand to watch the Marines behave like this anymore. A true Marine should be honorable. Luffy taught me how to stand up for myself and I already did it once with Alvida. And even if it blows my chance with the Marines, I can't not do it now too. So I'll help you free Zoro."

"Well said, Coby," Shang-Chi said. "Now, let's free him."

"I already told you, I can't leave! They'll-"

"Helmeppo is planning to execute you tomorrow," Shang-Chi interrupted.

Zoro froze. "He what?"

"Helmeppo never intended to honor your agreement. He planned on killing you from the start." As he said it, he felt the anger inside him rise up. That a man like Helmeppo would treat such a promise and go back on it was disgusting. But then he felt shame for his own promise.

Zoro stayed still. All this torture, all he'd been through, was for nothing? He was just going to die here anyway? His blood began to boil at the thought. No, he couldn't. He refused. He had a promise to keep.

"That made Luffy really angry too," Coby added. "So he just knocked him out."

"He…did?" Zoro questioned. Luffy had done that for him? A complete stranger? But…why?

"And Sabine kicked him in his coconuts," he added. "Now that the Marines are mad, they're dead set on catching Luffy."

"So, do you want us to free you now?" Shang-Chi asked. "Don't worry, unlike Luffy we won't ask you to become a pirate. But we will ask for your help in taking care of the Marines. Because I'm pretty sure we're going to have all of them swarming us in a few moments."

Zoro didn't need to think about it much. For the past 3 weeks, he had been dreaming of kicking both the Captain and his son's pitiful asses. And while at first he hadn't cared much for Luffy's obvious blackmail, he had to admit that the kid had more honor than anyone else in the base.

"Do it."

---

After nearly getting killed by the falling statue, which she just knew was Luffy's fault somehow, Sabine had managed to break into the base pretty easily. Clearly, this Captain Morgan was too arrogant to believe anyone could break in. Better for her.

Now, to find those swords. Her first guess would be where they confiscated all prisoner's items. But, since Zoro had been personally arrested by Helmeppo and that guy seemed like the guy who want to keep swords like that as prizes, she guessed he must still have them. Now she just had to find his quarters. Probably in the upper regions of the base, but not as high as Morgan's.

With those thoughts in mind, she made her way through the base. It was built the same way most Marine bases were, despite being cylindrical in nature, so she was able to make her way around easily. There weren't even that many Marines around. Given Morgan's reputation, it stood to reason that not many people would want to join up with him. Plus, it seemed most were currently with him and that ridiculous statue of his. At least, she assumed it was supposed to be his.

Just then, she heard a lot of yelling and commotion coming from above her.

"Something tells me that's Luffy," she muttered and started running towards the noise.

---

At that moment, the orange-haired girl dropped down from the ceiling into an abandoned hallway and backed against the wall carefully. She then moved to pick the lock of the nearby door. With everything going on, she now had the perfect opportunity to get some of the new Marine maps of the region as well as information on nearby pirates.

"After him! Hurry!"

"Yes sir!"

Several Marines suddenly rushed down the hallway next to her and she instantly stood up straight, backing up against the wall again until they had passed.

"Someone's rocking the boat," she muttered before getting back to work.

---

"AAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!" Helmeppo shrieked as he was dragged along by Luffy. He had never been more terrified in his entire life. Oh what had he ever done to deserve such a fate?

"Ok, so tell me where Zoro's sword is?" Luffy asked him.

"I'll tell you, I promise! Just please stop dragging me across the carpet."

Luffy instantly came to a stop. "Fine. Which way?"

"My room, we just passed it," Helmeppo told him, pointing back where they came. "Behind you on the left."

"Why didn't you say so earlier? Now we gotta go all the way back." Luffy turned in time to see three Marines leveling guns at him.

"Don't move!" one of them ordered.

"Except for letting Helmeppo go," another added.

"No way!" Luffy replied. He then lifted Helmeppo up and placed him in front of himself. "You can try shooting me if you want," he goaded from behind his new shield.

"NO!" Helmeppo shrieked, waving his arms and legs frantically. "Please don't shoot! Don't! Get the hell out of the way!"

Using him, Luffy rushed forward and past the Marines onwards towards Helmeppo's bedroom.

"Get after him!"

"Right!"

That was all the guards could say before two of them were hit over the heads from behind. The third turned too late, only managing to raise his gun a little before he too was knocked out.

"Luffy, wait up!" Sabine yelled, running after him.

---

"End of the line!"

Coby, Shang-Chi, and Zoro all turned at the voice and saw Captain Morgan himself walking up to them, a platoon of Marines at his side. Zoro winced, knowing this complicated matters, while Coby gaped in utter fear. Shang-Chi however just cracked his knuckles, readying himself for the fight ahead.

"For the crime of treason against me, I sentence all three of you to die where you stand."

"Let me ask you this. Will you only use your words against us, or will you actually come and fight?" Shang-Chi asked, fists at the ready.

"Arrogant punk!" Morgan growled. "Kill them!"

---

Luffy opened the door that had the words My Room written on the front surrounded by a wreath of flowers and stepped into a room with pink curtains and decorative furniture. Against the wall were 3 swords as well as a mirror with a bunch of bottles on the shelf. "This looks like yours." He took a look around and spotted the swords. "Bingo."

"Luffy!"

He turned at his name and grinned as he saw Sabine running up. "Hey!" he called, waving at her. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I was worried you might get lost so I decided to come and help but it seems like you found your own way," she replied, nodding at Helmeppo. "He give you any trouble?"

"Nah, he's actually been really useful so far."

"This is the worst day of my life," Helmeppo moaned. "I just want to go home."

"You are home."

Helmeppo just moaned again in response.

"Well, we found Zoro's sword anyway," Luffy said, walking up. He then frowned, noticing for the first time. "Hold on. There are 3 here. Hey weirdo, which one of these is Zoro's?"

He looked down and saw Helmeppo just lying in his arms, eyes closed and mouth gaping open. "Guess he passed out."

"Wimp," Sabine snorted. She then glanced out the window and stiffened. "Luffy, we got trouble. The Marines are in the yard surrounding Shang-Chi and the others."

"What?" He walked over and saw for himself. "Shangy! Coby!"

---

This wasn't looking good. The Marines had now leveled their guns at them all, blocking any escape attempt. Shang-Chi wasn't very concerned with himself. He knew he could dodge the bullets. But Zoro was tied up and Coby was frozen in fear. If it came down to it, those two would surely die. So Shang-Chi would just have to stall for now. Fortunately, it seemed Morgan was someone who liked to hear themself talk and bluster.

"You've been pulling some interesting moves around here," Morgan said. "What is this, some kind of poorly executed coup you three planned with the Straw Hat?"

"Only the arrogant and paranoid would believe that," Shang-Chi replied.

"I've always fought alone like a real man does. Not like a coward who hides behind his wall of expendable cronies," Zoro shot back, straining the ropes. If only he had his swords right now, he would mop the floor with these bastards.

Shang-Chi grimaced. While he agreed with Zoro's words, it was having the opposite effect of what he wanted, enraging Morgan further.

"Roronoa, don't you dare underestimate me!" Morgan growled. "You may be a strong fighter, but under my authority you're just a rat we throw out with the trash. Take aim!"

The Marines cocked their guns and Shang-Chi readied himself. He had done training like this before with his father, but protecting the others would be complicated. Come on Luffy, where are you?

No! Zoro thought, staring down the barrel of a gun. I can't afford to die here!

Kuina flashed into his mind, his battles with her, his promise he made with her. And the day it all turned to ash. He couldn't die. Not like this. Not when he hadn't kept his promise.

---

"We need to get down there now," Sabine said, gritting her teeth. "But how do we…"

"Here we go."

Sabine turned and saw Luffy had strapped all three swords onto his back. He then stretched out and wrapped a hand around her before grasping the windowsill tightly. "Wait, what are you doing?" she asked, her concern growing.

"Gum-Gum…"

"Oh no," Sabine muttered as he stretched back, already knowing what was coming.

"…ROCKET!"

They shot out of the window into the open air, Sabine screaming all the while. They soared for a split second before gravity took hold and they began to fall right down in the middle of the courtyard.

"Fire!" Morgan ordered at the same time and the Marines all let loose, bullets flying to their targets. Coby cowered, Zoro ducked his head in a vain attempt, and Shang-Chi moved to intercept.

Then Luffy landed right in front of them, Sabine crumpling on the ground next to him. He threw up his arms and the bullets struck him instead.

"What?" Zoro cried out in shock.

"Luffy!" Shang-Chi yelled.

"Luffy, no!" Coby echoed.

"Straw Hat!" Morgan roared.

They all stared in amazement as the areas where the bullets struck flew out of Luffy from the back like tendrils before stopping. The Marines gasped in shock while Sabine just smirked, having seen it before.

"Heh," Luffy grinned, before throwing all the bullets back out. "See ya!"

The bullets went everywhere, one even flying past Morgan's ear. The Marines cowered away, not just from them but also from the man in front of them who just kept on laughing.

"That won't work on me," he said. "Toldja I was strong."

"What the…" Zoro gaped. Then he asked for the last time, "who the hell are you?"

"My name's Monkey D. Luffy and I'm going to be King of the Pirates."

"You're going to be King of the Pirates?" Zoro asked in disbelief. "Right. You must be completely out of your rubbery mind. Do you have any idea what that means?"

"King of the Pirates means King of the Pirates. How can it mean anything other than that?"

Shang-Chi chuckled and Sabine rolled her eyes, both of them having gone through this before, while the Marines just stared in astonishment at the scene before them, not quite sure what they were witnessing.

"Yeah, when he first told me, it was shocking but he's completely serious," Coby gushed to Zoro. "That's how he is, I suppose. Cause he actually seems to have every intention of becoming King of the Pirates. And obtaining the world's ultimate treasure, the One Piece."

Luffy grinned widely at the praise, not sure why Coby was doing it but thankful nonetheless.

"Indeed," Shang-Chi added. "It seems crazy and insane but his commitment is actually similar to yours, Pirate Hunter. He will not let anything stop him from achieving his dream. And, as his crewmate, he has promised to help me achieve mine as well."

"Yep," Luffy nodded. "He wants to be the world's greatest warrior and I won't have any less for my crew."

Sabine just rolled her eyes again. She didn't have a particular dream she wanted to achieve. But she did know, deep down, even after knowing Luffy only a few hours, that if she did have a dream he would help her achieve it too.

Zoro just stared at them, dumbfounded.

"Here's what I promised you," Luffy told him, handing over all three swords. "There's three. I couldn't tell which was yours so I just took all of them."

"All of them belong to me," Zoro replied stoically. "I use santōryū, the three sword style."

"Three sword style?" Sabine questioned. "How does that even work?"

"Hmm," Luffy thought before handing them over again. "Take them already. Just know that if you fight with me now you'll be a government defying villain, so it's either that or you're left out here and killed by the Marines, execution style."

"Luffy!" Shang-Chi scolded. "That's overly harsh. True, but harsh."

"What are you, the son of the Devil?" Zoro asked with a grin on his face. "It doesn't matter cause if I don't choose your side, I'll just end up dead on these sticks. So let's do it."

Even though he didn't believe for a second that this kid could be King of the Pirates, he had to admit that he had kept his word on retrieving Zoro's swords. And he had stuck up for him when it mattered. So his mind had already been made up before Luffy's little speech. If this was the path destiny had laid out for him, so be it. He would be a pirate.

"HaHA!" Luffy cheered. "So you're finally going to join my crew. This is the best thing ever! Now I have three members and it hasn't even been a full day!" He started pumping his fists up and down.

"Would you quit celebrating already and get these ropes off me?"

"The Marines have only remained this quiet due to shock and confusion," Shang-Chi commented. "Though it appears that that has worn off."

"What the…what is he?" one of the Marines asked, staring at Luffy.

"Bullets just bounce right off him."

"Straw Hat's no ordinary human like the rest of us," Morgan informed them. "He must have eaten one of those Devil Fruits that we've heard all those rumors about."

"Devil Fruit?"

"The hidden treasure of the sea."

"Devil Fruits," Morgan repeated. "Those who eat them are said to gain extraordinary, otherworldly abilities. The power to breathe fire. The power to cause tsunamis. Rumors persist that there are many types of these fruits, but next to nothing is known about them. It is said that the secrets to them lie somewhere in the Grand Line. And there's no question about it, the Straw Hat has just shown us his Devil power."

"Come on, hurry!" Coby urged as Luffy pulled on the ropes tying Zoro. They were made of firm stuff though and refused to budge.

"They got these things on here tight."

"I think you're supposed to pull it this way," Shang-Chi said.

"No, it's the other way you moron!" Sabine interjected.

"Come on, quit screwing around," Zoro told them.

"It doesn't matter what abilities they have, all who oppose me are executed! If the guns won't work we CHOP!" Morgan roared, lifting his axe up to the sky. His Marines yelled alongside him and charged towards Luffy and the others, swords raised to strike.

Zoro's eyes widened in fear and Coby gaped in utter terror, both positive they were seconds from death.

"That's funny, the knots got tighter instead of looser," Luffy said, scratching his head.

"That's because you're pulling it this way when you should pull it this way."

"No, it's this way."

"Give me one of my damn swords now!" Zoro cried out.

"Waahh! Luffy look!" Coby yelled, causing Luffy to turn and see the charging Marines practically right on top of them. He then swiftly handed Zoro a sword.

SLASH!

Coby cowered on the ground, sure he would feel cold, hard steel strike him down any second. But, when nothing happened, he looked up and stared at the sight.

Zoro was holding off every single Marine blade with his own swords, one in each hand and the third in his mouth. It would have looked ridiculous if it didn't look so cool.

"Roronoa Zoro," Morgan muttered, knowing now things were getting bad.

Coby gasped while Luffy exclaimed, "wow, that's so cool!" in delight at his new crewmate in action. Shang-Chi smiled and readied his fists while Sabine grasped her guns, both ready for action.

The Marines stared in astonishment at the sight of one man holding all of them back with ease, and holding three swords no less. A few began to moan and tremble in fear even.

"Make one move and you die," Zoro warned them.

Instantly, several Marines burst into tears. "Wah, he's scary!"

"I really don't know how much respect I have left for these people," Sabine muttered.

"Today I officially become a criminal, having fought the Marines," Zoro announced to Luffy. "So I'll become a pirate, that I can promise you. But I want you to know one thing. While I'm with you, the only thing I dedicate myself to is fulfilling my ambition."

"Which is?" Luffy asked.

"To be nothing less than the world's greatest swordsman," he said with conviction. As he did, Shang-Chi's eyes widened. "If somewhere along the way I have to give that up then I want you to accept responsibility. After which you get to apologize to me."

"The world's greatest swordsman," Luffy repeated. "Sounds pretty good. Shangy over here already wants to be the greatest warrior so the King of the Pirates wouldn't have any less than the best on his crew."

"Big talker," Zoro smirked. "From this point on, no matter if I'm a criminal or not, I will spread the name Zoro throughout the world."

While Luffy just continued to smile, Shang-Chi couldn't help but flashback to a memory from his childhood. Of meeting a certain man in a long draping cloak with a cross around his neck and a large sword across his back. A man who radiated fear and power with each step. A man who was the world's greatest swordsman.

Does Zoro even know who he'll have to beat to obtain that title?

"What are you standing there frozen for?" Morgan roared. "I want you to kill them all right now!"

The Marines all shivered at his words, terrified of what he might do. But they were also scared of who they were facing, causing more of them to freeze in their tracks.

"You might wanna duck!" Luffy warned, throwing his leg back. Zoro's eyes widened. "Gum Gum WHIP!"

Luffy's leg shot out, stretching wide and sending all the Marines around Zoro flying off to the side, leaving the swordsman unscathed as he had ducked just in time.

Morgan gaped at the sight, all his men falling before him. These insignificant pests were making a fool out of him and the Marines and so far he had been unable to stop them.

"Yes!" Coby cheered. "You knocked them all down."

"So, that's what a Devil Fruit can do?" Zoro said. "Weird. But I guess it works."

"A rubber person?" one of the Marines asked in shock.

"It looks like he does have the Devil Fruit powers," Morgan said.

"Captain, we don't stand a chance against them," another Marine informed him.

"Yeah, just look at them. They're insane!"

"We couldn't even take on Zoro by himself."

Hearing those words made a dark cloud fall over Morgan's face, his rage indescribable. "This is a direct order. Every Marine that just spouted weakness, pull your gun out and shoot yourself. I can't do anything with weak soldiers."

The Marines all glowered at him with hatred, most hoping he would charge into the battle and deal with the enemy. And a few of them hoped the enemy would deal with him.

"What babies," Zoro muttered. "This'll be easy."

"Just leave some for me," Sabine said. "I have a score to settle."

"I could use a workout," Shang-Chi added. But before any of them could move, their captain beat them to it, rushing on ahead to face the Marines solo.

"Luffy!" Coby yelled after him. "Bring those Marines crumbling to their knees!" These weren't true Marines anyway, not the ones he'd idolized his whole life. And they deserved any punishment they got.

However, Luffy ran past all the Marines, making a direct line for Morgan himself. Morgan saw him coming and raised his axe just in time as Luffy threw a punch, his fist banging into the axe-head.

Zoro lowered the sword from his mouth, content to just watch for the moment.

"Rankless lowlife bums!" Morgan yelled, ripping off his uniform. "You have no right to defy superiority! I am Marine Captain Axe-Hand Morgan!"

Luffy stared at him for a few seconds before saying, "and I'm Luffy. Nice to meet you."

Shang-Chi snorted. "That was good," he acknowledged.

Morgan roared and swung his axe but Luffy easily dodged over it, landing behind Morgan who whirled around and brought his axe down as hard as he could, splitting the ground open as Luffy leaped aside again.

Coby gasped in fear while the others continued to watch stoically.

Luffy hovered in the air for a second, cocking his legs, before thrusting them back down, stretching them as hard as he could until the struck Morgan in the face, knocking him back. He glared hatefully at Luffy as he landed.

"Look, he's been hit," one of the Marines said in astonishment.

"You runt!" Morgan growled, getting to his feet.

Luffy yelled out and charged again as Morgan raised his axe.

"Now die!" the man bellowed, bringing it down just as Luffy came at him. However, Luffy suddenly twisted to the side, spinning in midair.

"I don't think so," he replied, before kicking Morgan square in the face.

"The captain's getting cobbled out there," a Marine said.

"It's embarrassing," another added.

They all continued to stare, not sure how to process what they were seeing. Morgan, the man they had feared for so long, was getting beaten by a skinny kid?

Luffy grabbed hold of Morgan's shirt and pulled him close. "Call yourself a Marine," he said angrily, "but you destroyed my friend Coby's dream!" He then punched Morgan across the face and prepared to do it again.

"Straw Hat, stop right there! Look at what I got!"

Luffy continued to punch Morgan, not even bothering to look up.

"Are you stupid or something?" Helmeppo asked, pointing a gun right at Sabine's head. "I said stop! If you would pay attention to me, I have a hostage here you might want to look at."

"That guy's an idiot," Zoro said.

"Uh huh."

Luffy just continued to punch Morgan.

"Straw Hat! I swear to you'll I'll blow her brains right out of her stupid helmet. I'm happy to do it anyway after she kicked me in my special place."

"Your special place? What are you, 5?" Sabine asked him.

"Don't you talk back to me you…AH!" Helmeppo shrieked as Sabine grabbed the gun, twisted it out of his hand, and then laid him out flat with a swift punch to the jaw. She placed her foot on his chest to prevent him from getting up though he chose to just moan instead.

"Moron," she muttered, though she was slightly disappointed in herself for letting him catch her off-guard. "Don't worry Luffy, it's all good."

"Huh?" he asked, finally looking up. "Did you say something?"

"I said…LOOK OUT!"

But it was too late as Morgan rose up and smacked Luffy away. "Time's up!" he yelled, raising his axe high. "For I am fearless Marine Captain Axe-Hand Morgan!"

"Luffy no!" Coby cried as the axe came down. At the same time, both Zoro and Shang-Chi charged.

It was over in a second. The axe stopped an inch from striking Luffy's straw hat. Luffy grinned, knowing what had happened. "Nice one," he said.

Morgan groaned softly in disbelief. He wasn't sure what had happened. One second, he had been about to destroy the little runt. The next, pain blossomed across his chest. He glanced down and gasped as his axe handle cracked and gave way, the axe-head falling to the ground with a thump. Then he keeled over backwards, sword slashes across his chest.

Shang-Chi and Zoro stood behind him, Shang-Chi with his fist still cocked and Zoro with his swords flashing dangerously.

"Thank you," Luffy told them.

"I'm just doing my job, captain," Zoro replied, sheathing his swords.

"Indeed," Shang-Chi agreed.

"Daddy, no!" Helmeppo cried out at the sight of his fallen father. All the Marines stared, not believing their eyes. The man they had feared and hated, the man who seemed invincible to them, had fallen to a gang of ruffians like this?

"Captain Morgan's been beaten."

"Unbelievable. Those guys are unreal."

"If there's anyone else who wants to step forward to fight us, then do it now."

The Marines all looked over at one another, seeing their same expressions reflected back at them. Then, as one, they threw away all their weapons and hats and began dancing in the courtyard. "Hooray!" they cried. "We're free! Morgan's reign is over!"

"That's weird. Looks like they're all happy that their captain was beaten," Luffy said.

"They must have been afraid of him for a long time before we showed up," Coby gushed.

"Dictators rarely are popular," Sabine said, finally releasing Helmeppo who began crawling over to the still form of his father.

Just then, Zoro collapsed on the ground, the adrenaline that had been keeping him going finally giving out. The others all turned in surprise and Shang-Chi swiftly helped him back.

"Zoro! Are you ok! What's wrong?" Coby asked hurriedly.

"I'm…just…hungry," he managed.

"Don't worry my friend, we'll get you some food shortly," Shang-Chi promised him.

---

"Sorry you two," the orange-haired girl said to the two tied-up guards in front of her. "You'll just have to suck it up for a while."

She turned and walked through to Morgan's main office. Most of it seemed useless to her but she went through it all anyway, checking the bookcases and drawers as well as the side desk which held nothing but bottles of sake and some random items. She eventually made it to the main desk, opening it up and rummaging inside carefully.

"I can't find this sucker anywhere," she muttered, looking through all the documents, most of them just random and boring reports. She looked around carefully before her keen eyes spotted a small red safe tucked away behind some barrels.

She moved them aside and gripped the safe lock, ready to pick it, when it opened up to her surprise. She looked inside and grinned. "That's it," she said to herself, spotting the rolled up parchment. "A maritime chart of the Grand Line. I knew they were hiding it."

She grabbed it and unfurled it to make sure when her eyes widened in disbelief. "This isn't the map," she muttered, seeing a message and a pirate skull and crossbones instead. "What mark is that?"

Her breath sharpened as she read 'I've flashily taken the map! Buggy.' The pirate symbol was an ordinary skull and crossbones except with a big red nose on the skull.

"So, it's Buggy. Also known on the seas as Buggy the Immortal." She crumpled the parchment in her hand, anger and fear washing through her. Now, if she wanted that map, she would have to take it from Buggy, one of the most dangerous pirates in the East Blue. She purposefully avoided pirates like him as they were actually powerful enough to come after her. Her job just got way harder.

---

A large crowd gathered around Rika's mother's restaurant where Luffy and the others had gone after defeating Morgan. Everyone wanted to catch a glimpse of the heroes to saved their town and were all astonished by what they saw.

"Whoo! I am stuffed!" Zoro exclaimed, leaning back in his chair. "Having not eaten for 3 weeks, I was ready to gnaw through my bootstraps."

"It was an impressive achievement," Shang-Chi said as Rika and Coby laughed. "Though I think his might be more impressive," he pointed to Luffy who was still going strong, having put away a dozen plates already.

"I can't believe you're finished," Luffy said. "Lightweight."

"How the hell can you have a bigger appetite than a guy who hasn't eaten in weeks?" Zoro questioned.

"This just tastes too good I guess, right Coby?"

"Uh, yeah it's great," Coby replied sheepishly. "Thanks for fixing it for us," he told Rika's mother.

"My pleasure. After all, you guys did save the town."

"You were the most amazing man I've ever met!" Rika exclaimed to Luffy who grinned broadly.

"Yeah I am, I know. I'll be more amazing when I'm King of the Pirates and I have the One Piece. Oh and the best crew of all on the seas." He nodded his head towards Shang-Chi, Sabine, and Zoro.

"So, there any other members of your crew?" Zoro asked.

"Nah, just Sabine and Shangy."

"It's Shang-Chi!"

"Not Coby?"

"Nah, he's not interested in being a pirate," Sabine said. "He just tagged along for the ride."

"Yeah. I'll be leaving soon," Coby said. His insides squirmed as he said that, knowing that now would be the best time to leave. He just wasn't sure if he could yet. He still wanted to be a Marine more than anything, but he had grown to care for his new friends even if he had only known them a few hours.

"So, it's just us four?" Zoro asked.

"Yep, it's just us," Luffy replied happily. "Three crewmates on my first day. What luck!"

"So us four are what amounts to an entire pirate crew?" Zoro checked. "Well, it's better than nothing I suppose."

"Yeah, and we're all pretty strong, so we'll be fine."

"Ok. But please tell me you have a ship."

"Sure do. It's right there," he gestured out the window to where their small little boat bobbed in the water, just barely visible from the restaurant. As Zoro looked at it, a dog walking by, lifted up its leg, and peed on it.

"You're kidding," Zoro muttered, taking it in. Bad enough they only had a handful of people, but to sail around in that dinky thing? He was already deeply regretting his choice to serve under Luffy.

"Yeah, she doesn't look like much," Shang-Chi said, stepping up next to him.

"Please tell me there's going to be a 'but' there somewhere."

"No, that's it, she doesn't look like much. And if we're planning on more crewmates, we're going to need a bigger boat sooner rather than later."

"Yep! An enormous one too! Just you wait and see!" Luffy cried.

"Oh, I'll be waiting," Sabine said

"How are we going to manage that?" Zoro laughed.

"With a great big pirate flag on top," Luffy said, ignoring them, lost in a fantasy of himself at the head of his ship with the straw hat emblem flapping in the wind. "I can't wait."

"He's completely ignoring us," Sabine growled while Zoro just face-palmed, not believing the trouble he'd managed to get himself into.

"I think Luffy was born without that part of the brain that allows the rest of us to plan out what we have to do," Coby commented.

"I can't believe I let myself get suckered into having him as my captain."

"And we actually chose him," Sabine said to Shang-Chi. "What does that say about us?"

"Too much, it seems," he replied.

"Hey, we'll have a ton more crewmembers in no time," Luffy said cheerfully, still eating. He didn't know what the big fuss was about. To him, this had been a great start to his journey to being King of the Pirates and it could only get better from here.

"We'll definitely need a bigger boat before then," Shang-Chi commented, eyeing the boat and analyzing whether or not it would even be able to hold all four of them.

"Luffy?" Rika suddenly asked. "Where are you and your crew planning on traveling when you leave here?"

"You mean it's not obvious? We're headed straight for the Grand Line!"

As soon as he said that, juice spurted from Coby as he spluttered in shock. "No!" he cried out. "Have you completely lost your mind? You have four crewmembers! There's no way you're equipped to handle the Grand Line, Luffy!"

"I've heard about it but I never knew it was such an awful place," Rika's mother commented.

"It's not awful, just dangerous. And certainly not for the faint of heart," Shang-Chi said.

"Well, good, cause I've got plenty of heart!" Luffy cried.

"Oh yeah, I forgot you're from the Grand Line Shang-Chi," Coby said, looking over at him.

That got Zoro and Sabine's attention as they looked up sharply. There were even a few gasps from the people watching outside. "You're from the Grand Line?" they questioned.

Shang-Chi nodded. "Yeah. I was born and raised there but I came here for…personal reasons. But I think I'm ready to head back now. Though I do agree with Coby that we'll need more crewmembers before we venture in. Most certainly a navigator." He shuddered at the thought of sailing the waters of the Grand Line without one, the wild and unpredictable seas driving them to who-knew-where. "And we'll definitely need a better ship. That one won't last a day there."

"What is the Grand Line exactly?" Rika asked curiously.

Shang-Chi sat down, tapping his finger to his chin, thinking over how best to respond. "So you know how this world has two oceans, right? That's because there's an enormous landmass that divides them, stretching all across the world. It's called the Red Line. It's like a mountain range that shoots straight from the ocean floor up into the heavens."

"There's even a legend about a town that sits dead center on the Grand Line," Coby interjected.

"That's not a legend," Shang-Chi corrected. "That's the Holy City of Mariejois. It's the capital of the World Government, where all the World Nobles and the highest rulers live. It's one of the two centers of the world. Very few outsiders are allowed to visit, and only high ranking Marine officials or members of foreign government." He frowned as he described it. His parents had always gone on about their hatred of the place. He couldn't remember all the details, but he knew that it was a bad place.

"Whoa!" Coby gaped. The others were enthralled as well, except for Luffy who kept eating, never having heard of this before.

"The other center of the world would be Reverse Mountain which is the entrance to the Grand Line. Now, the Grand Line actually cuts through the Red Line at both Reverse Mountain and Mariejois, though I think actually it continues below the city. I'm not sure about that." Shang-Chi pondered that for a second, trying to remember what his dad had taught him. If he recalled, there was something about fishmen and a passage below but he couldn't remember exactly. "Anyway, the Grand Line effectively runs perpendicular to the Red Line across the entire world, effectively cutting the two oceans into four seas. North Blue, West Blue, South Blue, and the one we're in, East Blue. Now, the reason that the Grand Line has become such an important place for sailors and pirates, such as Luffy here, is because of Gold Roger, the King of the Pirates, who was said to have obtained everything the world had to offer. Before he died, he said he had left the great One Piece treasure somewhere in the Grand Line. And ever since, pirates have flocked into that sea, hoping to find it. Even to this day, hundreds of pirates sail into it, making the whole place a battlefield."

"I heard they call it the Pirate Graveyard," Coby said, shivering a little.

Shang-Chi nodded. "That is one name for it, yes. But there are still plenty of pirates that thrive there. Though, the Grand Line itself is divided into two seas, one between Reverse Mountain and the Red Line, and the other past that. Only the best pirates manage to survive the first half and even most of them don't last long in the second half. At least, that's what I've been told. I've never been to the second half." He recalled his father had a name for it but he couldn't remember what it was. He did know that that was where the Pirate Emperors resided as well as a few Warlords.

"Wow," Luffy muttered. "Well, I'll be the first one to conquer the whole of the Grand Line!"

"Technically, Roger was the first," Shang-Chi reminded him.

"Right! The first one since him!"

"I've heard stories about that place from people passing through. The customers say that no one who has ever entered the Grand Line comes out of that place alive."

Shang-Chi snorted. "Then those people don't know what they're talking about. I got out just fine and so have others. Getting out of there is much easier than getting in. Well, when you're at Reverse Mountain. Otherwise, no it is nearly impossible to get out."

"Which is really too bad cause that's where the One Piece is said to be and it's exactly where we're going."

"Hold on," Sabine interrupted. "How come it's so hard to get in? Can't you just sail in there? What's stopping people from doing that?"

"Calm Belts," Shang-Chi replied. "They're two parts of the ocean that run parallel to the Grand Line. For some reason that no one can explain, there's no wind or currents there."

Everyone looked confused by that except Luffy who just kept eating. "Huh?" Sabine asked. "How is that possible?"

Shang-Chi shrugged. "Like I said, no one knows. Once you sail in there, the ship will just come to a dead stop."

"Ok, so why not row the rest of the way? It'll be hard work but it can be done," Zoro said.

Shang-Chi grimaced. "You could, but you'd quickly run into the second problem. Sea Kings. The Calm Belts are the nesting grounds for world's largest Sea Kings. The second you start rowing, they'll notice you and eat you before you even noticed."

There were audible gulps as people took that in. "So Reverse Mountain is the only way in?" Sabine asked.

Shang-Chi pondered that. "I think, but I'm not certain, that people have managed to circumvent the Sea Kings somehow. I believe the Marines might have a method but I don't know what it is. So for us, yes, Reverse Mountain is the only way in."

"Well good," Luffy chimed in. "Cause it's cooler to go that way anyway. That's how every pirate before us did it including Roger. If we cheated our way in, we wouldn't be conquering the Grand Line."

"That's one way to put it," Sabine said.

Zoro sat back in his chair, smirking. "I guess we have to live with it," he said. He'd heard of the Grand Line too but never the way Shang-Chi had described it. He wondered what it was really like. He'd known he would have to go there someday. It was where he was after all.

"I've actually been in the Grand Line too," Sabine said in realization. "It's where my home, Mandalore is. But I came here on a Marine ship and I don't remember the journey." She had been taken from her home when she was just a kid, randomly shipped off to one of the Marine's training facilities in the world. It was only when she had shown an aptitude for weapons design and shown off the prototype of her project that she was to be moved. But at that point, everything changed for her. She wondered if she would get to see Mandalore again. Or if she wanted to see it, after what she did.

"Wow, we've got an awesome bunch of travelers here," Luffy cheered. "This is going to be fun!"

"No, you can't just agree!" Coby argued.

"What do you care? You're not going with us," Zoro reminded him.

"No, but I still worry. Is it so wrong to care about you?"

"Given that you want to be a Marine and we're all pirates, yes," Sabine said.

"Well, Luffy and I haven't known each other for years or anything but I still consider him a friend. The same with Shang-Chi or you Sabine." He turned to Luffy hesitantly. "Wouldn't you say?" he asked carefully, afraid of the response.

Luffy grinned at him. "Of course. We may have to part ways but we'll always be friends," he promised.

"Same here," Shang-Chi added. "Even if it's only been a few hours, I do consider you a friend, Coby."

Coby blinked and then smiled, his heart warming. He had been unsure there for a second, but they were really were his friends. Now he really wasn't sure what to do. Part of him did want to go with them, but he knew the life of a pirate wasn't for him. Besides, he'd be giving up on his dream and he knew Luffy wouldn't want that.

"When I was just a little kid, I never had any friends. Much less anyone who would bother fighting on my behalf. So I always tried my hardest never to fight for anything." He then looked up, staring at each of his new friends in the eyes. "But all of you have taught me a lesson I could never learn on my own. How to live for what I believe in! So I've decided to make my one childhood dream a reality and I'm going to join the Marines."

"Then don't you think you should be a little more concerned with your situation?" Zoro asked dryly, causing Coby to gasp slightly. "I mean you did spend two years in Alvida's pirate ship, even if you were nothing but her cabin boy."

Coby stared blankly at him, feeling his newfound resolve shatter into pieces as the realization hit him.

"The Marines' information gathering is top notch. They'll find out about your time with Alvida and you'll never join."

"I never thought of that," Coby mumbled.

"Not to mention helping pirates bring down a Marine captain at one of their bases," Sabine told him. "They don't look kindly on that."

"Oh god…"

"Hey, you there!"

They all turned to see Marine soldiers entering the restaurant. Coby felt his insides go cold, wondering if they were about to arrest him and all his friends. The others watched calmly however, ready for anything.

One of the Marines stepped forward, clearly the leader of them. "We heard that you all are actually pirates. Is this rumor true?"

"Right, and I just added the fourth member to my crew, so pretty much the whole thing just became official," Luffy replied cheerfully.

Sabine watched carefully, hands ready grab her guns. She knew firsthand how much the Marines hated pirates so she had a pretty good idea of how this was going to go down. Still, she wouldn't be the first one to make a move.

"We appreciate everything you did to save our town from that horrible tyrant who terrorized us all for so long. However, now that we know that you're pirates, as Marines we cannot sit idly by and watch you go about your business." As he said it, the Marine felt shame inside him. He knew these pirates were different from the others he'd fought. They had decided to help the town for no real reason. But it was his job and he couldn't go against that. "Therefore, you and your crew will need to leave this town immediately." As he said that, small gasps were heard from the people listening outside. "But out of respect for what you've done, we will not report you to headquarters."

"Are you crazy?" one person asked angrily.

"How do you find the nerve to talk like that?"

"Before these pirates came along, you guys were as scared of Morgan as we were."

"Without them, we'd still be under his reign. We owe them our lives."

More people began to gather outside, angry with what the Marines were saying. Rika and her mom watched sadly, Rika more confused as well with what was happening. Luffy, however, merely smiled and stood up. "Well, time to go," he said. He turned and looked over at Rika's mom. "Thanks for all of the food, lady."

"Hey wait a second. You're leaving already?" Rika asked sadly.

"Yeah," Luffy nodded and started walking out the door, a bag of food over his shoulder. Shang-Chi grabbed their supplies and hefted them up while Zoro just took his swords. Sabine still kept her guard up, ready to attack if need be. She was surprised the Marines had decided to let them go, but she wasn't stupid enough to buy if for now.

Coby watched them leave, feeling a pit in his stomach.

"Aren't you part of the crew as well?" the Marine in charge asked him and he trembled, not sure what to say.

"Well…I…uh…"

Luffy turned for a second, shadows over his eyes, before starting to walk forward again. Before he could make a step however, the Marine stopped him.

"Hold it. Is he with you or what?"

"What I can tell you is what he's been busy doing up to this point."

Coby felt a shock of fear go through him. Luffy, you wouldn't.

"Yeah, there was this fantastically fat pirate lady. I think her name was Alvida," Luffy said, gesturing to how big her body was.

"Yes, she was quite big," Shang-Chi recalled. "But very strong too."

Coby watched them, his fear growing. "Luffy…" he mumbled. "Shang-Chi…" Why were they doing this? Weren't they friends? If they found out he ran with a pirate crew, then he would never join the Marines.

"She carried around this huge iron club and boy she was the nastiest looking woman I've ever seen." As he talked, Luffy walked back over to Coby and started poking him a little in the face. As he did, Shang-Chi realized what he was planning and smiled a little. Seemed he hadn't been mistaken when choosing his captain.

"For two years this wimpy kid was her own private cabin boy."

Please stop, Coby inwardly begged. You can't do this. Luffy, no!

His fear turned into rage and he just turned and swung his fist directly into Luffy's face, knocking him back and causing everyone to gasp except for the pirates, who just smirked. Coby stared at his fist and then at Luffy who was smiling.

"Now that was a dumb move," he said before slugging Coby right back. He barraged his friend over and over, slamming his fists into Coby's face. However, he held back a lot, basically just tapping Coby with his fists. "Bastard!" he cried out for effect.

"Get out of here now!" the Marine ordered. "We can't have you pirates tripping up this town any more than you already have, you hear me?"

"Enough, Luffy," Shang-Chi said, grabbing his captain from behind. "You have made your point. Now let him be." As he said it, Coby fell to the floor gasping, his face bruised all over.

"It's obvious you're not crewmates so stop badgering the poor kid and take your leave of this town this instant!"

Luffy grinned and walked out with the others, Coby watching uncertainly from behind. Then he realized, it had all been on purpose. Luffy had done it just to help him out. Now the Marines wouldn't believe he was on Luffy's side. Even at the end of their journey, he still relied on him. He hadn't changed at all. He was such an idiot!

Well, no more.

"Sir!" he cried, grabbing the Marine officer's attention. "Please sir, please. You have to let me join the Marines! I'll clean and scrub and do any chores that you'd like me to. I'll do anything to become a Marine."

---

"That was a thin act you put on back there," Zoro commented as they walked down to the docks. "Wouldn't be surprised if they see right through it."

"Nah, most Marines are idiots," Sabine said. "And after these ones followed Morgan around for so long, I think even Luffy's dumb acting will fool them."

"Hey!" Luffy complained though he was laughing too. "Well, whatever. Coby should be able to handle the rest on his own. I have faith in him."

"As do I," Shang-Chi agreed. Though he had only known the guy a few hours, he did consider him a true friend now. It was hard to think that they would be parting ways.

"It is a fitting way to leave this place. Unable to turn back as everyone here hates us now," Zoro said as they reached their ship. "Very pirate-like."

"Yeah, it sure is," Luffy laughed as he untied the boat.

Shang-Chi smirked as he unloaded all their supplies onto the boat and Sabine chuckled. "Yeah," she said. "I guess we can expect more of that in our future."

"Luffy!"

They all turned in surprise to see Coby at the end of the dock with Rika and her mom beside him. He stared at them all for a second before he stood up straight and saluted them. "I can never thank you enough!" he cried out. "You've done more for me than anyone ever has."

"I've never heard of a Marine thanking a pirate before," Zoro remarked. "That's one for the history books."

Shang-Chi frowned, thinking. He hadn't really heard of pirates saving a town before either. Granted, they had done it by fighting the corrupt Marines, but still. He looked over at Luffy. There was something about him, something that seemed to just…affect other people.

"Enough dawdling, let's get moving," Sabine said, unfurling the sail. They all hopped on as the boat caught the wind and started sailing off.

"We'll meet again Coby!" Luffy cried back as they began to grow smaller. "Some day!"

"You really think so?" Shang-Chi asked curiously.

"Yeah, I do. That's why I said it."

Shang-Chi couldn't help but chuckle again. "Indeed." He did hope he could meet Coby again, one day when he was stronger and more assured of himself. He wondered what that person would look like.

"Bye Luffy," Coby muttered sadly, watching his only friends sail away.

"Hope to see you again someday!" Rika cried cheerfully, waving them off.

"All hands, salute!" the Marine officer ordered and all his fellow Marines instantly saluted Luffy and his crew. The officer knew he could never really thank them for what they had done for the island. This was it, and even this was too much. But he would always remember them, the pirates who had saved his home.

"Now that is a first," Sabine muttered in astonishment. "Guess Morgan was really treating them badly." She had never even heard of Marines saluting pirates as they sailed away. Such a thing could court-martial the whole base.

Shang-Chi looked at Luffy again and shook his head. Truly a remarkable person to have caused this.

"See ya!" Luffy cried out, waving his hands back at them

"That's a good friend you have there," the officer told Coby, causing him to look up in surprise. The officer smiled, knowing all along what Luffy had done for him. He knew it was a risk to take someone with Coby's history on as a Marine, but after today, he didn't care too much. The kid deserved it.

Coby seemed to understand this and tears began welling up in his eyes. "Yeah," he said with conviction, managing to hold them back as he looked over at the last sight of his friends before they sailed away into the horizon.

"Men! Seeing as our current salute is in violation of Marine law, we will all go without food for three days. Do we all understand this?"

"Yes sir!"

I know that we'll meet again someday, Coby thought. Deep inside I feel it as much as I've ever felt anything. Even if we are divided as Pirates and Marines, I still look forward to that day.

"At last, our pirate crew finally sets sail!" Luffy said, gazing out to the horizon.

"What do you mean at last?" Sabine questioned. "It's only been a few hours, hasn't it?"

"Let him enjoy his moment," Shang-Chi said.

"I got the feeling some interesting adventures are waiting for us," Zoro said, sitting back calmly. Even though he had technically been forced to join the crew, he couldn't help but be content right now.

"I'll be King of the Pirates!" Luffy said with conviction. "I know it!"

"You seem more than obsessed with this King of the Pirates business. Is there some kind of story behind it or any kind of reason at all."

"Yeah, good point. I've actually been wondering the same thing myself," Sabine said.

"No, no reason. It's just…"

"Just what?"

"I promised someone," Luffy told them as he held onto his hat. "A while back. I swore that I would gather a crew, find the world's greatest treasure, and become King of the Pirates. And this straw hat knows the whole story."

"I see," Zoro said, understanding. He had wondered about the straw hat but now he got it. It must have belonged to this person. The others seemed to get it too, smiling to themselves.

"Now, let's go! It's time for us to set our heading for the Grand Line!"

"I told you, we're not ready for that yet! We need more crewmembers and a better ship!"

"I know!" Luffy argued. "But at least head in that general direction and we'll stop by some islands along the way. By the time we get there, we'll be ready to go."

Shang-Chi nodded. "Understood captain." He took out a map and eyed the chart, estimating. "Well, I'm no real navigator but if we keep our heading, the next stop would be the Organ Islands. There seems to be a village there called…Orange Town."

"Perfect! Then that's where we're going," Luffy cheered.

---

And we're back with the end of the Romance Dawn arc. Sorry there weren't too many changes here. That'll change pretty soon, especially in the second half of Orange Town. And definitely from then on. Hope you're enjoying it and will stick with it. Leave a review if you can and til next time.