I have been back over every chapter and made some changes, some to add a bit more emotions to the characters and others to flesh them out a bit. From chapter 3 onwards I think I ended up adding around 1000 words to each chapter so may be worth rereading, most of the new content is the add Luffy and Shanks paternal relationship and flesh out Shanks.
This chapter went through a almost complete rework, I wrote it on the tale end of having covid and rushing to publish something so it was very inconsistent and something I wasn't particularly fond of.
I think I'm happier with this version, leaning more into a darker version of Luffy who is struggling to keep it together.
In the beginning when Zoro had sworn himself to a life of piracy, he had but one stipulation;he would never put anything above his dream, he had been bull headed and determined, driven by only one cause, he would become the world's greatest swordsman, nothing and no one else mattered.
It occurred to the swordsman that life would have been simpler if he had remained this way. Zoro had realised long ago that his dream had changed, or maybe this had always been his true goal. As he stood on the precipice, the stench of death heading his way he finally understood;he had been so driven, so sure he could keep Kuina's spirit alive, if only he could shoulder her dream through to fruition, be the very best so he could ensure her name flowed through history. He hadn't wanted to be the best for himself but because if he was the best he would never again have to experience loss.
It was a realisation that had been building within him for years, ever since that fateful day on Thriller Bark where Zoro had stepped forward, begging for his own death to spare his captain. Kuma had warned him that he would not survive but he had willingly stepped forward to accept his fate, it had only been the thought of Luffy's face when he discovered what had Zoro had done that kept his heart beating in his chest.
Sanji had been the only one who knew, who understood the intensity of Zoro's passion for his captain, and their crew.
He was their protector.
Their swordsman.
It was his job to lay his life down, an insignificant sacrifice to keep them all alive.
The truth was his dream was no longer to be the best, it was to protect the best;
The world's best navigator who was currently black and blue unconscious in Sanji's arms as he kicked out at enemy after enemy.
The best sniper who was currently providing what cover he could from the treetops.
The best musician who was trying desperately to dodge attacks aimed at his bones.
The best archaeologist the only person alive capable of carrying his chosen captain to his dream.
The best helmsman who had only recently joined the crew, but had proven his loyalty at every turn, always watching Luffy's back when Zoro was unable to, currently leading their captain to his goal as he once had at Marineford.
Their talented doctor currently torn between helping with the relentless fighting or treating his fallencrew mate.
The best shipwright whose inventions had kept them alive this long.
Zoro turned to look to the greatest chef one of the best people he had ever known. Zoro was sure in the knowledge that Sanji would understand.
As the war had amped up on Laugh Tale, day turning to night as the fighting continued, more and more adversaries arriving turning the landscape red, the true colour of war.
Zoro had long since calculated their chances of survival; the government surrounding them, the island trembling in fear,the shockwaves of one of Blackbeard's powerful devil fruits coming ever closer.
Sounds of clashing swords as allies and foes alike came out from the woodwork, all throwing their lives away for an unsure future.
Zoro's shoulder ached where he had been wounded by a surprise attack from a presumed friend. The swordsmen knew he would already be gone if not for his mentor. He was thankful that his mentor had cared to protect him, but it was a bitter feeling, stained by the fact he had not seen the lone pirate since his initial arrival.
He was weakened, and ashamed.
His only consolation that the captain had long since travelled inland alongside Robin, Frankie and Jimbe, they had been desperately trying to reach the end goal before the situation reached the point of no return.
The remainder of the crew had stayed behind offering to buy time, against the insurmountable odds.
Their captain had only left after commanding them to return to him safely, they had each nodded, so certain in their own power. Zoro knew now he would have to disobey Luffy for the first time.
Catching the chef's eye, he hoped the blond would understand, that he would see Zoro's sacrifice for what it was. Him fulfilling his dream, seeing them safe. He knew no matter Sanji's thoughts on Zoro's sacrifice he would continue to protect the crew, ensure they made it back to their captain. To see him at the end, achieving his dream and saving the world.
Part of his brain knew this was a fairy tale wish, that reality was rarely that kind, but in the end they were a crew of dreamers, so he would continue to dream.
"Chef, get them out of here." Zoro grunted through the sword a this mouth.
Sanji looked to Zoro seeing the fire and acceptance in his eyes, a look only he had seen before. One of ultimate sacrifice, the last time he had tried to fight against it, but he knew better. He and Zoro had grown together the wings of their captain, the monster trio, they had moulded together each becoming an extension of the other. His heart broke as he saw the resolve, he knew it was inevitable, but he had to try."Marimo..."
"If you don't go now, we all die, let me do this." Zoro met his partners eyes, tears glistening, he didn't want to beg, but he would.
Sanji paused, he wanted nothing more than to stand beside his swordsman, face death side by side as they had many times before, but looking down he realized that staying would be selfish, it would mean sure death not just for him but the rest of their crew.
He was the only one that could use geppo, he knew he was the only chance for at least get some of them out of the line of fire. "Chopper." Sanji ordered sharply as his heart shattered into a million pieces. "Climb on."
Chopper looked over at the chef confused at the sudden order. "But Zoro, the others..."
"Now Chopper!" Sanji ordered sharply; he would not be able to go through with leaving if he didn't go now.
Chopper settled on top of Nami gently as Sanji took to the skies for an escape, tears running silently down his face. "Goodbye, Marimo" Sanji muttered as he flew.
Zoro watched relieved that at least some of the crew got away from the immediate threat, that they had a chance at survival.
With Sanji out of the line of fire Zoro felt he could breathe, surely the others would be easy to convince to flee.
"Ussop, retreat!" Zoro called turning his attention back to the foes ahead, he didn't need to check, he trusted the sniper king to follow his orders. Zoro threw himself once more into the fray.
A slice of his sword cut a singular path through the army of marines, one chance for the remaining member to flee through. "Brooke go now!" Zoro grunted.
"If it's all the same to you, I'll stay." Brooke answered his voice noble and strong above the sounds of war.
"Go stupid skeleton!" Zoro grunted intercepting attack after attack.
"I will not." Brooke replied sternly. "I have already lost one crew; I will not stand by and leave another behind."
Zoro grunted begrudgingly accepting Brookes words, at least the others had got away safe, Sanji would protect them.
"Fine, together?"
"Till the end."
Zoro could hear Brooke at his back, humming softly as the barrage of marines closed them in. They held out for longer than they should, buying as much time as they could bare for the others, their field of vision had long since turned red with the blood of their enemies. Iron thick in the air, Zoro unsure if it was his own blood he could taste or that of his foes. He could feel Brooke start to falter behind him, his movement becoming slower, the fatigue taking over.
Then came the darkness, Blackbeard had arrived. Zoro could sense the panicking marines around him using observational Haki, but he could not make out where the Logia devil fruit user was, he could only hear the cold snickering laugh as he closed in on the swordsman.
"Straw hats right hand man." The voice snickered mockingly. "All alone apart from this useless bag of bones, well I'd say you put up a good fight, but you never really had a chance, did you?" The taunting came to a stop as Zoro felt a slash land true across his back.
Shame was the last emotion Zoro had as he faded to oblivion.
"Nine days down, only twenty left to go." Zoro mused as he hung under the blistering sun.
He could do this he reminded himself, his resolve was strong, this was a mere blip in his training to become the world's greatest swordsman. His silent musings were interrupted by two voices obnoxiously shouting from the perimeter.
"Hey, you two..." Zoro called out his head downturned, the shade from his bandana covering his eyes. "You're an eyesore, get lost." He looked up glaring at the two young boys who were loudly arguing unimpressed at their childish bickering.
He was surprised when he saw the young girl he'd sacrificed his freedom for jump the perimeter, seemingly ignoring the two children that had initially drawn his attention. 'Fuck' he thought concern for this helpless child flooding his mind. 'If the Marines catch her, she's dead.' Covering his concern, he snapped at her denying her kind offering of food even as his stomach protested the action. He tried to get her to leave through sheer will before she was caught, unfortunately he was too late.
That cursed blond-haired daddy's boy just to catch her. The pathetic brat that he was he wasted no time punching down on those who could not fight back. Stealing her offering for Zoro eating it as he seethed, pulling at his restraints. His anger grew as the blond insulted the child, snarls rising out of his throat as the marine ordered her to be thrown from the field. Zoro would have given anything to have his swords in that moment, to be able to repay the girls pain in kind. He made a promise there and then, when the month was out, he would make the boy suffer.
Helmeppo laughed pleased with himself at his pathetic attempt to be a tough guy, Zoro was unimpressed at the useless bully, who needed to pick fights with children to feel tough. The blond attempted to taunt the green haired swordsman as he walked away. Zoro could not think of a lesser excuse for a human, and he hunted pirates for a living, even they had more respect than the man child throwing his daddy's name around to garner respect.
"You were trying to protect that girl." Zoro was startled from his thoughts, looking up to see the black-haired boy in the straw hat approaching.
"I didn't protect anyone" Zoro grunted, facing away shame colouring his tone, all he had succeeded in was getting rope burns for his effort.
The boy grinned cheekily, but Zoro noted that it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"I heard you are aiming to be, the world's greatest swordsman." Luffy's tone was purposely nonchalant, shoving his finger up his nose, he had quickly learned this was the best way to avoid people paying too much attention to him, no one wanted to watch a person dig for that kind of gold.
"Are you making fun of me." Zoro snarled, who did this kid think he was, making light of his dream, standing there picking his nose. If only Zoro was free, he would make this kid see he was the real deal.
"No... I just wanted to test if you had the resolve." Luffy responded, he pulled his finger free, approaching the swordsman slowly. Circling around, observing Zoro under the guise of testing him, while he really checked him over for any signs of injury, if these marines had hurt his first mate Luffy would make them pay. "I only accept the best for my crew after all"
"What!" Zoro spluttered confused, trying to track the kid as he paced around.
Luffy came to a stop in front of Zoro, within touching distance, able to see the annoyance on his face. Even now Luffy could see it was a front, could see through to the vulnerable boy inside that just wanted something to fight for. "I need the best swordsman for my crew, as the future king of the pirates only the best will do."
"I'm not looking to be a good for nothing criminal" Zoro snarled once more pulling uselessly against his bindings, this kid was getting on his nerves. "I won't bejoining any crew. I'm doing fine on my own, I would never stoop that low."
Luffy's face dropped momentarily, he had to admit even though he knew Zoro didn't mean it, it hurt. His best friend, someone he loved deeply turning him down, looking at him and only seeing a stranger. It reminded him his Zoro was dead, that the last impression he had felt from his swordsman would forever be the lingering feeling of shame. Luffy flashed back to that moment, suddenly finding himself in Jimbe's hold, screaming out for his Zoro, knowing that nothing could undo what had happened. At least with Ace he hadn't felt him leave, hadn't known his constant presence only to have it cruelly snatched away. Luffy was surprised he had even found the strength to push forward.
Luffy forced himself back into the present, forcing the trauma back behind the walls in his brain, never again he reminded himself.
He noticed that Zoro was looking at him perplexed, how long had he been gone?
"Okay, guess I was wrong then." The boy forced himself to grin, whistling a jaunty tune as he left the field, forcing his feet to move at a casual pace as his mind begged for him to flee, he needed a moment to breath.
"Hey!" Zoro called out his tone purposely gentle, it had been strange once he had stated he wouldn't be joining the pirate the boy's face had fallen, a despairing look had taken over his features, it looked wrong, part of Zoro had been tempted to promise anything to chase that look off his face, but as quickly as it had come it disappeared, but Zoro wasn't convinced. He needed more information, and he may as well use the boy to his advantage. "Would you mind getting me some of that." He nodded his head towards the ruined rice balls on the floor.
"The floor food, why?" Straw hat tilted his head looking curious, inwardly Luffy smiled a small genuine smile, his Zoro always cared.
"That girl made it, for me." Zoro's voice was low, serious. "The least I could do is eat it."
"Your weird, but I like it." Luffy grinned picking up the rice now covered in dirt and gravel.
He held it out to Zoro's mouth where the swordsman happily chewed even as he coughed around the grime.
"It's good, thank you for the food." Zoro muttered, thanking both the girl who had put so much effort into providing for him, and the boy who had kindly given him the opportunity to eat it.
Luffy grinned at the swordsman. "I'll let her know you enjoyed it." He said before taking off, fleeing before his emotions could get the better of him.
Zoro found himself once more alone strung up in the sun, his stomach fuller than it had been but an oddly empty feeling in his heart.
Luffy couldn't bring himself to head straight to the restaurant, instead sending Koby off ahead and finding a quiet spot on the island. Using his Haki to ensure he was alone he reached out to the only person who would understand his plight, as his call rang through he let go of his tentative grasp on his emotions.
Shanks jumped on the Den Den Mushi the moment it started ringing, unless Garp had lost his marbles this could only be one person.
"Anchor?" Shanks answered, breathless from running to pick up the receiver, he was greeted by the muted sounds of gasping breaths and low sobs coming through the other end.
"Shit." Shanks muttered, it had been a while since the kid had an attack. "Luffy, I'm here, come on Lu you got this."
Shanks continued to keep up his mantra of support, waiting with surprising patience for his kid to come back to himself, to regain control.
"Shanks..." Luffy's voice finally came through after what felt like hours of endless sobbing.
"I'm here Anchor." Shanks voice was comforting, a balm to Luffy's distress.
"Shanks... I... I don't know if I can do this." Luffy cried, Shanks hadn't heard his boy so distressed since the first year of training. He had truly thought they had helped calm Luffy's bad thoughts, to help protect the boy from what he had once seen, but it obviously hadn't been enough.
"You're okay Lu, you have this." Shanks calmed, his hand twitching, he wanted nothing more than to reach through the Den Den, to be able to hold his son in his arm and ground him.
"It hurts." Luffy stated, his breathing easing slightly. "I found my Zoro, but he's not mine. I asked him to join me, and he said no. I miss them so much, I thought that if I just found them it would go away, but it still hurts, why does it hurt." Luffy scratched at his chest, the darkest parts of his mind wanting to pull his heart out, to remove the source of his pain.
"It's okay Luffy, it's going to be okay. Tell me, the first time, did Zoro say yes the first time you asked?" Shanks asked, he knew the answer having had three years of listening to Luffy's obsessive retelling of his crew's origin story.
"N-n-no." Luffy stuttered, the tears still flowing freely, his hand rubbing his chest red raw.
"So, it's going to be okay, right Anchor? He's not a completely different person, you just need to give it time, let it come naturally." Shanks soothed. "You've got this Lu, you've come so far and done so well, tell me how'd your first adventure go, did you find your marine?" Shanks asked, they had been here before and Shanks knew the best way to deal with Luffy's attacks was to ground him in this timeline, remind him that there was still hope.
Luffy slowly recounted the story of his meeting with Koby, smiling by the end retelling how Koby had managed to stand up for himself and declare that he would be the one to capture Alvida.
"See, you are doing so well Anchor, already making positive changes to the world." Shanks comforted.
"Thanks Shanks, you always know how to help." Luffy smiled a few tears still trickling down from his eyes, Shanks had really become his lifeline in the three years he had been back.
"Anytime Luffy, if you need me, I'm there." Shanks promised.
Luffy bit his lip nervous, worried that he would not be able to handle what was to come. "I'm not sure when I'll get another opportunity to get away to call you, once Zoro joins the crew there's not a lot of opportunities for me to get away until at least after we deal with Buggy."
Shanks paused at the mention of his estranged brother, he had been shocked to learn what the pirate had been up to during the time they had spent apart, his relentless destruction of a village, something Rodger would have been very against, but Luffy had explained that the clown pirate would learn to grow, would once again find his path towards being a better pirate.
It wasn't like Shanks could judge; he had certainly made his share of mistakes he would have to make up for.
"You'll be okay Luffy, I believe in you, I can't wait to hear how your next adventure goes, and for you to have your navigator back" Shanks soothed.
"I'll call you as soon as I can." Luffy stated his tears fully abated.
"Hey Lu, could you tell Bug I miss him?" Shanks asked, vulnerable in a way that only a few people could draw out in him.
"I will Shanks, as soon as he is ready to hear it, I'll let him know." Luffy smiled, he hoped this time the brotherly bond would have a better ending then the last.
Sometime later found a calmer, more prepared Luffy sat in the restaurant listening as Rika explained how Zoro had ended up in the marine's clutches. All to save a girl and her mother he hadn't known, Luffy felt bittersweet, it eased his mind that Zoro never changed, but it stung that his swordsman was always so ready to sacrifice his comfort to protect was one of Zoro's best and worst qualities, in the end if given the choice between his crew or himself, it would never be a question.
Luffy felt the ghost of the memory of how angry and distraught he had been as he felt Zoro slip away. Do not let his death be in vain, Jimbe had demanded, but in the end it had been. The only thing Zoro's life had brought was time.
As Luffy pondered over the bitter memories he heard Helmeppo enter the restaurant, the obnoxious fool bragging about the capture of his swordsman, so much for the calm Luffy had found after his talk with Shanks.
His temper snapped as the blond ferret threatened to execute Zoro, his fist flew out. Too angry to stop his hand from hardening black he felt as the bones in Helmeppos face crunch inwards. It would be a while before the idiot would be able to move.
Leaning down over the blond, Luffy snarled lowly in his ear, hoping his words reached him through his pain.
"If not for who you will become to Koby I would end you right now... but for him I'll let you live. Be better." Luffy growled as he rose. "Now to retrieve my swordsman."
The other marines were unable to react in their shock as Luffy marched from the room. Only able to move once the two young strangers had left.
Koby followed behind Luffy freaking out about how the straw hats actions would make an enemy of the marines, but his words didn't matter to Luffy not anymore. His rage roared inside him like a dragon, lashing out demanding the boy protect what is his, had Luffy paused to listen he may have heard the thrumming undercurrent of drums, but he didn't have time or patience to listen, he had to get his right hand back, to begin to feel whole again.
Luffy came to a sudden halt in front of Zoro, waiting for his swordsman to snap out of the daydream he had been having.
"You again?" Zoro queried bringing himself back to the present. "Don't you have better things to do, pirate king?" he asked his tone sarcastic.
"I want you to join my crew, and I won't take no for an answer." Luffy demanded, his tone firm, leaving no room for argument.
"I already told you I'm not becoming a criminal." Zoro raised a brow, who was this kid that thought he could order him about.
"I'm not the one tied up." Luffy countered glaring. "I'll untie you, but you need to join me."
"I don't need your help; I'm doing just fine where I am. I will make it through this challenge. After that I'll accomplish what I want." Zoro growled meeting Luffy's glare with one of his own, they remained locked in each other's sight neither giving an inch.
"Well I've already made my mind up, you are going to be the best swordsman, and that is the only swordsman I will accept at my side." Luffy stated without breaking eye contact.
Zoro faltered; the boy believed his words, this kid believed in his dream, he blinked owlishly, losing the glare off"You can't decide that" He tried, but deep down he knew, he had lost, this stranger believed in him. "Beside that idiot Helmeppo already took my swords." he tried, searching desperately for an excuse to turn this kid down.
"Well, I'd best get them back to you and prove I'm a worthy captain." Luffy showed his teeth in a hungry expression that almost had Zoro shivering in fear,before taking off quickly towards his goal, not wanting to waste time.
Zoro considered his options as the young boy charged off, he had been alone for so long, fighting endlessly towards his goal, no one had ever believed in him, sure he was talented, but no one thought he could beat Mihawk, only this strange kid who emotions seemed to change on a whim. This boy who claimed he would be the kind of the pirates, a goal almost as lofty as his own, but one he seemed confident he could achieve. In the end had it ever really been a choice, Zoro had never been one for company, but something drew him into this Luffy's orbit, and he was afraid he would be lost in the current.
Luffy grinned to himself when he found his entry point; the first-time around this had been an accident, Luffy having no reason to draw the ire of the marine captain,but this time he took great pleasure in destroying the horrific statue of Axe Hand Morgan.
Honestly the ego on this man, Luffy could not wait to cut him down with Zoro at his side.
Using the utter destruction of Morgans prized statue as a distraction, Luffy quickly made his way towards Zoro's swords, he could feel Wado calling out softly its aura humming with yet untapped power. Luffy waste time messing around before grabbing Zoro's swords a part of him noted the unreal coincidence of Nami being somewhere nearby, honestly how many near misses had they had before Luffy finally caught up with her?
The feeling of two of his Nakama back in his range made Luffy's heart sing, he couldn't wait for the symphony that would play once they were all back together. A sudden flash of fear coming from Zoro had Luffy bounding from the window, launching himself directly into the firing line.
His rubber body easily repelled the bullets, Luffy grinning maniacally as he launched them back towards the marines.
"What, who are you?" Zoro spluttered from behind shock making him forget about the immediate desperation of the situation.
Looking back to grin at his best friend Luffy proudly proclaimed. "I'm Monkey D Luffy, and I'm going to be King of the pirates." Zoro met his grin with one of his own.
"Of course, king of the pirates?" Zoro smirked, challenging the figure in front of him. "You must be completely out of your mind. Do you have any idea what that means."
Luffy met his challenge proudly, answering with full sincerity. "King of the pirates means the ultimate freedom." He smiled at Zoro, looking right through him down to his soul. "It means being the best and having the best crew at my side."
Zoro and Luffy looked at each other, each sizing the other up, as they looked a bond flourished. Luffy sighed more attuned to his connections then Zoro thanks to his awakened haki, there he was, his swordsman, right where he belonged, the connection tentative but true.
"Yeah, that's how he is, he says he wants to be a good pirate." Coby nodded excitedly, unknowingly breaking the moment. "To obtain the one piece and be the best, he's really serious!"
Zoro glanced to the pink haired boy briefly, breaking the overwhelming connection he could feel with the straw-hat captain, but the second he looked back he found it was still there.
"Here's what I promised you, three swords!" Luffy held them out carefully, giving each one the respect they deserved.
Zoro looked to Luffy shocked, he had thought the boy to be a careless fool, but here he was showing his instruments care only he had ever shown them.
This was it, the moment everything changed, the moment Zoro turned his back on society, chose something more than himself.
"Fight by my side, just know, if you do this, you'll be a government defying criminal, but hey it's better than being executed." Luffy smirked knowingly, he knew he had won that he had earned his swordsman's respect.
"What are you the son of the devil" Zoro laughed, the overwhelming feeling of growing stronger intertwining him to his chosen captain. "In the end, it doesn't matter what you are." Zoro smirked. "If I don't choose your side, I just end up dead on these sticks. So let's do it."
Luffy grinned at the swordsman, celebrating his win, feeling lighter than he had been since the start of the war, Zoro was home. "Your finally going to join my crew, this is the best day ever!"
"Stop celebrating already and get these ropes off me!" Zoro snapped good naturedly.
"Oops sorry!" Luffy hooked a finger under the ropes pulling them easily loose.
As the ropes came off Luffy felt the marines approaching, but he did nothing, instead allowing Zoro to grab his swords, trusting his friend to protect his back.
His green haired swordsman easily blocked the oncoming slaughter, grinning menacingly as he threatened the men making them shake in fear.
Even though the point had already been decided Zoro felt the need to declare his intentions out loud, he needed to know, to ensure by following this path he would still be able to achieve his a Kuina's dream. "Today I officially become a criminal fighting the marines, so I'll become a pirate. 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 questioned, coming to stand face to face with his friend. His eyes openly curious, he needed to do this, to ensure that Zoro had his dream heard, to pledge himself to the cause of ensuring his dream came true.
"To be nothing less than the world's greatest swordsman. If somewhere along the way I have to give that up I want you to accept responsibility, after which you get to apologise to me."
Luffy paused looking at the young man in front of him, he allowed himself a private moment to feel the full weight of his previous failure, allowing it to fall heavy on his shoulders, before he let it go, this time would be different.
"I Monkey D Luffy do here by promise to help you fulfil your life's ambition." Zoro looked at Luffy's face finding only sincerity at his words. "The pirates king needs the best on his crew, and you will be the best." Zoro gawked at the boy, he sure did take these things seriously.
"You talk big, I like it, now let's make them remember the names Roronoa Zoro and Monkey D Luffy."
The rest of the battle flew by quickly Morgan offering little competition to the two pirates, the marines watched on in shock as Luffy easily dispatched of the marine Captain. Luffy's harsh attack on Helmeppo had ensured that no one could interfere in the battle, no threats to Koby's life, the Straw hat hoped that little effect on their friendship, he would ensure his Grandfather took them both under his wing, try to get them on the right track.
While the marines shocked everyone, celebrating the pirate's victory over their captain, Luffy helped his exhausted first mate to the restaurant for some well-earned food, nine days strung up in the sun followed by a fight with the marines was no joke for even the toughest of people.
As they ate Koby considered the events that had taken place. He bit his lip in consideration before approaching Luffy with his question. "Luffy, you said there were good pirates and bad pirates, but that there were also good and bad marines" Koby picked at the plate in front of him as he considers his path in life. "I want to be a good marine. That is my dream, I want a marine that protects the weak."
Luffy paused between mouthfuls of food giving Koby the attention he deserved, this was an important change, Koby a promising recruit who had seen the best of pirates and the worst of marines, hopefully a marine who wouldn't rush in head first to capture any and all pirates for the crime of existing, and Garp would be at his side, supporting his ideals, cultivating the new generation. Luffy had already snuck away to contact his grandfather, he knew that the two would be what each other needed. Koby would be the Grandson Garp had always wanted, eager to learn, happy to be a hero, while Garp would teach Koby to be brave.
"You'll be the best marine Koby." Luffy grinned at his friend. "I put in a good word for you, don't worry."
"Wait, what?" Koby asked confused, but Luffy merely smiled before turning his attention back to his food.
"So, captain, where's the rest of the crew." Zoro enquired curious, after he had finished his fill of food.
"Not got them yet." Luffy said shovelling more food in his mouth, grinned internally as he watched Zoro go pale in horror.
"WHAT!" Zoro spluttered, how had he signed up to be the only crew member to a crazy captain.
Luffy chortled in joy. "It's fine Zoro, we will have a crew in no time, then it's off to the Grand line"
"The Grandline, you can't you'll die!" Koby squealed, he had heard many a horror story about the place in his time at sea.
Luffy's brain halted at Koby's words, shaking his head clenching his fist tightly allowing the pain of his nails digging into his flesh to ground him. "We won't die." Luffy insisted, his tone leaving no room for argument. "My crew are going to be the best; we will make it to the end of the line."
Zoro nodded in agreement, his captain may be crazy, but no one reached the top by settling for safety.
Coby looked on shocked by Luffy's determination.
They atmosphere was interrupted by marines who came to warn them to leave town, a favour to the pirates who had saved the country, as they had received word that The Hounder was enroute to their location.
As Luffy and Zoro prepared to leave Luffy turned to the marines his expression stern.
"Look after the cry-baby." He muttered lowly."Garp the fist has his eye on him."
Walking away from the shocked marines Luffy paused at the door, turning back he regarded his pink haired friend. "Be a good marine Coby."
"I will!" Coby saluted before muttering "Be a good pirate"
One of my favourite things in the live action is the reiteration that there can be good and bad on both side of the equation and Koby being less set on hunting Luffy down for the sake of him being a pirate, and instead questioning the difference between right and wrong from the start so I really wanted to add the moment they tell each other to be good.
I apologise for Zoro's death, but watching Zoro's beginnings from I'm going to be the best regardless of the consequence to throwing away his life in Thriller Bark for his captain, I knew that if Zoro was alive he would not allow any straw hat to die under his watch.
Thanks for reading! Reviews are always helpful.