Luffy cracked open an eye, silently checking if his straw-hat, nio-dasuki and Ayamori were near on him. After three confirming pats, Luffy looked around with a frown. They had been sailing and rowing for three whole days, and yet there was no land in sight. No that the three had any sense of direction. Well, Coby had some sense more than the two of them combined.
"Coby, how much more time till we see land?!"
A vein popped in Coby's forehead in annoyance. "If I had known that you had no sense of direction when we left, there would have been no need for us to drifting for three days straight!", the pink-haired boy responded in annoyance.
Zoro cracked open an eye at the two, before closing his eyes again. Something had been bugging him since meeting his Captain, but he had chose not to delve there. But, after three days, curiosity finally got the best of him. "Luffy, I wanted to ask, why didn't you use your sword to cut my ropes back in Shells Town?", Zoro asked pointing to the white blade which laid beside Luffy.
"Oh! Well, Amayori like to cut a lot more than needed. The first time I tried it, I cut off a cliff instead of cutting a tree! Shishishi!", Luffy giggled as he patted Amayori. Zoro nodded, before freezing as the name of the sword finally clicked.
"AMAYORI?! You mean to say the Supreme Grade Blade Amayori?!", Zoro questioned in shock. Luffy grinned sunnily and nodded. "Damn. You must be really insane to actually select that sword! The last I had heard was a Vice-Admiral killing himself after Ayamori sucked all of his... hand? No. That doesn't sound right", Zoro wondered to himself scratching his chin. "Hair? No. What was is called?... Well, it doesn't matter".
Coby face-faulted at the words. He was stuck with idiots! Two of the most idiotic creatures of the planet! What was he thinking when he decided to join them on their adventure to the Grand Line? But, what Zoro had said was intriguing. The sword which Luffy had had killed a Vice-Admiral, then why did his sencho keep it?
"Luffy-san, is what Zoro-san said about your sword is true?", Coby asked as he checked his compass again and adjusted the sails. If he remembered, there was an island nearby controlled by Buggy the Clown. Coby wondered if the three of them could take on Buggy's crew if they made landfall there, and things took a turn for the worse.
Luffy looked at the pink-haired kid before nodding. "Yes. Amayori has a bad habit of cutting more than needed and stealing all the user Haki, if one tries to coat her with it. I have had her for three years, still I can't control her yet. She can be stubborn sometimes. By the way, on the topic of Haki, do any of you know how to use Observation or Armament Haki?"
"Luffy-san, that means when you cut Alvida's ship in two, you weren't aiming for that?", Coby asked with a tinge of fear. He didn't know what was more dangerous now. His Captain or his Captain's sword.
"If you are a swordsman, then don't you want to defeat Mihawk?", Zoro asked narrowing his eyes. If he was already that string with the sword, why would he need Zoro? From the stories, Mihawk was capable of doing the same things.
"No, I was aiming for that itself Coby. I just let Amayori run wild. And, Zoro...", Luffy trailed off not knowing how to frame his words. "...I have no interest in defeating Mihawk. And I wouldn't call myself a swordsman too", the teen said with a small smile, before touching Amayori and his nio-dasuki gently. "I made a promise to... my father. I want to make his final wish come true".
Zoro and Coby hummed at the words. Well, so they could say that their Captain's father was no more in the world of living. Coby winced knowing how it felt, since his own father had died to a pirate raid when he was young. That had motivated him to join the Marines, until Morgan and Helmeppo shattered the trust and faith he had in the Marines.
"Well, if we aren't prying, what was your father's final wish?", Coby asked timidly as checked his compass again to confirm if they were going in the right direction.
Luffy grinned sunnily. "Shishishi. We need to get to the New World for that, Coby!", the teen replied as he turned to the sea with a wistful smile. "So, Zoro do you know how to use Haki?", Luffy asked turning to his first mate.
Zoro shook his honestly. "No. That's the first I have heard of it. What about you? Can you use it?", Zoro questioned as he pulled out Wado Ichimonji to clean.
Luffy hummed at the words. "Yes. I know how to use Observation and Armament Haki. There also exists something called Conqueror's Haki, though not everyone can awaken it. Dad said that its passed through your genes", Luffy answered as he channeled his Haki into his right fist and turned it shiny black. Zoro smirked at the sight. So his Captain was capable of using something like this too. He sure chose the right captain.
"Help us! Somebody help us!"
The three pirates snapped their head to where they heard the distressed shout. Zoro and Coby narrowed their eyes and tried to search for the source of the shout. On the other hand, Luffy extended his Observation Haki range and tried to search for the possibly drowning people. "Coby, two o'clock", Luffy called out signaling his helmsman.
"Aye aye, Captain!", Coby exclaimed, directing the ship at his Captain's directions. Zoro on the other hand, was doubtful about this. He hadn't even seen Luffy turn around, yet somehow he had known where the shout for help came from.
"Luffy, how did you know that they were at two o'clock?", Zoro when the three stranded people finally came into view. Coby too was interested in knowing the reason.
"That was Observation Haki. It works wonders if you are blind folded, or someone attacks you from your blind spot", Luffy replied before turning around and helping Coby bring the men on their small ship.
"Thanks a lot! You saved our lives! We thought we would after that woman stole all of our treasure along with our ship and dumped us in the ocean", one of the men said with a small smile on his faces.
So they are pirates then, Luffy, Zoro and Coby thought as the men exchanged glances among themselves, before a sinister smile took place on their faces.
"And in the names of the Buggy Pirates, we take over this boat. Now scram, you little brats!", the bandana wearing man exclaimed as he pointed a sword at the three boys who rescued him.
Coby whimpered hearing the name, Zoro narrowed his eyes, while Luffy cocked his head sidewards in confusion. "Who's Booger?"
Coby blanched at the question, whereas the three men bristled in anger. "Oi! You don't how great Buggy-sama is! He is the man who will conquer the Grand Line and become the King of Pirates!"
Luffy's eye twitched at the words. Zoro gave an unimpressed stare at the three men. They had no idea who they were threatening. "Zoro", Luffy said quietly, Zoro getting the signal.
"Zoro as in Roronoa Zoro, the Pirate Hunter?!"
"Baka! Like the Pirate Hunter would be here! He is being held in Shells Town for some crime he committed!"
"And even if he was the real deal, we are the Buggy Pirates! We will take him down!"
Zoro eye twitched this time. They really thought that they could take him on? Well, he would show this wannabe pirates!
Coby whimpered seeing the dark look in Zoro's eyes, praying for the three poor souls who were going to join the afterlife if they didn't watch their mouths. Coby closed his eyes as Zoro descended on the three men, wincing at whimper which escaped the poor pirates' as they were pounded in by Zoro.
"Zoro, stop", Luffy suddenly announced, laying a hand on Zoro's shoulder. "Coby, do you know where the nearest island is?"
Coby opened his looking meekly at the three bruised men, a slightly fuming Zoro and a sunny Luffy. "W-Well, I think the Orange Town is near, though its Buggy the Clown's base island", Coby answered still freaking out that Zoro had managed to take down three pirates without even drawing his swords. So this was a part Roronoa Zoro's strength. Coby wondered if he could get that strong. After all, he wanted Luffy-sencho to help achieve his dream. He needed to get strong.
"Well, here's our offer. You know the way to Orange Town, if I am not wrong. You either take us there", Luffy said pointing towards the oars, "or we throw you back overboard again".
The three pirates whimpered under the gaze of the new crew's captain and first mate, before nodding fearfully.
"We adde sworry, Zolo-san! We din't thwink it whass you!", the three cried together in terror. Zoro grunted at the words, before going back to take care of his swords.
Coby gulped eyes darting around the ship's inhabitants. If they found a navigator, he didn't put it past the fact that his Captain and first-mate were strong enough to charge into the Grand Line on their own.
"Scram!", Zoro snarked as they made landfall at Orange Town. The three pirates nodded fearfully before running off like the devil was behind them. Coby thought the scene was ironic. He shook his head with a smile, before turning to his Captain, who seemed to be looking at the town with a frown on his face.
"Why is it a ghost town?", Luffy asked narrowing his eyes. Zoro looked at the town, realizing what Luffy meant.
"Why is there nobody in the town? Isn't it supposed to be one of the larger villages in the area?", Coby asked as inched towards Luffy in fear.
"Then we need to find out that reason", Luffy remarked as he walked into the town's deserted streets, Zoro following him.
Coby was really terrified for his life now. He had no doubt that Luffy and Zoro could handle themselves, but he could nothing if a fight broke out here. He would just be a dead weight for his Captain. He had no choice but to meekly follow his Captain for now. He vowed to become strong. For his Captain. For himself.
He went on guard when they suddenly stopped and Luffy's hand dropped to his sword, the teen's head snapping at the crossroad in front of him. "Something's coming", Luffy muttered, bending on his knees, ready to attack at any moment if needed. Zoro unsheathed his Wado Ichimonji, falling into a defensive stance in front of Coby. The pink-haired boy clenched his fist seeing Zoro's actions.
Soon enough, a average height, old man came barreling into the street, his face showing visible of signs asphyxia, followed by a humungous lion, which had a man and and unconscious girl over its back. Luffy's eyes narrowed at the scene, before shooting his hand out and wrapping around the old man. The old man yelped as he was suddenly bound and yanked into the air, silently praying his life a good bye.
Coby and Zoro's eyes popped out at Luffy's extended arm, something which wasn't possible by human standards. "You fine, Os-san?", Luffy asked as he gently set the visibly tired old man on the ground. The old man nodded, taking in deep breath to even out his heart beats.
On the other hand, the lion rider wasn't happy at someone taking his precious prey from his lion. "Hey! Why are taking away Richie's food?! That old man should know what's coming to him if he stands between Buggy-sama and this thief who tried to steal Buggy-sama treasure!", the man shouted perched over the growling lion. Luffy narrowed his eyes, carefully assessing the situation. "And who are you?! Stepping on Buggy-sama's territory without his permission. Get off this island right now, before I, Mohji, Buggy-sama's right-hand man, and my pet, Richie, bring you for your final fate before Buggy-sama!"
'Hmm. I need to get the girl off from the lion's back. I can't freely attack the lion if the girl is in constant danger of getting hit by our attacks', Luffy thought as he turned to Zoro before nodding. Zoro nodded back as he pulled the old man behind him and stood in guard in front of his charges.
The three watched in amazement this time as Luffy charged forward at the lion, shocking the tamer-pet pair. They hadn't expected someone to attack them even after knowing that they worked for Buggy. Finally coming back to their senses, Ritchie lifted a paw in an attempt to squash the charging teen. As Zoro and Coby had expected, Luffy dodged the attack without any effort, and jumped above the lion's head. A scream of rage followed from the man, when Luffy picked up the unconscious girl, in the same manner as the old man, before landing swiftly on the other side of the lion. Zoro had to admit Luffy had someone insane balance, efficiency and agility, some which could only be achieve in battles where you needed to be quick, or you died.
Zoro smirked as his Captain ignored the furiously shouting Mohji, and gave all his attention to setting girl neatly against a wall, careful to not touch any injuries. His smirked widened as Luffy turned back and stood against Mohji, sporting a wild grin of his own.
"Now I can pound you in the ground without holding back!"
The old man watched in amazement and shock as the stretched his arm backwards for a few feet as he charged at the lion. Sliding to a stop in front of the charging lion, Luffy snapped his arm back in place with his Devil Fruit. "Gomu Gomu no Pistol!", the teen cried out as his fist struck the lion, sending it flying over the trio heads, makinig them drop flat on the ground.
"Moron! Moron Captain! Are you planning to planning to kill us?!", Zoro shouted in annoyance, causing Luffy to grin nervously.
"S-sorry Zoro", Luffy mumbled an apology before walking past them towards the down lion and master pair. Luffy shook his head at the lion who had a formed a small pool of blood under its mouth. 'Crap! I overdid it!', Luffy thought with a wince before checking over the man. Luffy let out a sigh seeing the man's chest slowly raising and falling, indicating that the man was just unconscious. Luffy returned back to his small crew and the old man.
"Well, we sure are on Buggy's island. Hey Os-san, why is the town so empty?", Luffy asked his eyes darting around the surroundings.
"When the Buggy Pirates arrived, they ran everyone out of the town and declared it their territory. We made a call to the Marines, but even they couldn't do anything against Buggy. By the way, who are you guys?"
"I am Monkey D. Luffy and this is my crew. We are pirates", Luffy answered and paused for a moment when the man's eyes widened in fear. "Don't worry, Os-san. We don't want anything from the town or its people. We were just... passing by".
Coby snorted behind him. "Just passing by, my behind. When we set off from Shells Town, I thought you knew how to navigate! Imagine coming to know day and a half later, that none of you know how to navigate and we are just drifting in the sea where it is taking us!", the pink-haired boy ranted.
Luffy had the decency to look embarrassed, unlike Zoro. "Well, that aside. What was the deal with that girl?", Luffy asked jerking a thumb to the girl he had rescued off the lion's back.
"Who cares about her? She tried to steal treasure from Buggy. Of course she had it coming to her", Zoro grunted, not interested in the topic. "Te, who are you Os-san?"
The man wondered if they were really a pirate crew seeing the interactions. From the interactions, I think the green-haired guy is their Captain. "I am Boodle, the mayor of Orange Town. And... its sole resident", the man introduced himself. Luffy was about to say something, when a growl sounded in the area. Instinctively, Zoro, Coby and Boodle's head snapped to the downed lion.
"Shishishi. I am hungry", Luffy grinned making the trio to faceplant.
When consciousness returned to her, she had expected herself to be in Buggy Pirates' custody. Her alarms raised at the absence of cuffs around her wrists and the map she stole still in her pocket. She was sure she had been captured by that beast-tamer. So what in the world was happening?
She opened her eyes, blinking blearily as light assaulted her eyes full force. She tried to bring her arm up to block the light, but it only resulted in pain from the injury she had received. When her eyes finally adjusted, she saw a pink-haired teen hovering over her in worry.
"Ah! You're are awake!", Coby exclaimed with a smile, before turning around and looking for his Captain. "Luffy-sencho! The girl's awake!", he called out before spotting what his Captain was doing. "You're still eating?! How much can you eat?!", Coby questioned pointing a shaky finger at his captain.
"So the woman finally decided to wake up, eh?", Zoro asked as he took another swig from a bottle of booze.
"You're worse, Zoro-san! It isn't safe to drink in the middle of the day!"
She slowly hauled herself up, careful not to aggravate her injuries. "Zoro? As in the Pirate Hunter Roronoa Zoro? Are you here for Buggy's bounty?", the woman asked facing the green-haired swordsman.
Zoro rose a brow before smirking. Ah! The world still didn't know that he had become a pirate! "No. I left the pirate hunting business when my Captain here offered to join his pirate crew", Zoro answered pointing to Luffy.
"Yo! I am Monkey D. Luffy", Luffy introduced himself flipping out his left palm as a form a greeting.
"I am Coby. May we know your name?", Coby questioned with a small smile.
"I am Nami. And I hate pirates!", she shouted in anger before trying to stomp out of the house, ignoring the pain which came from the sudden movement.
Keyword : trying.
She was stopped when a white sword sheath was brought in from her at neck level. She traced its origin back to the black-haired teen who had a straw hat around his neck.
"Oi! We still aren't done talking and you're still in pain from the injuries", Luffy said nonchalantly. Nami gulped at the words, taking them as a threat. So this was man who managed to turn Roronoa Zoro into a pirate. Then, this teen had skills to back that up. "So, what did you do to incur Booger's wrath enough for him to send his right hand man?"
Nami gulped as Luffy lowered his sword and placed it back in his nio-dasuki belt. "I stole a map for Grand Line from him", Nami answered honestly, not wanting to play around an unpredictable variable. He watched as the teen nodded to himself.
"Are you a navigator?"
"Yes", Nami answered.
"Join my crew!"
"No! I already told you that I hate pirates! I am not going to become one!", Nami vehemently refused.
"Join my crew!"
"I already told you that I don't want to join a pirate crew!"
"Join my crew!", Luffy asked again with that same sunny stupid smile on his face.
'Is this really the Captain?! And he is very persistent!' "I want a compromise!", Nami replied, fed up with the persistence.
"Com-pose?", Luffy wondered out with a pained face not knowing what the term meant.
"She means a truce or temporary alliance, sencho", Coby supplied making Luffy's face light up.
"I will agree to be your navigator, but in return you have to give me half your treasure for every loot!", Nami offered making Luffy frown.
"No"
"All right! Forty percent?"
"No"
"Thirty percent?"
"I am not interested in any treasure! I want to reach the end of Grand Line and become the King of Pirates! That is my dream!", Luffy proclaimed gently tugging his over his eyes.
"Just pay for my booze!"
"And my food!"
Nami didn't know why, but at that moment, she was inclined to believe the teen before her. Somehow, deep down she knew that the teen would really become the King of Pirates. Because that declaration wasn't half-hearted or nervous like the many she had heard.
"Ahem! I think you should get off the island quickly! If Mohji has regained consciousness and return to their hideout, you may get in big trouble!", Boodle exclaimed in worry as he tried usher the four out of the house.
"Ne, Os-san, do you love this town?", Luffy suddenly asked making the mayor stop. The other three rose their brows at the question.
"Of course! I would free it from Buggy even if it meant I died!", the mayor replied as a few tears rolled down his faces.
"Yosh! Zoro! Coby! Nami! Let's kick Booger's ass and free this town!"
"Finally some action!" "NOOOOOO!"
Nami and Coby clung to each other as they followed Luffy to where Buggy supposedly was. Nami was rather on edge because the green-haired swordsman and the pink-haired teen had been following their Captain without a doubt.
"Are you sure we are going the right way?", Nami asked in worry. Beside her Coby nodded.
"Well, I trust Luffy-sencho's directions on land", Coby responded as the said teen turned his head around.
"Nami, Coby, use the alleys to sneak in and take Buggy's treasure. Zoro and I will take of the pirates", Luffy suggested making the three nod in agreement. With a nod Coby and Nami set off to get Buggy's treasure sneakily.
Zoro unfurled his armband and tied his around his head as a bandana. He unsheathed all three swords, holding Wado Ichimonji in his mouth and other two in his in his hands. He walked a step behind as Luffy walked in where the Buffy pirates were seemingly having a small party.
"Who's Booger?!", Luffy asked out aloud catching the attention of the partying pirates.
"Booger?", the crew wondered out in confusion.
A tick grew in Luffy's forehead. "Your Captain!", Luffy exclaimed as his eyes scanned the crowd.
"I am Buggy! Not Booger!", a person with a red nose shouted in annoyance. "And my, is the Pirate Hunter here for my bounty?"
"No, I left that business. I am a pirate now!"
"Well, it doesn't matter, I will kill you here! And my name will become more famous!", Buggy proclaimed with a grin. "Men get him!"
"Sencho! Let me take of these guys!", Zoro called out, finally getting a chance to show of his skills.
"Sure. Go ahead!", Luffy gave the permission with a grin.
Zoro's smirk widened at the words. "Santōryū : Hyakuhachi Pound Ho!", Zoro called out slashing all three of his swords in the same direction, causing three white projectiles to go raging from the swords and explode after it came in contact with the attackers, sending them flying backwards. "Not done yet! Santōryū : Ushi Bari!", he called out as he charged towards the remaining pirates head on. Luffy watched amazed as Zoro attacked at a blinding speed as he charged through the swarm of pirates like a bull. "Not yet! Santōryū... ", Zoro muttered setting his sights on Buggy. "... Onigiri!", he called out crossing his swords before dashing forward to cut Buggy.
His charge was stopped when someone stood between him and Buggy and tried to parry his strikes, only to underestimate them and become the victim of the Onigiri. Zoro narrowed his eyes at the interrupter, unhappy that someone had come in his way. He was about to attack Buggy again, when he suddenly felt appear beside him. His eyes widened when Luffy grabbed a detached hand with a knife, which had drawn some blood from his back.
"You know, its not great to attack a swordsman from behind", Luffy calmly said as he squeezed Buggy's hand. On the other hand, Buggy winced at the pain which he felt.
Damn, the brat is strong!, Buggy thought with a frown. "Bara Bara Ho Kirihanashi", Buggy called out as shot out both of his forearms, four knives between fingers of both arms. Luffy narrowed his eyes at the attack, before yanking one of the arms away and send it flying into the other one. Buggy bristled at his attack being warded off so easily.
Buggy smirked as he detached his fist and send it flying at Luffy's head, only for him to dodge by tilting his head away. However, the straw hat around Luffy's neck wasn't so luck as it got impaled by the four knives, before the string broke off, taking it far away from Luffy.
Suddenly, Luffy felt like he was at the last strands of patience. Ignoring Buggy's proclamation about brats wearing straw hats, Luffy picked up his straw hat, light dusting it before setting it on Zoro's head who was pressing his wound to stop the blood flow. "Eh?"
"Zoro I am leaving the hat in your care", Luffy announced as he cracked his knuckles, with a menacing look on his face. "Now lets get started, shall we?"
Buggy smirked at the invitation, but it fell when he saw his opponents arm blacken with Armament Haki. Okay, if he got hit by one of those punches, it was going to hurt him. Very badly. Well, he could separate his body, so he won't be able to get hit. "Bara Bara Festival!", Buggy called out with glee as he separated himself into many pieces. "I can't believe that Mohji was taken out by you guys, but you won't win against me!"
Luffy paid him no mind as he dodged a flying fist, before dodging a leg from the many body parts revolving around him. Observation Haki did wonders, Zoro thought as he saw his his Captain effortless dodge all of Buggy's attacks without breaking a sweat. Maybe he should ask his Captain to teach him the Haki thing. Anything up the sleeve to go against Mihawk.
"Stay in one place and let me hit you!", Buggy growled as he felt none of his attacks connect. Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw the orange-haired thief another pink-haired teen with all his treasure. He turned all of his attention to the duo, ignoring Luffy. A very pissed of Luffy. "What are you doing?! That's my treasure you're trying to steal!"
Nami and Coby paralyzed in their places, finding the pirate captain's attention suddenly on them. "DIE!", Buggy screamed in anger and almost attack them, if not for the cold voice which cut his thoughts.
"Your opponent is here, Buggy. Fishman Karate : Arabesque True Tile Punch", Luffy called out as he punched the air in front of him. Zoro's and Coby's eyes bugged out when shockwaves rippled from the place Luffy had punched, sending all of Buggy's parts flying away with overwhelming brute force. "THAT WAS FOR TOUCHING AND DAMAGING MY HAT, JERK!"
Nami sighed as she adjusted the sails on both of the boats, setting course for the nearest village. Luffy was strong. He had proved it against Buggy, she thought checking once again if her stolen treasures safe and the trio hadn't tried to steal them.
"Luffy-sencho, can you teach me the Haki thing?", Coby asked meekly to his Captain.
"Me too", Zoro piped up waking from his nap.
Luffy grinned sunnily. "Sure! We start training tomorrow morning then!"
How does he know Fishman Karate?! Is he Arlong's ally?!, Nami thought to herself as she looked out at the sea