Nami snuck through the corridors of the marine base, hiding in the shadows, keeping an ear out for any hint of being found on her search for some treasure.
She heard that marine based would have maps of the area, so she decided to check to see if there was a map for the Grand Line while she was at it.
She wasn't all that confident in finding one in Shell Town, but she'll definitely try.
As she was looking for clues, she heard marines walking down the corridor across her, which immediately made her hide. Her breath was low and laboured, trying to not be discovered.
"Is that Roronoa Zoro still tied up ?"
Zoro ?
Are they talking about Roronoa Zoro, the notorious Pirate Hunter ?
Nami had heard from the locals about the imprisonment of Roronoa Zoro, which actually made her happy. She didn't have to worry about running into a powerful bounty hunter while searching for treasure.
She made a decision to avoid going to the cellars out of fear that the Pirate Hunter may be there. Although she had no bad blood with Zoro — having never met him and all that — she still wanted a calm and quick robbery without running into any strong people.
"Yeah. He's been there for three weeks and hasn't eaten anything since then. That spoiled brat even goes and beats him a couple times!"
"I hate it! Even though he's a bounty hunter, he protected a little girl from a Helmeppo's reckless action. He shouldn't be tortured for that!" The marine officer yelled, he was frustrated beyond belief.
"I joined the Marines to protect the people of this island, not to support tyranny!"
"But what can we do about it ? He's the son of Captain Morgan! We don't have a choice..." The other man told him, sighing in disappointment as he did.
"Yeah... I just wish something would happen. I wish we could be freed from Morgan's tyrannical rule."
He then looked at his partner in desperation. "Captain Morgan not only kills anyone who disobeys, but also takes money from the poor! The people are already struggling to earn and he wants to raise taxes even more!"
Nami, not wanting to be caught or involved, made a detour and walked away from the marines.
Deep down, she was displeased.
No, she definitely hated this. She hated the oppression that these people had to suffer from because of the entitlement of one man.
Killing for no reason, even children...
Taking money from the poor...
Essentially enslaving the entire town...
It reminded her too much of home. And that remembrance made her hate. She gripped and squeezed the tattoo on her arm as a means to calm her rapidly beating heart.
There's no need to get so worked up over this... It's not like she can do anything either.
She's in the same situation, and she's got her own problems. She has her own demons to deal with, so she can't waste her time being compassionate here.
That's what she told herself.
She wasn't prepared for the ground to shake though.
A loud sound was heard above her and the shaking began. It was as if an earthquake had suddenly hit the marine base, the floor rumbling and the ceiling cracking above her.
Nami lost her footing, almost falling on her behind, but she managed to grab onto a window ledge to keep herself upright. From the corner of her eye, Nami could see a cloud of dust outside the base. She saw rocks and debris falling down the side, which made her shiver nervously.
This was not a good time for an earthquake!
Nami waited for a few seconds and the rumbling slowly reduced, slowly becoming stable again and the shaking eventually stopped.
Nami let out a laboured sigh and stood on her two feet again, no longer needing any support. She looked up at the ceiling with a complicated expression.
What just happened ? How could an earthquake hit so suddenly ? And why was it gone so quickly ?
Luckily, nothing fell on her.
It fell in frontof her. The ceiling, that is.
The ceiling cracked and gave way under pressure, stone breaking and dust spilling out. The broken ceiling fell onto the floor of the corridor, creating another cloud of dust on a smaller scale.
Nami covered her face to avoid getting dust in her eyes. She waited for a bit, and then opened her eyes once more.
"Oh, it's you again!" A chipper voice shot through the corridor.
Nami's expression melted into one of disbelief. In the middle of the fallen debris, was a man. A man with a straw hat!
It was Luffy!
"What are you doing here?!" Nami cried.
"I decided to make Zoro join my crew!" He happily chirped, making Nami blank out for a second. "His swords are in here, so I'm looking for them!"
"Why'd you come from the ceiling?! And who's that your carrying around?!" She screamed, pointing at the unconscious purple suited blonde man he was dragging around like a sac of potatos.
"I'm being chased by the marines here!! If you don't wanna get caught, come with me!" Luffy laughed while speaking and starting running in a random direction.
Nami heard marines running at them from behind and cursed her luck, before choosing to run after Luffy. She definitely can't do anything against the marines. If she follows him, at least she can use him to escape.
"Hey! Wait for me!"
•••
Just a little earlier...
Zoro chewed, his hunger had gotten slightly better.
The onigiri was sweet, too sweet in fact. Clearly, this girl has added way too much sugar, probably assuming that it would taste better if it was sweet. But Zoro didn't complaint, he ate the food he was offered quietly and swallowed.
The looked at Rika, the kid that made those for him, and smiled at her.
"Those were good. Thanks."
"Really?!" Rika's eyes sparkled with childlike wonder, making Zoro relax more. "I'm so glad!!"
"Koby!" Luffy's voice make Koby jump, and look up at him in surprise. "Take her back home safely. We've got something we gotta do."
Koby looked at Luffy's smiling face for a bit and nodded.
"Alright, come with me." He held Rika by her hand and starting taking her back, away from danger.
Uta looked at Zoro with a smirk and teased, "You're a big softy, aren't you ?"
"Don't make me cut you woman!" Zoro screamed at her.
"I still don't understand why you don't wanna join my crew!" Luffy argued with Zoro, who gritted his teeth and looked like he wanted to kill Luffy.
"I already told you! I live by my own code! I will never be a pirate, not for someone like you!"
"Sorry, but I've made up my mind already. Zoro, you will join my crew!"
"DID YOU NOT LISTEN TO A WORD I SAID?!!"
"Alright! Uta, we're gonna have a huge feast after this to welcome Zoro aboard!" Luffy declared, holding his hand up and cheering.
"YEAH!" Uta cheered in tandem with him.
"YOU'RE NOT LISTENING TO ME AT ALL!!!"
"I heard you use swords. So, where are they ?" Luffy questioned.
Zoro calmed down when asked about this swords — that he clearly misses. He revealed that Helmeppo had confiscated his swords and kept them in the marine base somewhere.
Hearing this, Luffy grinned. "Alright, I'll go and get your swords back."
Zoro looked up at him in surprised, not really expecting that from the man that's been undeniably rage-baiting him.
Luffy smirked and spoke in a smug tone. "But if you want them back, you'll have to join my crew."
"YOU LITTLE RAT! THAT'S BLACKMAIL!!" Zoro screamed.
Zoro then sighed, seeing that there was nothing he could do about it. Instead, he just threatened both of them.
"Once I'm free, you're bounties will be the first to cash in."
"If you wanna try to luck, go ahead!" Luffy nonchalantly answered while dragging the limp body of Helmeppo with him.
"Hey! You're going the wrong way!" Zoro shouted, making Luffy stop and turn around.
"Oh, my bad! Shishishi!" He looked up at the marine base and decided to attack from the roof and down.
"Uta! You can stay here with Zoro, I'll be right back."
"Don't have too much fun without me!" Uta exclaimed.
Luffy squatted down, his legs bending unnaturally. The flesh and skin of his feet starting to compress and bulge multiple times like a spring, making Zoro star at him with widened eyes. Before anything could be said, the laughing pirate launched himself in the air.
He disappeared from sight, the group shattering beneath him as his limbs stretched and propelled him into the roof of the marine base.
"What the hell was that...?" Zoro muttered.
"He ate a devil fruit, and so did I." Uta explained, making Zoro nod his head.
He's heard about devil fruits before. Of course, he's never seen one and therefore, never believed in their existence. But clearly, those springy legs were not natural.
While Uta started untying him, Zoro contemplated how he got into this mess.
And what was Luffy doing ?
Well...
As he was flying through the air, dragging the still unconscious Helmeppo with him, he noticed a bunch of marines gathered at the top of the building. He also noticed them pulling some ropes, all attached to a large stone statue. They were trying to lift the statue up.
Too bad he used that statue to break his fall.
Luffy slammed into the top of the statue, completely shattering it's top half and making the lower half fall down with a loud booming sound. The force of the impact sent tremors through the entire marine base and the dust blinded everyone.
Captain Morgan was a tall and muscular blonde man with a giant axe for a right hand and a steel jaw-like mouthpiece below his actual jaw.
As the smoke cleared, the marines that were gathered there finally got a good look at the man that destroyed years of hard work by crashing into it.
"What the–?! Who are you?!!" Axe-Hand Morgan's voice boomed, veins popping out of his forehead as he saw his statue crumble.
"Hm ? There's more of you guys here than I thought." He could've sworn there were less when he saw them from the air.
"GET HIM!!" Morgan screamed, and the Marines that were totally dazed, finally snapped back to their senses.
They aimed their guns at him — at the intruder — and shot, but Luffy disappeared from their sight. Faster than light, he appeared near the door that led to the inside of the building. Luffy turned around and grinned at the marines that didn't even notice his disappearance.
"I'm over here!" He waved, informing them of his location while laughing.
"What the–?!"
"When did he move?!!"
"I couldn't see him move at all!"
"Look! He's got Helmeppo!" A marine cried, pointing at the unconscious figure in Luffy's hand.
"SEIZE HIM!!!" Captain Morgan's voice bellowed.
"Bleh!" Luffy stuck out his tongue and pulled one of his eyelids down, as if mocking them.
"Captain! Someone's trying to free the prisoner from the yard!" A marine shouted while looking over the edge of the roof.
"You're all useless!" Morgan's voice echoed, before his gaze was focused on Luffy.
Luffy then grinned, his eyes twinkling with mischief. Luffy quickly spun around, stretching his leg as he did, and used his leg as a whip to sweep the marines off the roof. In large numbers, all the people that were on the roof including Morgan himself, were all sweeped off and out of the building. All of them fell off the side of the building.
Luffy then ran into the marine base, his observation haki was active. He stopped his sprint when he noticed a familiar haki just a few floors below him.
Noticing the marines pooling into the floor he was on, Luffy broke the floor below him and barreled down to the floor she was at, breaking through the ceiling and crashing down right in front of Nami. When he looked at her, Luffy was a little startled.
Why was she inside the marine headquarters ? For what reason could she be in here ?
Was she trying to steal something ?
"Oh, it's you again." He said, looking at the shocked Nami standing before him.
•••
"Hahahahaha!!! Our fates must be star-crossed!" Luffy laughed while saying that, making Nami glare at him and raise her voice.
"Don't say weird shit like that!!"
Nami would be lying if she said she wasn't amazed by Luffy's strength. So far, Luffy has been barreling through the Marines that got in his way, knocking them all out without exerting any effort.
"You really came all the way here just to look for some swords?!"
"Yeah!"
"You're taking on an entire marine base! You'll die!" Nami exclaimed, perspiration forming on her face.
Why was she even worried about this guy ? Who cares if he died doing something stupid...
"Hahaha! That's a funny statement!" Luffy's casualness made Nami's emotions flare up.
"How's that funny?!!" She has no idea what to do or feel about this.
"You worry too much. You don't have to worry." Luffy reassured, looking at Nami with a huge smile on his face. He raised on hand and flexed, his bicep popping out cartoonishly and his hand becoming inflated.
"I'm way too strong for these guys!" He confidently declared.
Based on what he's been displaying so far, she believed him.
"Argh...!" Nami sighed and shook her head.
"Fine, go ahead. I'm sure you won't mind me using your commotion, right ?"
Luffy hummed at that. "Sure, but will you tell me your name ?"
Nami stared at him with a face of displeasure. "Why do you care so much about that ?"
"Just cuz!"
"That's not a reason!"
"Because it's our second time meeting and we still don't know each other. You know my name, but I don't know yours. That's a little unfair, don't you think ?" Luffy argued, making Nami scoff and disagree with him.
"No, I don't think so."
"Come on! Just tell me!" Nami did not respond to him, making him pout in a way that Nami found cute. "If you don't tell me, I'll plunder the base for myself!"
Nami, at this point, recognised that she had no way out of this. If she didn't comply, he would keep annoying her and she'd loose her treasure. There's no way she can forcefully take anything from Luffy.
"Fine, have it your way! I'm Nami, an experienced navigator!"
"Hoh?! A navigator? I need a navigator in my crew!" Luffy giggled, making Nami stare at him weirdly.
"I'm not just a navigator, I'm the best navigator in the entire East Blue!" She proudly proclaimed.
"Really?!! Join my crew!" He requested, his eyes sparkling.
"What?!"
"Become my navigator, Nami! You don't have to worry about fighting if you don't want to, I can keep you safe. So, why not join me ?" Luffy offered, his smile looking at Nami as if he was expecting her to say 'yes'.
Nami definitely did not want to join a pirate crew, no matter what he could offer her. But... With how strong he was, he could definitely be useful.
Nami was smart enough to see profit when it presents itself. And with Pirate Hunter Zoro on the team, gathering more money will be a piece of cake!
"Alright, I'll join you, but only in one condition!" She raised a finger, making Luffy stare at her with a smile. "Let's split some of the treasure we find."
That made Luffy confused.
"Why ?" Luffy tilted his head and stared at her with a puzzled expression. "If you're in my crew, my money is your money. What's the need to split it ?"
"Oh well, I uh... Can't you just give some to me ?"
Luffy stared at her for a moment, before giving her a shit-eating grin, making Nami sweat.
"No way."
"What?! Why not ?"
"I'm the captain, I decide what to do with that money!" Luffy declared, making Nami grit her teeth.
"If you tell me why you want the money, I'll give it to you." Luffy said while stretching his neck like a snake, pushing his face close to Nami's who shrieked when she saw his neck stretch.
Out of reflex, Nami smacked Luffy in the face, sensing that head into a wall and his neck fell on the floor like a garden hose.
"Fine, I'll say it! I want to buy a village, dammit!"
Luffy's head snapped back.
"Oh, that's it ? Why didn't you say so ? Sure, I'll help!" Luffy smiled at her, making Nami sigh in relief. Her plan worked.
She looked at him with false thankfulness.
Little did she know, that wouldn't be the case for long.
•••
"This is bullshit..."
Nami had veins popping out of her forehead as she ripped the parchment apart. Apparently, the map of the Grand Line was in the hands of some pirate named Buggy.
She then started looking for more information on him in Morgan's office, including his location and bounty. She also stole some wanted posters, thinking that they may come in handy later.
"Hey, did you find what you were looking for ?" Luffy's voice was heard from behind.
Nami looked back and saw Luffy with three swords. Helmeppo ended up leading them to his room and Luffy took all the swords since he didn't know which one was Zoro's. After that, he followed Nami to Captain Morgan's office to check on her.
As for Uta ?
Well, she and Zoro were surrounded by marines, all pointing guns at them. Zoro, who had no swords, was worried, but Uta didn't really seem to care all that much.
"No, some other guy stole it already." Nami replied solemnly.
"Oh. Then let's go steal it back!" Luffy excitedly shouted, making Nami state at him in amusement.
"What, seriously ? Just like that ?"
"Yeah, what do you wanna do ?"
"There's this pirate called Buggy, in Orange Town. Can we please go beat him up ?" Nami requested, making Luffy laugh.
"Of course, anything for you Nami! You're my navigator now. If you want me to beat someone up for you, just ask and I'll do it!" Luffy pumped his fist and smiled at her.
Luffy's eyes then flashed red and he looked to the side. He noticed the Marines surrounding Uta and grinned. His arm stretched around Nami's waist, making her yelp in surprise. Her face flushed as he pulled her close suddenly, completely throwing her off loop.
"Hold on tight!" He said.
Nami didn't have any time to question it.
Before she knew it, she was in the air. She only heard the sound of the broken walls after being flung, her limbs flopping from the wind. She screamed and quickly wrapped her arms and legs around the only thing she could hold onto — Luffy. Her eyes were shut in fear as she held on for dear life, mentally making a note to give Luffy a thrashing later.
"FIRE!"
The marines started shooting at Uta and Zoro, unfortunately for them, none of the bullets hit Zoro. Since Uta was in front of Zoro, they did hit her but they bounced off her body as if it were made of steel.
The marines stared at her in awe, and Zoro in shock.
"What the hell did you do ?"
Uta didn't let any bullet go past her and hit Zoro, but she didn't defend herself at all. How was she fine after being shot so many times ? How is she not bleeding with holes ?
Uta grinned. "Don't worry, you'll learn it too."
"Learn what...?" Zoro muttered.
"UTA!!"
Luffy slammed into the ground, throwing up a huge dust cloud and giggling happily as he did. Nami was still hugging him, shivering as she did, making Uta stare at them in amusement.
"Oh, Zoro! You're free!" He exclaimed, before holding the swords out for him. "I didn't know which one was yours, so I grabbed all three."
BANG!
A bullet shot into Luffy's head, stretching it and bouncing the bullet back where it came from, jamming the gun that shot it.
Luffy nonchalantly looked at the marines and said, "That's rude. You shouldn't shoot people like that."
Nami and Zoro stared at Luffy in shock.
Under the order of their captain, they tried to attack using swords but Zoro had stopped them with his own swords. Luffy and Uta were surprised when they saw Zoro wielding three swords — the third being in his mouth!
That was a first.
"Alright, I'll join your crew, since I'm officially a criminal now. But know this..." Zoro looked up at the captain and co-captain of his new crew. "I'll become the greatest swordsman in the world. If you stand in my way, I'll cut you both down!"
Luffy grinned. "I wouldn't expect anything less, Zoro!"
"Uta! We've got TWO new crewmates today! Zoro and Nami!" Luffy excitedly exclaimed, bouncing in his spot.
Uta giggled at his antics, and then looked at Nami.
"So your name is Nami, eh ?"
"Uh, yeah..."
The marines' morale was completely shattered. Both guns and swords don't work on them, all three of them are too strong. It was a hopeless situation.
"Sir, they're too strong! We can defeat them!"
"We'll die if we face them sir!"
The Marines were all scared for their lives and tried to convince Morgan to let them retreat.
"All the Marines that just spouted weakness, pull out your guns and shoot yourself in the head! This is an order!" Morgan declared, shocking everyone present there. Luffy and Uta glared at him, unhappy about what he was doing.
All the Marines were shocked too, but there were some that were actually willing to end it all. Luffy frowned and shot a wave of conquerers haki at them, knocking out all the Marines that were gathered there.
Barring Uta, the other people that were still conscious looked beyond confused when they saw all the marines mysteriously collapse to the ground.
"You're a scumbag who doesn't care about his subordinates." Luffy glared at Morgan, his eye flashing red, making Morgan flinch.
"They are weaklings with no power and status. Power and title are the only things that matter here!" Morgan bellowed, making Luffy smirk while looking at him with a mocking gaze.
"Oh ? Then my words should have more power. Not only am I stronger, but my gramps is ranked higher than you!"
Morgan's eyes went bloodshot when he heard this. "You damn brat!! I'll kill you all!"
Uta started casually walking towards Morgan with a nonchalant expression, "Gosh, I really hate people like you."
"Uta! What are you doing?! You can't face him alone!" Nami cried, not wanting a young woman like Uta to face that behemoth.
"You really do worry too much, Nami!"
Zoro looked ready to spring into action, but Luffy stopped him.
"Don't spoil her fun."
"DIE!" Morgan swung his axe hand at Uta, aiming to decapitate her right then and there.
What actually happened though, was something he could never have expected. Uta didn't try to dodge or block; she let the attack land. The axe-hand struck her in her delicate-looking neck, getting stuck there.
KRAK! SHATTER!
The axe cracked and shattered on impact, making Zoro, Nami and Morgan stare at her with eyes the size of dinner plates.
Uta gripped Morgan's wrist and pulled him down.
"You disgust me."
She swung her first at Morgan's face, denting and shattering the iron jaw and slamming into the ground. Morgan was knocked out cold, blood leaking out of his head and face as Uta huffed.
•••
Nami was in a daze as the entire bar was full of people celebrating, marine and citizens alike. Everyone was cheering and praising their saviors; Luffy and Uta only asked for more food and drinks as payment.
They were having a blast. A party, after so long!
Nami took a swig from a mug. "I can't believe Uta one-shot a marine captain."
Luffy was already stuffing himself with food, Uta was laughing with a mug of rum in her hand. She hooked her arm around him and offered him more food, both giggling and laughing in the centre of it all.
Zoro also started to dig in, finally remembering just how hungry he actually was. At the speed at which he ate, he almost swallowed the plates and cutlery.
Before he even knew it, he was rejuvenated and laughed with his new crew, drinking with his peers in the middle of the grand party!
Nami blinked, happy about how the saved the city but also still comprehending everything that happened. It was too overwhelming for her and now, she was chugging alcohol to try and ignore her worries.
They didn't notice Robin, who had also chosen to comfortably sit and drink in the same tavern. She was wearing a disguise, peacefully eating food and smiling while looking at the pirates she'll be joining tomorrow.