(CONTENT WARNING!: Misgendering (The first person who misgenders gets what's coming to them), also this strays a bit from the original dialogue soooooo...)

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Chapter One :

"The Bloodthirsty Beast Isn't A Beast!?"

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(ISAAC'S POV)

I went silent for a second before realizing I stopped mid-sentence and was staring at the crucified man longer than normal so I averted my eyes, "Sorry-brain fart, but-uh-like I said, my friends and I were just leaving because our one friend here wants to become a marine and so we brought him here to the base and just happened to notice you were here and uh-"

"Are you here to help out Mr. Zoro too?" I flinched and looked down to my left and saw a little girl about 8-10 years old with something wrapped in her little arms. 'She kinda reminds me of my little sister...' I thought, Before I could respond the little girl smiled and said, "How about you come with me to give him these rice balls I made him!" I slowly nod and she takes my hand and walks me toward Zoro who I was previously rambling at. I heard Koby shouting from behind me probably panicking about me and this small child going towards the same man said to be a bloodthirsty beast.

"What do you want?" Zoro asked the little girl, who smiled and replied, "I figured you were hungry so I made you some rice balls!" Unlike me who fell for the adorable innocence of this child quickly, Zoro's face still looked disinterested and seemingly annoyed, "You and Pinky here got a death wish? Scram!" He said, but the little girl's smile didn't falter, "But you haven't eaten anything since you were tied up!" She unwrapped the rice balls fully and held them out, "I've never really made them before, but I still worked really hard to make them yummy!"

"I said I'm not hungry, Kid, so get outta here!" He shouted. The little girl's smile seemed to start fading, "But..." "Don't make me kick your ass, little girl! I don't want 'em!" My nerves were suddenly all gone and I glared at him, "Hey she said she made these especially for you jerk! I don't know what your problem is but you can't just threaten to beat up a child like that after she's trying to be kind to you! I swear if you try anything I'll-"

The gates suddenly opened and an annoyingly cocky voice said, "Now, now, no need to bully these two young ladies." I turned around and clenched my fist, 'Did that bastard over there just call me a young lady!?' I thought. "Roronoa Zoro, you seem surprisingly well, wouldn't you say?" The man was a little taller than me and he had a stupid blonde haircut and an even stupider-looking grin on his face as he came closer. "My, those are some tasty-looking rice balls." He snatched one from the girl's hands despite her being quick to protest and as he bit into it, his eyes widened, and shouted, "THESE ARE TOO DAMN SWEET!" He glared at the child and began chastising, "You're supposed to use salt, idiot, not sugar!" The little girl's expression turned sad, "But I thought they'd taste better sweet..." The blonde jackass took the other rice ball and began stomping on it as the girl cried, "I worked so hard to make those..." The blonde rolled his eyes, "Guess you didn't read the recent notice that was posted." He pulled a piece of paper out of his shirt, "All those who help criminals will be executed! Signed Marine Captain Morgan."

The little girl shivered and the man smirked, "Guess even little brats know how scary my dad is," at this point, I couldn't hold my anger in anymore and I punched the man as hard as I could square in the jaw. The man fell to the ground with tears in his eyes, "NOW WHAT KIND OF WOMAN WOULD HIT A MAN! YOU RUFFIAN!" "SHUT YOUR TRAP BOWL CUT!" I grabbed him by the collar of his tacky shirt, "FIRST OFF, I'M A MAN DUMBASS! SECOND OFF, I DON'T GIVE ANY FUCKS WHO YOUR STUPID ASS DADDY IS BUT IF YOU THINK YOU CAN EVEN THINK ABOUT HURTING MY LITTLE SISTER YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER THING COMING! NOW YOU AND YOUR AUTHORITY SCUM BETTER SCRAM OR ELSE I'LL SEND ALL OF YOUR ASSES TO KINGDOM COME! YOU GOT THAT!?" With that, I threw the punk to the ground and the marines behind him scrambled to get him back on his feet, "W-We'll be telling Captain Morgan about this! So-So watch your back!" The bowl-cut man looked at Zoro, "REMEMBER RORONOA ZORO! YOU WON'T BE LASTING THE REST OF THE MONTH! YOU'LL BE DEAD BEFORE YOU KNOW IT!" The two marines and the dumbass with the bowl cut practically ran with their tails between their legs. "JUST WAIT AND SEE BASTARD, I'VE GOT 10 DAYS LEFT!" Zoro shouted back.

I then realized that I had done all that in front of that poor kid and I turned and knelt down to her height, "Hey, kid, sorry you had to see all that. That jerkwad with his stupid bowl cut didn't deserve your amazing rice balls. I'm sure they were delicious, besides, I like my food sweet so I bet if I could have some I would've loved them! And I'm sure that Bandanna-Boy here would've loved them too because if he kept refusing I was bouta shove them in his mouth!" I chuckled, and the little girl smiled a little. "Thanks, Mister." I look to the wall where Koby and Luffy were, "Hey Koby! Can you make sure this girl gets home safe? And Luffy! Come here! You wanted to see the swordsman, well now 'ya can!" The little girl then went back over the wall to go with Koby and Luffy hopped over the wall and came towards me. "I knew I wanted you on my crew for a good reason! Izzie you were like a demon more than anything!" Luffy exclaimed, "Thanks I guess?" Luffy looked at Zoro, "So I hear you're a bad guy. But you're stuck out here for all to see, are you really all that strong?" He asked. "Mind your own business!" Zoro retorted.

Luffy grinned, "Man if I were you, I'd probably starve to death in 3 days!", "I've got more spirit than you and Pinky there could ever have! Which is why I'm gonna survive this ordeal...I swear it!" Zoro exclaimed. I roll my eyes, 'He may be hot but he's kind of a jerk himself...' I thought. "Luffy I'm not sure if this guy is worth your time, I'm starting to think he's just a conceited douche canoe. We should just go." Luffy and I turn to leave when Zoro shouts, "Wait!" Luffy and I turn back, "Could one of you pick that up for me?" He looks down at the smushed-up rice ball, Luffy and I crouch down near it and Luffy looks very concerned and confused, "You're gonna eat this? It's mostly a mud ball now-" "Just shut up and give it to me!" Zoro shouted in annoyance. I chuckle, "You heard the man Captain, give him the mud ball." I say with a grin as I put my hands behind my head, Luffy picks up the remains of the rice ball and tosses it into Zoro's mouth. He coughed as he ate it and Luffy crossed his arms, "Told you so."

"It was good." Luffy raised a brow, "Thanks for the food." Zoro said and I clamped my hands over my mouth, 'Cute!!!' I internally squealed. "Come on Iz! Let's go!" Luffy said, and I nod but before beginning to follow him I take out the pear Luffy gave me earlier from my hoodie pocket, and clean it off to make sure there are no traces of pocket lint. "Luffy said to eat it but I didn't have the heart to tell him that I didn't really like pears. So here, you can have it. You don't seem as conceited as I initially thought, guess that spirit of yours isn't just talk." I hold it out and Zoro looks at me, "Well? Take it. Even if you don't end up liking pears like me, you don't really get the luxury to say no right now as it seems. Consider it a reward for coming this far, 10 days left you said right?"

"...Thanks." He said before taking the pear in his mouth. I then turned around to leave, waving bye behind me before going a bit faster, "LUFFY WAIT UP!"

~Timeskip~

"Really!?" The little girl exclaimed. "Yeah! He ate every last bite!" Luffy explained. "That's great!" The girl smiled, and I frowned, "I'll admit, I might've judged him too quickly..." "So is Zoro really as evil as the rumors say?" Koby asked, "He's not!" The little girl said. "After all, he got himself punished for us.." Luffy raised a brow, "Huh? What do you mean?" "It's all that dumb Helmeppo's fault." I growled, "Blondie McBowl-Cut..."

The girl began explaining how Zoro attacked Helmeppo's 'dog' and then accepted a deal to be crucified for a whole month in exchange for the little girl and her mother's freedom from punishment. "It's been 3 weeks since then and Helmeppo keeps punching and kicking him while he's tied up! It's so unfair..." The girl began tearing up, "I...I don't know how to help him..." Suddenly a crash was heard from inside the building we were in front of and we all went inside to check it out. It was that damn jerk with the stupid bowl cut again! Helmeppo began complaining about being bored and then said he decided to execute Zoro which made me pissed beyond belief, but before I could even do anything, Luffy beat me to it by running up to him and hitting him hard in the face. I grinned, "That's my Captain for 'ya!" Koby began holding Luffy back, "Luffy you can't hit him!" Helmeppo was crying and whining like a baby shouting about he was Captain Morgan's son, "I don't care!" Luffy shouts, "You'll care once I have him execute you for this!" Helmeppo cried, "Shut it Bowl-Cut and fight my Captain here like a man! WIMP!" I shouted mockingly, "Luffy! Isaac! Calm down! Why are you trying to get on the Marine's bad side!?" Koby shouts. "Today I've decided...Zoro's gonna join my crew!" Luffy declared.

About an hour before Luffy and I were gonna head back to the Marine base to get Zoro, the little girl came up to me. "Hey, Mister..." I looked down at her and smiled, "No need for Mister, just call me Isaac!" She nods, "Well, I was wondering, why did you call me your little sister before?" I blushed in embarrassment, "Oh-that-sorry...It's a little embarrassing to say but...You reminded me a lot of my little sister back home...I'm not entirely sure how long it's been since I've seen her last or how long before I ever see her again, and you look a lot like her..." I chuckle. She smiles, "Well, I hope you get to see your sister again soon! I'm sure she's lucky to have a big brother like you!"

~Timeskip~

(ZORO'S POV)

Every minute felt like an hour as I stood tied to that cross. I looked down and started thinking about the past and Kuina, 'I made a promise to her...' I thought, 'I can't afford to die in a place like this...' "Hey Bandanna Boy we're back!" I was snapped out of my thoughts and noticed two shadows in front of me and when I looked up I saw that kid with the straw hat and the other kid with mostly pink hair. "You two again? Don't you have better things to do?" I asked. "Izzie and I will untie you but only if you join my crew!" The kid in the straw hat said, "Say what!?" I exclaimed. "I'mma pirate and I'm looking for people to join my crew!" He explained, and I smirked, "Forget it! You think I'd stoop to joining up with two criminals, especially 2 kid pirates." Pinky glared at me, "Hey! I happen to be 19 for your information! I'm no kid!" I rolled my eyes, "What's wrong with being a pirate?" The kid in the straw hat asked. "They're despicable! As if I'd ever want to join up with one."

"Oh come on, gimme a break, everybody knows you as some vicious bounty hunter always out for blood." He continued. "People can say whatever they want, but I've never done a single thing in my life that I regret. I will live through this and after that, I'll accomplish what I want." "Yeah that's great and all, but I've already decided you're gonna join us." I was baffled and shouted, "WHAT YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"

"So we heard you're a swordsman." Pinky said, "Yeah, but that idiot captain's son took my stuff!" "Then my generous Captain here will go retrieve them!" "What!?" The kid in the straw hat nods, "And if you want your sword, you'll have to join my crew!"

I growl, "Now you two are really starting to piss me off!" The kid in the straw hat begins running off, "Is he really planning on busting into the Marine base by himself?" I asked and Pinky nodded, "E-yep. I haven't known him too long to see what he can do, but based on his overall energy and what I heard from my friend Koby, he's a force to be reckoned with." He then cupped his hands around his mouth, "HEY CAP'N! I THINK THE BASE IS OVER THERE!" He pointed in the direction of the base. "Thanks, Izzie!" The straw hat kid shouts back before I saw his arms stretch and he launched himself forward in the right direction. I looked at Pinky, "Did you see that!? What the hell is that guy!?" I exclaimed. Pinky grins, "He's apparently a rubber man. Luffy says he ate something called a Devil Fruit. It's the first time I'm truly seeing him use those abilities though!"

I then see the shorter pink-haired kid with blue glasses hop over the wall, "Hey Koby! Glad you're here! Can you help me with the ropes?" Pinky shouts at him before attempting to untie the ropes around my waist. The kid Pinky called Koby ran over and started trying to untie my right arm, "You've gotta escape Zoro!" He said, "Do realize you're gonna get killed for what you're doing right now!?" I exclaim. "I can't stand to watch the Marines behave like this anymore, I want to become an honorable Marine!" He replied. "Damn these ropes are tight as hell, how'd you survive with this for 3 weeks!?" Pinky shouted. "Look you two, I can't leave! I've got 10 days left and-" I felt a finger poke my forehead, "Ya know you're not too bright are 'ya?" Pinky asked. I glared at him, "And what is that supposed to mean!?" Pinky rolled his eyes, "You dummy! That blonde bastard was planning on executing you tomorrow! Did you really think a scumbag like that would honor your agreement!?" I looked at Koby and he nodded, "He's right! We all heard Helmeppo talking about it, and Luffy got so mad he punched him!" My eyes widen, "He did?"

Koby nods, "And now the Marines are after him, and most likely Isaac too after he also gave Helmeppo a good hit and scolding earlier. Don't worry, I'm not gonna ask you to become a pirate though, but I'm hoping you'll help them out. Luffy's the only one who can save you from execution, and I think you're also the only one who can help him and Isaac too."

"End of the line!" The three of us looked to see Captain Morgan. I looked at Pinky and noticed his face went pale, "Oh shit...I'm just going to assume he's Helmeppo's way scarier father..."

"For the crime of treachery against me, I sentence all three of you to die where you stand!" Captain Morgan declared. Koby let out a yelp and Pinky shouted, "LUFFY NOW WOULD BE A REALLY GREAT TIME TO HURRY THE HELL UP! I'M NOT READY TO DIE TODAY!" Koby was in tears as the Marines raised their guns, "You've been pulling some interesting stuff, were you three and that straw hat kid planning a coup?" Asked Captain Morgan mockingly.

"I've always worked alone, like a real man, unlike some arrogant bastard like you who uses his soldiers as cronies." I spat back at him. "Roronoa Zoro, don't underestimate me! You may be strong, but under my authority, you're as good as scum! NOW TAKE AIM AND FIRE MEN!"

'I cant...I can't afford to die here!' My mind was racing and numerous gunshots were heard and I shut my eyes before hearing Pinky and Koby both shout, "LUFFY!" I opened my eyes and saw the straw hat kid in between us and the bullets but the bullets didn't go through his skin but they kind of sunk into his skin before they all bounced off. "That doesn't work! Told 'ya I was strong!" He exclaimed.

"Who are you!?" I shout. He looks back at me and says, "I'm Monkey D. Luffy, and I'm gonna be King of the Pirates!"

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TO BE CONTINUED...