**Chapter 34 – Shells Town
Sunny's POV
The salty breeze of Shells Town slapped me in the face like an overenthusiastic grandmother pinching my cheeks. The docks were a chaotic symphony of creaking wood, squawking seagulls, and the rhythmic clomp of Marine boots on patrol. My Observation Haki hummed to life, spreading out like invisible tendrils, mapping the town's pulse: disciplined Marines strutting in perfect lockstep, civilians scurrying like nervous crabs, and one colossal presence chained outside the Marine HQ—a force so intense it felt like a mountain had decided to take a nap in the middle of town.
This was Shells Town. This was where *Roronoa Zoro* was waiting, probably brooding harder than a storm cloud with a personal vendetta.
Beside me, Nami adjusted her ponytail, her sharp eyes scanning the docks for any hint of treasure—or trouble. "Somewhere in that base is the Grand Line chart," she said, her voice all business but her eyes sparkling with that greedy glint she tried (and failed) to hide. She jabbed a finger at Lucy, who was practically bouncing with excitement. "Which means *you*, straw-hat girl, need to keep your chaos to a minimum. No fights. No explosions. No… *you* stuff."
Lucy tipped her straw hat forward, her grin wide enough to rival the sun. "I refuse your refusal, Nami!" she chirped, striking a pose like she was auditioning for the lead role in a pirate opera.
I sighed, rubbing my temple. *Classic Lucy.* The girl had the self-preservation instincts of a lemming with a death wish.
Koby, meanwhile, was a bundle of nerves, clutching the straps of his oversized backpack like it was his only lifeline. His glasses fogged up slightly as he gawked at the Marines marching past, their polished boots gleaming in the midday sun. "T-this is my first real Marine town since… you know… Alvida," he stammered, his voice cracking like a teenager at his first dance. "If I do well here, maybe… maybe I can officially enlist!"
I clapped a hand on his shoulder, firm but encouraging, my Haki giving me a glimpse of his trembling but determined spirit. "You'll do fine, Koby. Keep that dream burning bright. The Marines need more people like you—ones who actually care about justice."
His face turned as pink as his hair, and he nodded vigorously. "Y-yes, Sunny! I-I'll make you proud!"
Inside my head, the usual peanut gallery chimed in.
*{Ego}: "Tch. Pathetic. You should've just intimidated those Marines into saluting him. Power's the only language they understand."*
*{System}: "Oh, Sunny, so kind, so noble~ You belong to *me*, not these silly Marines or that straw-hat crew. Heehee~ ♥"*
I smirked, keeping the inner chaos under wraps. After years of dealing with these voices, I'd gotten used to their bickering. It was like having two roommates who never paid rent but always had opinions.
---
**Town Streets: A Study in Suspicion**
The deeper we ventured into Shells Town, the more it felt like walking into a pressure cooker with a broken valve. The streets were lined with quaint shops selling everything from fish skewers to questionable "authentic" pirate souvenirs, but the vibe was all wrong. Civilians whispered behind their hands, darting glances at the Marines who patrolled every corner like they owned the place. The shadow of Captain Morgan hung over everything, his name muttered like a curse. I could practically feel his ego oozing from the Marine HQ, a hulking stone fortress looming at the town's center.
Nami tugged my sleeve, her voice low but sharp. "Sunny, we need to keep a low profile. If you start doing your whole 'mysterious and strong' thing, the Marines will be all over us." She flicked her eyes toward a squad of soldiers barking orders at a fruit vendor, who looked ready to cry into his apples.
Before I could respond, Lucy leaned in from my other side, her whisper loud enough to startle a nearby seagull. "He's *always* mysterious and strong, Nami! It's like his face is allergic to being normal!"
"Lucy," I deadpanned, shooting her a look.
She just smirked, hands behind her head as she sauntered along. "What? I'm just saying what everyone's thinking. You're too cool to be human, Sunny. Like, are you secretly a sea king in disguise or something?"
Nami groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Why did I agree to travel with you lunatics?" But when I flashed her a small, teasing grin, her cheeks turned a shade pinker than Koby's hair. She quickly looked away, muttering something about "stupid charming idiots."
Koby, trying to channel his inner Marine, straightened his posture and adjusted his glasses. "I-I should report to the Marine base. It's the right thing to do if I want to join them someday." His voice wobbled, but his eyes burned with resolve.
Lucy spun around, striking a dramatic pose with one finger pointed skyward. "Do it, Koby! You're gonna be the greatest Marine hero ever! They'll write songs about you! 'Koby the Courageous,' they'll call you!"
Koby nearly tripped over his own feet, his face now a full-on tomato. "L-Lucy! Don't say it so loud! Everyone's staring!"
Sure enough, a few townsfolk were gawking, probably wondering why a pink-haired kid and a straw-hat-wearing maniac were causing such a ruckus. I chuckled, shaking my head. This crew was a walking disaster, and I was starting to love it.
---
**Zoro's Introduction: The Caged Beast**
Then I saw him.
Even before my Haki brushed against his presence, the air shifted—like the world itself was holding its breath. Outside the Marine HQ, chained to a wooden post in a dusty courtyard, sat *Roronoa Zoro*. His clothes were tattered, his three swords nowhere in sight, but his aura was a force of nature. He was a caged beast, all sharp edges and barely contained power, his green hair catching the sunlight like a defiant flag. Even bound, he radiated discipline, strength, and a quiet fury that made my own Haki stir in response.
Lucy's jaw hit the ground. "WOOOAH! Look at him! He's HUGE! Like a bear! A sword-wielding bear!" She scampered toward the fence, completely ignoring Nami's hissed warnings, and pressed her face against the bars like a kid at a zoo. "Hey! Mister scary swordsman! Wanna join my crew?"
Zoro cracked one eye open, his gaze slicing through her like a blade. "…No," he growled, his voice low and rough, like gravel under boots.
Lucy puffed out her cheeks, undeterred. "Then I refuse your refusal!" she declared, planting her fists on her hips.
Nami slapped her forehead so hard I thought she'd leave a mark. "Oh, for the love of all that's profitable—"
I stayed back, my eyes locked on Zoro's. My Haki reached out, testing his spirit, and it hit me like a tidal wave: unyielding, focused, unbreakable. This guy wasn't just a swordsman; he was a storm in human form. I let a faint layer of blue Haki coat my hand, invisible to most, and flexed my fingers. Zoro's eyes flickered, narrowing slightly. He'd sensed it. *Interesting.*
Nami yanked Koby closer, her voice a frantic whisper. "You know who that is, right?"
Koby swallowed hard, his glasses slipping down his nose. "Y-yes! That's… Roronoa Zoro, the pirate hunter! They say he's a monster who never loses a fight! H-he cuts through steel like it's paper!" His voice dropped to a terrified squeak. "But… he's been captured. I heard the Marines are planning to execute him."
Lucy gasped, clutching her hat like it was her heart. "EXECUTE HIM?! That's so unfair! He's too cool to die! He should join my crew instead!"
Zoro snorted, his chains clinking as he shifted. "I'd rather die than follow some noisy brat in a straw hat."
Lucy staggered back, clutching her chest like she'd been shot. "O-ouch! That hurt more than a cannonball to the face!" She turned to me, eyes wide and pleading. "Sunny, tell him he's gotta join us! He's perfect! All broody and strong and… and green!"
I couldn't help it—I laughed, the sound catching Zoro's attention. His glare shifted to me, and for a moment, our eyes locked in a silent challenge. I didn't need words to know he was sizing me up, just like I was sizing him up. The guy was a warrior through and through, and I respected that.
---
**Small Flashes of Conflict: Trouble Brewing**
Our little spectacle didn't go unnoticed. A squad of Marines marched over, their boots thumping in unison like a war drum. Their leader, a wiry guy with a mustache that looked like it was trying to escape his face, pointed a gloved finger at us. "Hey! No loitering near the prisoner! Move along, or I'll have you all arrested!"
Lucy, of course, couldn't resist. She puffed out her chest, hands on her hips, and declared, "Prisoner? He's not a prisoner, he's my crewmate-in-training!"
The Marines froze, their jaws dropping in unison. Mustache Guy sputtered, his face turning red. "What did you just say, you little—?!"
Nami grabbed Lucy's arm, hissing, "Lucy, do you have *any* idea what you're doing?! You're going to get us all thrown in jail!"
I stepped forward, my expression calm but my Haki subtly pressing into the air, just enough to make the Marines' knees wobble. They didn't know why they suddenly felt like the ground was about to swallow them, but their bravado faltered. Mustache Guy's mustache twitched nervously.
Koby, trembling but determined, stepped in front of us, his fists clenched. "S-stop it! These people aren't enemies! I-I'll handle this!" His voice cracked like a glass bottle under a hammer, but his courage was undeniable. He turned to the Marines, bowing awkwardly. "I'm Koby, and I want to report to the base to enlist! P-please, let's not fight!"
The Marines blinked, clearly thrown off by the pink-haired kid trying to play peacemaker. Mustache Guy scratched his head, muttering, "Enlist? You? You're like… twelve."
"I'm sixteen!" Koby squeaked, his face flaming.
Inside my head, the commentary was relentless.
*{Ego}: "Ha! The pink-haired shrimp thinks he's brave. Let's see him try to talk his way out of *this* one."*
*{System}: "Mmmm~ Sunny standing all tall and commanding like that is sooo dreamy~ ♥ Look at those Marines quaking in their boots!"*
I smirked, keeping my tone light. "Relax, Marines. We're just passing through. No trouble… yet." I let the "yet" hang in the air, just to mess with them a little.
Lucy leaned into my ear, her whisper loud enough to echo across the courtyard. "Sunny, you sound *so cool* when you say stuff like that. Like a hero in one of those adventure novels Nami pretends she doesn't read!"
Nami's head whipped around, her eyes blazing. "I do *not* read those novels!"
Lucy grinned mischievously. "Oh, come on, I saw you blushing over that 'Pirate Prince and the Siren's Kiss' book last week!"
Nami's face turned scarlet, and she lunged for Lucy, who dodged with a cackle. "I was *not* blushing! I was just… checking it for hidden treasure maps!"
I raised an eyebrow, my grin widening. "Sure, Nami. Treasure maps. That's what had you giggling in your room at midnight."
She froze, her mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. "Y-you—! That's—! Shut up, Sunny!" But the way her eyes darted away, and the faint flush on her cheeks, told me I'd hit a nerve. *Cute.*
Zoro, still chained to his post, snorted again. "You lot are ridiculous," he muttered, but I caught the faintest twitch of a smirk on his lips.
The Marines, thoroughly confused by our antics, seemed to decide we weren't worth the paperwork. Mustache Guy waved a hand. "Fine, just… move along. And you, kid," he said, pointing at Koby, "report to the base if you're serious about enlisting. But don't expect a warm welcome."
Koby nodded eagerly, his eyes shining with determination. "Y-yes, sir!"
As the Marines marched off, Lucy bounced back to my side, her grin unstoppable. "See, Sunny? We're gonna have the best crew ever! Zoro's gonna join us, Koby's gonna be a Marine hero, and Nami's gonna admit she's totally in love with you!"
Nami choked on air, flailing her arms. "LUCY! I am *not*—! You little—!"
I laughed, dodging Nami's half-hearted swat. Trouble was brewing, and with this crew, it was only the beginning.