**Chapter 35 – The Tyrant and the Pink Menace**
*Sunny's POV*
Shells Town was a powder keg, and Lucy, with her boundless enthusiasm and zero regard for consequences, was practically juggling lit torches. Fresh off our chaotic introduction to Zoro, the air still buzzed with tension from our standoff with the Marines. The townsfolk were watching us like we were a traveling circus, and the Marines were glaring like we'd personally insulted their mothers. My Observation Haki hummed, threading through the crowd, picking up whispers of fear, curiosity, and the overwhelming weight of Roronoa Zoro's chained presence outside the Marine HQ.
Lucy, of course, wasn't content to let things simmer. She marched straight toward the Marine base, her straw hat bouncing with every determined step. "HEY!" she bellowed, her voice echoing across the cobblestone plaza. "I'm here to recruit that green-haired sword guy! And I *refuse* any refusals!"
The Marine guards at the gate nearly dropped their rifles, their jaws hitting the ground in unison. "What kind of *idiot* declares something like that in front of HQ?!" one of them sputtered, his mustache quivering like it was trying to flee his face.
Nami buried her face in her hands, her groan muffled but heartfelt. "Why am I stuck with her? Why?! Did I rob a temple in a past life or something?"
Koby, pale as a sheet, clutched his oversized backpack like it was his only anchor in a storm. His glasses fogged up as he darted nervous glances between Lucy's theatrics, Zoro's brooding form chained to the post, and me, standing there like I was just enjoying a nice afternoon stroll. "I-I… I should report to the Marines properly," he stammered, his voice cracking like a walnut under a hammer. "But…" His eyes flicked to Zoro, then to Lucy, who was now striking a heroic pose with one finger pointed skyward. "Maybe… maybe they're right about Captain Morgan being a tyrant."
He clenched his fists, his knuckles whitening. "I want to see for myself."
I gave him a nod, my Haki picking up the flicker of courage sparking in his chest. "That's the spirit, Koby. Truth first. Then action."
Inside my head, the usual chaos stirred.
*{Ego}: "Bah. Crush them and be done with it. Why waste time on this pink-haired shrimp's moral crisis?"*
*{System}: "Fufufu Sunny, watching you stand back and judge like a king is sooo hot ♥. You're like a storm waiting to break, and I'm *here* for it!"*
I smirked, keeping the inner noise locked away. These voices were like uninvited guests at a party—loud, opinionated, and impossible to ignore.
---
**Helmeppo's Grand Entrance**
The plaza was already a mess of whispers and glares when *he* showed up. Helmeppo, Captain Morgan's spoiled son, strutted down the street like he was the star of his own personal parade. His chin was tilted so far back I wondered how he didn't trip over his own ego. His blond hair flopped dramatically over one eye, and his gaudy outfit—complete with a fur-lined jacket in this heat—screamed "I'm rich, and you're not."
Behind him, a squad of Marines trudged along, carrying crates that were clearly looted from the townsfolk. The poor locals watched with tight lips and clenched fists, their fear palpable through my Haki.
Lucy tilted her head, squinting at Helmeppo. "Why's that guy walking like a chicken that swallowed a stick?"
I nearly choked on my own breath, coughing to cover a laugh. Nami, caught off guard, let out a snort before slapping a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with horror. "Don't. Just… *don't*, Lucy."
Koby's face darkened, his usual nervousness replaced by a flicker of anger. "That's… that's Helmeppo, Captain Morgan's son," he whispered, his voice low but firm. "He's the one who had Zoro tied up here in the first place. He's been terrorizing the town, using his father's authority."
Helmeppo, as if sensing he was the topic of conversation, stopped dead in front of us, his smirk so smug it could've curdled milk. "Oh? Outsiders?" he drawled, flipping his hair like he was auditioning for a shampoo commercial. "Don't you know the rules? You're supposed to *bow* when I pass!"
Lucy planted her fists on her hips, her grin defiant. "I refuse your refusal to bow!"
"EH?!" Helmeppo's eyes bugged out, his face turning a shade of red that clashed horribly with his jacket.
The Marines behind him froze, their expressions a mix of confusion and secondhand embarrassment. I almost pitied them. Almost.
Helmeppo puffed up like an angry pufferfish. "Y-you *dare* insult me? Don't you know who I am? I'm Helmeppo, son of Captain Morgan, ruler of this town!"
Lucy, undeterred, cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled back at Zoro, who was still chained to his post like a grumpy statue. "Hey! Green-hair! Is this the guy you promised something to?"
Zoro's glare could've cut through steel. "Yeah," he growled, his voice low and dangerous. "He said if I survived a month tied up here without food, he'd let me go."
Lucy spun back to Helmeppo, pointing an accusing finger. "So basically, you're a *liar*! A big, fancy liar with bad hair!"
Helmeppo's jaw dropped so fast I thought it might hit the ground. "Wha—NO! I'm not lying! I was *totally* gonna keep my word!" he squealed, but his Marines exchanged skeptical glances, clearly not buying it.
Koby, his courage flaring, muttered under his breath, "He's… he's lying. I've seen it before. He's been bullying everyone in town."
Helmeppo's head whipped around, his eyes narrowing. "What was that, you pink-haired *shrimp*?!"
Koby flinched but stood taller, his glasses glinting in the sunlight. "I said—you're lying! You're abusing your father's power! That's not justice!"
The entire street went silent. Townsfolk froze mid-step. Marines gawked. Even Lucy paused, her mouth forming a little "o" of surprise.
I couldn't help it—my lips curled into a smile. Courage like that, from someone as timid as Koby, deserved respect.
Nami, however, was less impressed. She grabbed my arm, her voice a frantic whisper. "Sunny, do something before this turns into a full-blown riot! Lucy's already declared herself the Pirate Queen, and now Koby's picking fights with the tyrant's son!"
I chuckled, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Relax, Nami. Let them shine. They need this." Her cheeks flushed at the contact, and she yanked her hand back, muttering something about "stupid charming idiots" again. *Adorable.*
---
**Morgan's Grand Appearance**
Right on cue, the tyrant himself stormed out of the Marine HQ, his presence hitting the plaza like a tidal wave. Captain Morgan was a mountain of a man, his axe-arm gleaming in the sunlight like a guillotine on steroids. His chin was so massive it could've had its own gravitational pull, and his one good eye glared down at us with all the warmth of a winter storm.
Lucy tilted her head, completely unfazed. "Why does his face look like a hammer got tired and gave up halfway?"
Nami bit her lip so hard I thought she'd draw blood, trying not to laugh. Even Zoro, still chained up, cracked the faintest smirk, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Morgan's voice boomed, shaking the cobblestones. "WHO DARES DISTURB THE PEACE OF MY TOWN?!"
Lucy, never one to miss a dramatic moment, threw her arm up like she was auditioning for a stage play. "It's me! Straw Hat Lucy! Future King—uh, *Queen*—of the Pirates!"
The townsfolk gasped. The Marines whispered. Nami muttered, "Oh my god, she actually said it. We're all going to jail."
Morgan's eye bulged, his face turning a shade of purple that wasn't entirely healthy. "A *pirate*? HERE?!" He slammed his axe-arm into the ground, splitting the stone with a crack that echoed like thunder. "KILL THEM ALL!"
---
**The Fight: Absolute Chaos**
And just like that, chaos erupted.
Marines charged from every direction, their swords drawn and rifles raised. Townsfolk scattered, screaming, as fruit stalls toppled and barrels rolled across the plaza. Lucy, laughing like a maniac, dove into the fray, her fists flying. "I refuse your attacks!" *POW!* A Marine went flying into a stack of crates. "And I refuse your swords!" *BAM!* Another hit the ground, stars circling his head.
Nami ducked under a swinging blade, her staff cracking against a Marine's shin. "You are a *disaster*, Lucy!" she yelled, but her eyes sparkled with reluctant admiration as she spun, knocking another soldier flat. "And stop breaking everything! I'm not paying for damages!"
Koby, trembling but determined, tried to play peacemaker, waving his arms wildly. "S-stop this! This isn't what Marines are supposed to do! You're supposed to protect people!" He promptly tripped over a stray barrel, face-planting into the dirt with a yelp.
Zoro, still chained, watched the chaos with a savage grin. "Oi, Straw Hat!" he called, his voice cutting through the noise. "Get me my swords, and I'll clean this mess up."
Lucy, mid-punch, pointed back at him with a grin. "Deal! You're joining my crew!"
"Like *hell* I am!" Zoro snapped, but there was a spark in his eyes that said he was enjoying this just a little.
I leaned against a wall, my arms crossed, observing the madness. My Haki flowed through the battlefield, invisible threads weaving around my crew. A bullet aimed at Nami veered just wide enough to miss. A blade swinging for Lucy's back dulled at the last second, glancing off her arm. Subtle, protective, but not interfering. They needed to grow, to fight their own battles. I was just… insurance.
Nami caught my eye mid-fight, her staff twirling like a dancer's ribbon. "Sunny, are you just going to *stand* there looking cool?!" she shouted, her cheeks flushed from exertion—or maybe something else.
I flashed her a grin, letting a hint of Haki ripple through the air. "What, you don't like the view?"
Her face went scarlet, and she nearly dropped her staff. "Tch! Focus, you idiot!" But the way she glanced back at me, her lips twitching into a smile, told me she wasn't entirely mad.
Helmeppo, meanwhile, was having a full-on meltdown. "F-father! Do something! They're ruining everything!" he squealed, cowering behind a crate as Lucy's fist sent another Marine flying.
Morgan roared, raising his axe-arm with all the fury of a tyrant scorned. That's when it happened.
---
**Zoro's Liberation**
The sound of snapping chains was like music to my ears. Zoro, fueled by sheer willpower (and probably annoyance at Lucy's yelling), broke free, the iron links shattering like glass. Lucy, with reflexes that defied logic, had already swiped his three swords from a nearby Marine's stash and tossed them to him. The blades landed in his hands with a satisfying *clink*, and the explosion of killing intent that followed was enough to make my Haki hum in respect.
Zoro stood tall, his three swords gleaming, his grin feral. "Anyone who stands in my way," he said, his voice calm but deadly, "I'll cut down."
Lucy whooped, punching the air. "That's my swordsman!"
"Shut up, Straw Hat!" Zoro barked, but he was already moving, a whirlwind of steel slicing through the Marine ranks.
---
**The End of Tyranny**
The battle turned in an instant. Zoro's blades carved through the Marines like a hot knife through butter, Lucy's fists were a blur of chaotic energy, and Nami's tactical strikes kept the enemy off balance. Morgan swung his axe-arm with all the force of his bloated pride, but Zoro met him head-on. One clash. Two. Three. The giant Marine captain staggered, then toppled like a felled tree, his axe-arm clattering uselessly to the ground.
Lucy jumped up, cheering. "We did it! I mean—Zoro did it! But I helped! So it was *us*! Team Straw Hat for the win!"
Helmeppo's face went white as a sheet. "F-father?!" He tried to run, his legs wobbling like jelly, but Zoro's glare froze him in place. The poor guy looked like he was about to faint.
And in that moment, I made my move.
My Haki slipped deeper, not into their bodies but into their very souls. A subtle pull, unseen by all. When Morgan's last breath faded, and when Helmeppo's fear finally overtook him, I drew their essences into myself. Two cold flames—tyranny and cowardice—flickered in my grasp before vanishing into my inventory.
Nobody noticed. Not Lucy, still arguing with Zoro about crew membership. Not Nami, now rifling through fallen Marines' pockets with a gleeful grin. Not Koby, saluting the townsfolk like a proper Marine cadet. Not even Zoro, who was too busy wiping blood off his swords.
Only me.
*[A/N: For those in the know, Sunny's got plans for these souls. Spoiler: it's not a tea party.]*
Inside my head:
*{Ego}: "Collecting souls now, are we? Hmph. Not bad. Maybe you're not as soft as I thought."*
*{System}: "Kyaa~! My Sunny is sooo scary when he's quiet ♥ Keep feeding me more souls, okay? You're making my heart go *doki doki*!"*
I exhaled slowly, my eyes never leaving my friends. Lucy was already trying to convince Zoro to wear a straw hat "for team spirit." Nami was counting her stolen coins, muttering about "hazard pay." Koby was helping a townsfolk pick up a toppled fruit stall, his face glowing with pride.
And me? I smiled. This world was finally starting to move.