**Chapter 36 – A Swordsman's Oath and a Dreamer's Goodbye**
*Sunny's POV*
The dust from the battle still hung thick in the air of Shells Town's central plaza, swirling like lazy ghosts around the fallen Marines. Broken blades littered the cobblestones, groaning soldiers clutched their bruises, and the sharp tang of gunpowder mixed with the salty sea breeze, making the whole scene feel like a storm had ripped through and decided to stick around for tea. Captain Morgan lay sprawled like a toppled statue, his massive chin finally meeting the dirt it deserved, while Helmeppo laying lifeless in a corner.
At the heart of it all stood Zoro—Roronoa Zoro, the pirate hunter turned reluctant ally. His three swords were back at his side, sheathed but radiating that deadly promise. His posture was calm, almost lazy, as if dismantling an entire Marine squad had been nothing more than a light morning stretch. His green hair was tousled from the fight, and a faint sheen of sweat made his muscles glint in the afternoon sun. The guy looked every bit the beast he was rumored to be, but there was a quiet respect in his eyes now, scanning the chaos we'd wrought.
Lucy, ever the ball of unstoppable energy, threw her arms skyward, her straw hat flopping wildly. "WOOHOO! Zoro's joining my crew now! That makes four of us! We're unstoppable! Grand Line, here we come—pirate queen and her unstoppable squad!"
Zoro's eyebrow twitched like it had a mind of its own. "Oi. Who said I agreed to any of this?" he growled, crossing his arms over his broad chest.
Lucy puffed out her cheeks, her eyes sparkling with defiance. "I refuse your refusal! You fought with us, you got your swords back—boom, crewmate!"
I nearly doubled over, clutching my side as laughter bubbled up. "Classic Lucy. You could talk a fish into climbing a tree."
Nami, standing a bit apart with her arms crossed, pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a sigh that echoed across the plaza. "This is going to be my life from now on, isn't it? Babysitting Straw Hat Idiot Number One, Broody Swordsman Idiot Number Two, and… lazy overpower idiot you are, Sunny." She shot me a sidelong glance, her tone exasperated but her lips twitching with reluctant amusement.
"Hey," I said, raising a brow and flashing her a grin. "At least I'm the cool idiot. The one who makes everything look effortless."
Her cheeks colored faintly, a soft pink that she tried to hide by turning away, fussing with her ponytail. "You wish. Effortless? You just stood there like a statue while we did all the work." But there was no real bite in her words, and when our eyes met again, she held the gaze a second too long, her expression softening just a touch. *Cute as always.*
The townsfolk, emerging from their hiding spots, started clapping tentatively, their murmurs of "heroes" and "thank you" building into a chorus. Koby, still catching his breath from his valiant (if clumsy) attempts to mediate during the fight, beamed at the praise.
---
**Koby's Farewell: A Moment of Growth**
Koby stepped forward then, straightening his tiny frame as best he could. His knees were still shaking from the adrenaline of the battle—poor kid had tripped more times than he'd landed punches—but his eyes burned with a fierce determination that hadn't been there when we first met him. His pink hair was disheveled, his glasses askew, but he looked every bit the aspiring Marine he dreamed of being.
"I… I'm staying here!" he declared, his voice cracking only a little.
Lucy blinked, tilting her head like a confused puppy. "Eh? But you'd make a terrible pirate! We could use you as… um… moral support? Or like, the guy who reminds us to eat vegetables?"
"I *said* I'm staying!" Koby snapped, surprising even himself with the volume. His face flushed, but he didn't back down. "I'm going to join the Marines! Right here, in this base. I'll work hard, I'll climb the ranks, and one day… I'll become a real officer who protects people the right way! No more tyrants like Morgan! No more abuse of power!"
The townsfolk erupted into applause, some even cheering "Go, kid!" and "You've got it!" A few patted him on the back, careful not to knock him over.
Nami gave him a warm smile, her usual sarcasm melting away. "That's pretty brave, Koby. You've come a long way from that scared boy on Alvida's ship."
Zoro tilted his head, assessing the kid with those sharp eyes of his. "…You've got guts," he grunted, which from Zoro was basically a glowing recommendation. "Don't waste them. Train hard, or you'll end up like these losers." He jerked a thumb at the groaning Marines.
Lucy wiped her eyes dramatically, sniffling like she was at a funeral. "Koby, you grew up so fast! Don't forget me when you're a big-shot Admiral! We'll have epic battles or something—pirate queen versus Marine hero!"
"I won't!" Koby shouted back, though I noticed he didn't actually promise anything specific. Smart kid.
I stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. He flinched at first—probably from the residual Haki vibe I couldn't quite turn off—then looked up at me with wide, admiring eyes.
"You'll do fine," I said simply, my voice steady. "You've got a strong heart, Koby. Just remember—power without kindness is tyranny, and kindness without power is helplessness. Balance both, and you'll be more than a Marine. You'll be a shield for the people who need it most."
His eyes went wide, shimmering with unshed tears. Then he nodded fiercely, saluting so sharply I thought he might strain something. "…Yes, Sunny! I'll remember that forever!"
Inside my head, the commentary rolled in like clockwork.
*{Ego}: "Ugh, you're too nice. Just tell him to crush his enemies already. Sentimentality is for the weak."*
*{System}: "Fufufu~ You sound like a mentor! So hot ♥. Guiding the next generation… makes me want to keep you all to myself even more~"*
I ignored them, mostly. Mostly.
Lucy, sensing the emotional moment, lunged forward and wrapped Koby in a bone-crushing hug. "Group hug! Come on, everyone!"
Koby squeaked, his face turning beet red. "L-Lucy! I can't breathe!"
Nami rolled her eyes but joined in with a half-hearted pat on Koby's head. "Don't get too mushy, kid. And stay out of trouble."
Zoro grunted and stayed put, but I caught him hiding a smirk.
---
**Zoro's Answer: The Reluctant Oath**
With the farewells winding down, Lucy clapped her hands together, spinning toward Zoro with sparkles practically shooting from her eyes. "SO! You're in, right? Right?! Crewmate number three—let's go!"
Zoro leaned against the remnants of a shattered wall, arms crossed, eyes shut as if meditating. "Tch. I told you—I'm not interested in being part of some pirate's game. I've got my own path."
Lucy stomped her foot, the ground shaking slightly from her enthusiasm. "But you fought beside us! That means destiny! That means *nakama*! Friends forever, adventures galore!"
Zoro cracked one eye open, his gaze shifting to me. "…And what about you? You don't look like the type to chase some silly dream. Standing back there like you own the place."
I shrugged lazily, hands in my pockets. "I'm just here to explore, eat good food, nap whenever I want, and protect the people who matter. Doesn't really matter what the title is—pirate, wanderer, babysitter for Straw Hats…" I shot Lucy a teasing glance.
Lucy puffed her cheeks again, hands on her hips. "H-hey! I don't need a babysitter! I'm the captain!"
Nami chuckled under her breath, leaning closer to me. "Babysitter fits perfectly. Especially for her." Her shoulder brushed mine, and she didn't pull away immediately, her warmth lingering a second longer than necessary.
Zoro stared at me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then his lips twitched into the smallest of smirks. "Hmph. At least you're honest. Not like this noisy one."
Lucy leaned in so close to Zoro she was practically nose-to-nose. "So that's a yes?!"
Zoro sighed, pushing her back gently with one hand. "…Fine. But only because I owe you for getting my swords back. And because I've got a dream to fulfill—the greatest swordsman in the world. If you stand in the way of that dream, I'll cut you down—even if you're my captain."
Lucy grinned like a madwoman, unfazed. "Deal! Welcome aboard!"
Nami leaned over to me, whispering conspiratorially, her breath tickling my ear. "She didn't even flinch at that threat. Is she brave or just oblivious?"
I whispered back, my voice low and teasing. "That's because she probably didn't understand it. But hey, that's part of her charm."
"Hey! I heard that!" Lucy barked, whirling on us with mock outrage.
Nami and I exchanged a glance and burst out laughing, her hand lingering on my arm as she steadied herself. The moment stretched, her eyes meeting mine with a spark of something warmer than friendship. *Yeah, this crew's growing on me.*
---
**Comedy at the Docks: Farewells and Fumbles**
We left the ruined Marine base behind, heading toward the docks where our modest little boat bobbed in the water like an eager puppy. The townsfolk lined the streets, waving and cheering, tossing flowers and even a few coins our way. "Heroes of Shells Town!" they called. "Thank you for freeing us!"
Lucy puffed her chest out so far I thought she might tip over backward. "Yes, yes, no need for applause—I already know I'm amazing! But keep it coming!"
Nami rolled her eyes, dodging a thrown flower. "You punched like five Marines and tripped over your own hat twice. Let's not exaggerate."
"I refuse your facts!" Lucy barked back, nearly stumbling over a loose cobblestone in her excitement.
Zoro trudged along silently, ignoring the cheers entirely, his swords clinking softly with each step. He looked like he was already regretting his decision.
Koby ran beside us all the way to the dock's edge, saluting so hard his entire body shook. "Thank you! For everything! I'll remember this forever! And Sunny… your words… I'll live by them!"
Lucy saluted back—with the wrong hand—and nearly smacked herself in the face. "Ow! Uh, you too, Koby! Be awesome!"
Nami facepalmed, muttering, "How are we surviving with her as captain?"
I chuckled and gave Koby one last nod, my Haki brushing his spirit one more time—strong, steady, ready to grow.
And then, just as we were about to board…
Lucy suddenly shouted, "WAIT! I forgot the most important thing!"
We all froze, hearts skipping a beat. Zoro's hand twitched toward his swords. Nami's eyes widened. "What now? More Marines?"
Lucy spun toward Zoro, grinning mischievously. "What's your favorite food?"
The tension shattered. Zoro just stared at her, dumbfounded. "…Meat."
Lucy gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "Oh no… we're rivals! Meat's *my* favorite! We'll have to duel for the last piece!"
Zoro blinked slowly. "…What."
Nami sighed so hard she almost collapsed against me, her head dropping onto my shoulder for a split second. "I can't with her. Sunny, save me."
I wrapped an arm around her waist playfully. "From Lucy or from laughing too hard?"
She swatted my arm but didn't move away, her laughter mixing with mine. "Both."
---
**On the Boat: Setting Sail**
By the time we pushed off from Shells Town, the sun was dipping low on the horizon, painting the sea in vibrant streaks of gold, crimson, and purple. The boat rocked gently as we set sail, the waves lapping like a farewell song.
Lucy stood at the bow, fist raised triumphantly to the sky. "Next stop—adventure! Treasure! Meat! And more meat!"
Zoro sat cross-legged against the mast, already dozing with his swords propped beside him like faithful guards.
Nami checked her charts at the stern, muttering about currents and the Grand Line, her hair catching the sunset glow like fire.
I leaned back against the side, hands folded behind my head, eyes on the endless horizon.
The world was moving again.
And deep inside me, the two new souls flickered quietly in my inventory. Morgan and Helmeppo. A reminder that every step forward meant more choices, more power, and more responsibility.
*{Ego}: "You're too soft. You should've crushed them harder."*
*{System}: "Eeeh~ but soft Sunny is cute! And scary Sunny is even cuter ♥."*
I smiled faintly, letting the sea breeze wash over me.
The age of adventure had begun.