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There’s no mistake this time. The two men in front of him are the real Zoro and Sanji, both different but still the same as two years ago. Luffy can’t quite contain the happiness bursting in his chest; the years spent without his friends come back to him tenfold.
“Zoro! Sanji! I know it’s you this time!” he exclaims with a beaming smile. “Long time no see, guys!”
Luffy wants to jump and pull them in his arms and ask them about their adventures, but the Marine soldiers are right on their heels. Though that doesn’t stop him from thanking Rayleigh when he senses him.
As they go ahead, more soldiers meet them, only to fall one by one, grumbling about being worthless and wanting to be insects after ghost-like creatures pass through them. The power looks very familiar, but Luffy can’t quite put a finger to it as a pink-haired lady floats over, complaining about their causing trouble.
“I knew you people were behind this,” she says. “Why are you still here anyway?”
“Hey! You’re the lady from Thriller Bark!” says Sanji.
While Sanji is ecstatic at the sight of the woman, Zoro isn’t surprised in the slightest. There’s even a frown morphing his face as he speaks. “What are you doing here?”
Luffy stays silent as he watches. Zoro must have spent some time with her if their exchange is anything to go by. After all, Zoro isn’t the type to talk so casually with someone, always preferring to keep to himself.
He wonders when Zoro has met the lady. Sanji said earlier that she’s from Thriller Bark, but Luffy can’t quite remember her.
“How can you speak to me like that? I brought you back here!” screams the ghost lady, leaning her face so close to Zoro that Luffy perks up in surprise.
Just as he thought, it looks like Zoro is indeed close to the lady. The idea of it sends a tingle of uneasiness to Luffy’s skin—why, he doesn’t completely understand.
The ghost lady finally pulls away from Zoro to Luffy’s relief. She crosses her arms and huffs a breath. “Anyway, hurry up and set sail already. I saw a warship nearing the island!”
That catches his attention. Hancock has told him to stay out of trouble so he can sail out smoothly, but now the Marines have found them for some reason. Luffy holds onto his backpack tightly, prepared to run when something huge casts a shadow over them.
Luffy looks up and spots what must probably be the biggest bird he has ever seen. On top of it sits Chopper, waving at them. He now wears a different hat, and while he mostly looks the same, there’s now something different about their doctor. Stronger as they all got for the past two years.
Quickly, they get on the huge bird to go back to the Sunny. As they fly away, Luffy sees Zoro looking back to where the ghost lady is. While he may not show it, Luffy can feel the slight concern radiating from Zoro. It makes Luffy wonder just who that lady is to his swordsman.
They’re friends, there’s no doubt about that. Or maybe they’re something more? Though Luffy doesn’t think Zoro is interested in things like that, unless things have changed within the two years they haven’t seen each other.
He doesn’t get to ponder about Zoro’s relationship with the lady for long as they reach the Sunny where their whole crew awaits. Something warm bursts in Luffy’s chest, replacing the threatening tightness he doesn’t even know from—finally, finally, he gets to see all of his friends again. They’re all together at last!
Franky’s new look is amazing, but before Luffy can properly gush over it, Nami reminds him again about the Marine warship coming their way. Soon enough, cannonballs are hurled towards them, rocking the whole ship.
The next batch of cannons is fired, whistling through the air, and they all prepare to deflect it when suddenly, a flock of arrows pierces through the cannonballs, stopping them in their path.
“That’s the insignia of the Kuja,” Robin says.
Usopp and the others are quick to grab spy glasses to look at the new commotion. They say something about seeing a beautiful woman, and Luffy looks back at the warship and sees a familiar ship crossing in front of it.
“It’s Hancock!” he says. Even from afar, he sees Hancock looking at them and giving them a wink. Luffy takes this as their signal for escape. He turns to Nami and tells her, “Great! Now’s our chance to set sail!”
“You know that Warlord?” Nami asks, looking confused. In fact, everyone seems surprised, except for Sanji who looks pissed for reasons Luffy can’t understand.
“Yeah. I ended up on the island of women. They're all my friends now!” Luffy answers proudly.
While Sanji continues to sulk over it—Luffy still doesn’t understand—Zoro remains silent the whole time. Well, the swordsman doesn’t partake in things that don't interest him, that Luffy understands. What he doesn’t understand is the irritation waving off Zoro, his forehead scrunched up a little.
Maybe he’s irritated by Sanji’s antics again. It wouldn’t be a surprise, the two always managing to piss the other off. However, Zoro isn’t looking at Sanji—he’s looking at the ship of the Kuja Pirates, specifically where Hancock is supposed to be.
Does Zoro don’t like her? Maybe. Since she’s a Warlord. It seems like Zoro’s habit of being skeptical of other people still remains.
He catches Zoro’s eyes—eye, Luffy corrects himself, he wants to know how that happened next time—and the irritation slips from his face. He looks a little startled, finding Luffy looking at him, but he quickly changes back to his usual self.
They look at each other for a little while, and Luffy doesn’t need to wonder if everything else is still the same. Surely, something has changed, he seems more serious but he’s the same Zoro he met at Shell’s Town. Luffy can still recognize the glint of relief in Zoro’s eye—the glee, the trust, and the faith. It’s all there as it was two years ago.
Now that the Marines are occupied, the crew takes the time to set up the ship. The jelly that coats the ship inflates, and soon, the whole Sunny is now inside a huge bubble. Nami explains how it works, and it’s a little bit complicated but it does make sense in Luffy’s head.
“Are we getting underway, Nami?” he asks the navigator.
“Yes. Go right ahead, Captain.”
Luffy grins. He wants to take the time to speak properly to his crewmates, but the threat of the Marine still looms over them. They still have a lot of journeys ahead of them, he can do it another time. What’s important is that they’re now all together again, and they need to get far from these Marines.
“All right, guys! There’s a whole lot of stuff I’d like to say to you, but never mind! I just want to thank you for going along with my selfish request for the last two years!” Their sails are unfurled and their Jolly Roger flaps open. Luffy takes a deep breath—this is it, this is what I’ve been waiting for, this is what I’ve been training for—and then he screams his heart out. “Set sail!”
The whole ship slowly sinks down, and they submerge into the waters of Sabaody. Luffy takes in their new surroundings for a while. Most of the time, Luffy is barely conscious whenever he’s beneath the ocean, but now he gets to see how pretty it is without feeling weak and like he’s about to die.
The world is truly vast and beautiful. The huge roots of Sabaody reach deep into the sea while various fishes, big and small with different colors, swim around them. Luffy can’t help but get excited. Going on a deep-sea adventure with all his friends, all of them healthy and stronger than before, it truly feels like a dream.
Joy flows in his veins. He hasn’t felt like this for a while, and he wishes it would stay like this for a long time.
As they sink deeper into the sea, there are a lot of things Nami explains, but Luffy can’t deny now that he doesn’t get it. So Nami ends up making him go to the other side of the ship so he can’t interrupt her anymore, and of course, Zoro is sent after him too.
Now alone with the swordsman, Luffy leans over the railing, watching over the beautiful view in front of him, and takes this time to talk to Zoro.
“So Zoro, where did the Bear Guy send you?” he asks, quite eager to know all about what happened to Zoro for the last two years.
Zoro smiles and tells him about a seemingly abandoned gloomy island with strong baboons that can copy humans when it comes to fighting. He tells Luffy about ruins and a castle that seems to move a lot so he always gets lost. He tells him about a certain Warlord residing on the island but he doesn’t give out more details, only that he trained there with him for two years.
Luffy knows Zoro, a man who doesn’t bow down to anyone let alone his rival, and so for him to train with Hawkeyes really shows the lengths he’ll go to to get stronger. Luffy feels so lucky to have him by his side, always there to protect everyone. With Zoro around, now stronger than ever, Luffy’s confident that nothing will befall their crew this time.
Then Zoro continues and tells him about the ghost lady—Perona, Zoro calls her—who was apparently part of that Warlord in Thriller Bark. She has been sent away by the Bear Guy’s powers too and has decided to stick around the island since then.
“Oh, now I remember her!” Luffy exclaims. The ghost lady has those weird ghosts that make everyone really negative when they pass through someone. “So you and her are friends now, huh?”
“I wouldn’t say friends,” Zoro says, his eyebrows twitching.
Luffy hums. “More than that?”
“Not like that, you idiot,” Zoro says, clicking his tongue. “She’s more like family. Like a nagging older sister.”
Relief washes over Luffy as a wide smile pulls his lips. “Oh, I see! It would’ve been nice if she came with us then.”
“Trust me, it’d be dreadful.” Zoro looks at him, and there’s a brief moment where he seems to think before speaking again. “So how about you? You trained with Rayleigh, right?”
“I did! It was great!” Luffy says.
Zoro looks at him. “And you also somehow became friends with the Pirate Empress.”
“Hancock? Yeah!” Luffy answers. Zoro doesn’t react, only watching him intently with one eye so he continues. “The Bear Guy sent me to the island of women, and Hancock was their leader. That’s where Rayleigh found me. Hancock’s really nice, she gave me lots of food and she helped me out a lot so she’s my friend now.”
Zoro still doesn’t say anything, only humming but it sounds more like a grunt.
“But she’s a little funny too because she keeps asking me to marry her,” Luffy adds.
If it were Luffy’s any other crewmate, their jaws would’ve been dropping in surprise. This seems to be the most common reaction whenever someone hears Hancock asking him to be her husband.
Though Zoro’s quite different. He doesn’t seem to be surprised—he didn’t falter, he didn’t even bat an eyelash, he just continues looking at Luffy as if he’s already expected that.
“And what did you say?” Zoro asks, his voice somewhat different. A little bit low and strained like he’s thirsty for booze.
“I said no, of course!” Luffy says, and he watches how the muscles on Zoro’s forehead relax. His jaws unclench as he takes a deep breath. “I’m not interested in marriage right now. There’s still a lot of adventures ahead of us!”
A school of fish swims past them and Luffy’s eyes follow them until they’re nothing more than little dots in the distance. “How about in the future then? When all of this ends after we find the One Piece?”
Luffy’s face sours at the thought and he huffs a breath in annoyance. “I don’t want this to end.” He looks at Zoro, but the swordsman’s expression is still the same. Like he’s fine with the idea he just said out loud. “Will Zoro leave me after we find the One Piece and he’s become the world’s greatest swordsman?”
“I didn’t say that, idiot,” Zoro says, rolling his eye.
“You still didn’t answer my question.”
“I’m not—” Zoro takes a sharp breath. “I’m not going to leave you, Luffy. Not after all the adventure ends. Not even after we reach our dreams. Never again.”
Luffy grins, quite happy and content with Zoro’s answer. He leans his head against Zoro’s arm, and he feels the muscles there relax. He takes a deep inhale, the scent of the sea filling his lungs along with the familiar scent of the Sunny. Of Zoro. “It’s okay. It’s not Zoro’s fault we all got separated.”
“I know,” Zoro says. Now that Luffy’s a little bit close to his chest, he really feels its rumble with Zoro’s deep voice. It’s very soothing to Luffy’s ear. “But maybe things would’ve been different if I was there.”
Maybe. Maybe not. Thinking of the past still makes Luffy’s chest hurt so he tries not to think about it. Everything that has happened already happened. What matters now is the present: their adventure, their dreams, their friendship. These are all the things that Luffy cherishes the most, and now it’s all together again.
Zoro seems fine that Luffy doesn’t reply. They remain in their position, looking at the beautiful ocean surrounding them. It’s so peaceful and Luffy snuggles his cheek closer to Zoro’s arm, his skin squishing against the soft fabric of Zoro’s clothes.
But then Zoro decides to break the silence.
“Hey, you still didn’t answer my question,” he says.
“Hmm? What is it again?”
Zoro clears his throat. “If your answer to the Pirate Empress’ proposal would still be the same in the future.”
Luffy pulls away slightly to look at Zoro. “Don’t worry. I don’t like Hancock like that. I’m not going to marry her.”
Raising an eyebrow, Zoro asks, “Don’t worry?”
“Yeah. I know Zoro’s worried,” Luffy says, shrugging.
“I’m not worried,” Zoro says, turning his head away. Though Luffy can see the flush creeping up his neck and ears.
Luffy giggles. “You are, though. Your forehead is all scrunched up, your lips are pressed together, and your muscles are all so tense. Plus, your voice sounds really weird too. Your worried face hasn’t really changed!”
“Idiot captain,” Zoro mutters. His face is really red now, and it only makes Luffy giggle harder. Zoro rolls his eye again, and then he looks at Luffy, quite warmly despite the expression on his face. “So you’re not going to marry the Pirate Empress?”
“I’m not going to marry her,” Luffy repeats firmly. He leans his face closer to Zoro again, and the swordsman doesn’t make a move to step back even though there’s only an inch or two between them. “Zoro’s not going to marry anyone else too, right?”
“I’m not going to marry anyone else, Luffy,” Zoro says. The finality of it is clear to both of them.
Luffy links his arm around Zoro’s and leans on it again. He sighs happily. There’s really nothing like Zoro’s presence beside him, warm, sturdy, and comforting. “That’s a promise then! And another dream added to our list!”
He feels Zoro chuckle, his arm shaking a little. “Our shared dream, huh?”
“Hey, if Zoro doesn’t want to marry me, he can just say so,” Luffy says, frowning.
“I didn’t say that, you idiot,” Zoro says, and Luffy can practically see him rolling his eye again from his tone. Though he can see that Zoro is smiling too. “After all of this, after we reach all of our dreams, when you’re the pirate king and I’m the world’s greatest swordsman, then we’ll do it, Luff. We’ll reach our shared dream too.”
A soft smile pulls Luffy’s lips once more. “I like the sound of that.”
Zoro takes his arm from Luffy’s hold, and Luffy is ready to complain, his lips already in a pout, but then Zoro puts his arm around his shoulders instead, pulling him closer, their sides flushed against each other. Luffy has gotten big, but Zoro is still way bigger, and he fits perfectly against the swordsman’s side.
“This journey will take a long time,” Zoro says. Luffy’s not sure if he’s talking about their descent to Fishman Island or something else.
Either way, Luffy answers, “It’s okay. We’ll get there.”
Zoro hums in agreement, squeezing his shoulder. Then he seems to move his head, and Luffy feels a light press on the top of his head. “Yeah. We’ll get there,” Zoro says.
And at that moment, as the Sunny sinks into the deep ocean, a new adventure awaiting them, their crewmates chattering behind them, Zoro holding him like he’s reminding himself that this is real, like he never wants to let go, that after two years, they’re it’s all finally back together again—Luffy feels like he’s the happiest person in the world.