**Chapter 33: I Refuse Your Refusal – Dreams, Drama, and a Rubbery Recruitment**
**Sunny's POV**
The deck of Alvida's battered ship creaked under our feet, the salty sea breeze whipping through my hair as I leaned against the railing, arms crossed and a smirk playing on my lips. The sun was dipping low, painting the ocean in shades of orange and red, the waves lapping gently against the hull like they were whispering secrets. Nami stood beside me, her satchel bulging with stolen treasure, her orange ponytail still a bit disheveled from the chaos. Koby sat cross-legged nearby, his glasses fogged from the sea spray, looking like he'd just survived a hurricane. And in the center of it all stood Lucy, fists planted firmly on her hips, her straw hat tilted at a jaunty angle, her grin so wide it could've lit up the Grand Line.
"You're joining my crew!" she declared, her voice booming with that unshakable confidence, like she'd already decided the fate of the world and was just informing us of it. Her red vest fluttered in the wind, her shorts scuffed from the fight, but her energy was infectious—rubber body, rubber spirit, all bouncing with unyielding optimism.
I raised an eyebrow, my observation Haki flickering faintly as I sized her up. She was every bit the chaos I expected from a Straw Hat, but with that genderbent twist RBG had thrown in for his cosmic kicks. Her eyes sparkled with determination, and there was a faint blush on her cheeks that hadn't been there before our eyes met. *Interesting,* I thought. I pushed off the railing, stepping closer with a teasing smirk. "And if I refuse?" I asked, my voice low and challenging, crossing my arms as the sea spray misted around us.
Lucy didn't even blink, her grin not faltering for a second. She leaned forward, her face inches from mine, her big, round eyes locking onto me with that fiery intensity. "Then I'll refuse your refusal!" she shot back, as if it were the most logical thing in the world, her rubber arm stretching slightly to poke my chest for emphasis.
For a solid two seconds, the ship creaked in stunned silence, the only sound the waves slapping against the hull. I could feel Nami's eye twitch beside me, Koby's jaw hit the deck, and even the defeated Alvida pirates groaning in the background seemed to pause in confusion.
Nami dragged a hand down her face, her voice a mix of exasperation and disbelief. "Oh no… she's even dumber than she looks. Ara ara, that doesn't even make sense! Umu, you can't just 'refuse a refusal'—that's not how logic works!"
Koby, still sitting cross-legged like he was meditating through a storm, nearly fell over, his glasses slipping down his nose. "T-th-that doesn't even make sense!" he stammered, echoing Nami, his face pale as he pushed his glasses back up. "Y-you can't just… refuse a refusal! That's like saying 'I disagree with your disagreement'—it's a loop!"
I burst out laughing, holding my stomach as the absurdity hit me like a rubber punch. The sound echoed across the deck, mixing with the crashing waves, and I couldn't stop—the sheer ridiculousness of it all, Lucy's dead-serious face while spouting nonsense. "You really are something, Straw Hat girl," I managed between chuckles, wiping a tear from my eye. "That's the dumbest logic I've ever heard… and I love it."
Lucy puffed her chest proudly, her blush deepening but her grin unwavering. "Shishishi~! That's right! Stubborn's my middle name! Lucy 'Stubborn' D. Monkey—that's me!" She struck a pose, her rubber arm stretching out to emphasize, nearly whacking Koby in the head.
Koby ducked, yelping. "Watch it! And it's not 'Monkey'—it's Monkey D. Lucy! Wait, no, that's not the point!"
Nami groaned louder, throwing her hands up. "This is a nightmare. First, Sunny's got voices in his head arguing like an old married couple, now a rubber idiot who thinks refusal is optional. Ara ara, my life's a meme."
[Ego]: "Correction: This girl's brain is emptier than a busted sake bottle. Tch, Sunny, you're not seriously considering this, are you? Umu, she's a walking disaster."
[System]: "Fufufu, bold girls can be dangerous, Sunny-sama. Don't let her get too close… unless you want me to eliminate her. ♥ Umu, her refusal refusal is kinda cute, though—almost as cute as your flustered face."
I sweatdropped, trying to ignore the mental commentary. "Please don't," I muttered under my breath.
Lucy blinked at me, tilting her head like a curious puppy. "Eh? Don't what? Who're you talking to, Blue Eyes? You got ghosts or something? Shishishi, that's cool! Ghosts could be crewmates too!"
Nami facepalmed so hard I heard the slap. "Ara ara, this is hopeless. Umu, Sunny, you deal with her—I'm out."
**Sharing Dreams**
The sun dipped lower, casting a warm glow over the deck as we sat together on the battered planks, the sea stretching endlessly around us like a canvas waiting to be explored. The air was thick with salt and the faint smell of gunpowder from the earlier fight, the horizon glowing orange in the late sun. Lucy clapped her hands, her energy infectious. "Alright! Dreams time! If we're gonna sail together, we need to know what drives us!"
She went first, of course, jumping to her feet with a dramatic flourish. "I'm Lucy, and I'm gonna be Queen of the Pirates!" she declared, her voice booming with unshakeable confidence, her straw hat casting a shadow over her grinning face.
Koby gasped, his eyes wide behind his glasses. "Queen? Y-you can't! The seas are dangerous—the Marines, the Warlords, the Emperors—they'll crush you!"
Lucy leaned forward until her nose almost bumped his, her big eyes locking onto him. "Don't care! My dream's mine, and I'll chase it no matter what! Shishishi, nothing's gonna stop me—not danger, not bad guys, not even a giant chicken army!"
Koby froze, then lowered his eyes, his voice small but determined. "I… I want to be a Marine. But not just any Marine. I want to protect people. I don't want to be weak anymore."
Lucy's grin softened into something rare—respect. She slapped his back so hard he nearly fell over. "That's a great dream! Protect the seas, and I'll conquer 'em! We'll meet in the middle!"
Then her gaze flicked to me, her eyes sparkling with curiosity—and that faint blush returning. "What about you, Blue Eyes?"
I leaned back lazily, pretending to think, my arms crossed as the sea spray misted my face. "Me? Simple. I want to explore the world. To see everything it hides—hidden islands, forgotten treasures, the ends of the seas. And…" my voice dropped, my eyes meeting Nami's for a moment, a hint of warmth there, "to protect the people I love. Always. No matter what."
Nami stiffened ever so slightly, her cheeks tinting pink as she looked away fast, fiddling with her satchel strap. "Tch, sappy much?" she muttered, but her voice was soft, her eyes darting back to me with that mix of tsundere annoyance and something sweeter.
Lucy nodded vigorously. "Shishishi~ that's awesome! Protecting loved ones is the best! You're definitely crew material!"
Finally, Nami spoke, her tone softer but filled with quiet determination as she unrolled a small map from her bag. "I want to draw a map of the entire world. Every island, every sea, every hidden cove—all of it on one map. So no one ever gets lost again."
Lucy's eyes lit up like fireworks. "Shishishi~! You're cool! Definitely joining my crew!"
Nami's jaw dropped. "Wait—no one said anything about joining! I'm not—!"
"Too late!" Lucy barked happily, grabbing Nami's arm and shaking it. "I refuse your refusal! You're in!"
Nami buried her face in her hands, groaning. "This is a nightmare. Ara ara, I'm stuck with a rubber idiot."
Koby sweatdropped, adjusting his glasses. she's got a point—this doesn't make sense! You can't force people into your crew!"
Lucy punched the air. "Sure I can! That's how dreams work!"
**Comedy Break**
Koby, ever the innocent straight man, tilted his head in confusion. "But… Miss Lucy, why do you want Sunny in your crew? Isn't he a little… um, scary? With that blue glow thingy?"
Lucy's cheeks turned pink again, but she played it off with a laugh. "Shishishi, scary? Nah, he's cool! Like a main character from one of those memes—big Haki energy! And he's cute when he smirks!"
Nami nearly spat her water. "Cute?! Ara ara, Lucy, you've got weird tastes. Umu, Sunny's more like a walking disaster magnet."
I smirked, leaning back. "Jealous, Nami? Don't worry, you're still my favorite thief."
Nami blushed, swatting my arm. "Shut up, idiot! I'm not jealous!"
Koby, flustered, adjusted his glasses again. "This is all so confusing! It's like a bad fanfic—genderbent Luffy, Haki memes, and now crew recruitment via refusal refusal?!"
Lucy grinned. "Shishishi, sounds fun! What's a fanfic?"
Nami facepalmed. "Don't ask."
**Toward Shells Town**
By the next day, our patched-up boat skimmed over calm seas, the wind filling the sails like a gentle push from fate. Lucy sat on the bow, scarfing down bread like she hadn't eaten in weeks, crumbs flying everywhere as she laughed between bites. "Shishishi, this bread's awesome! Almost as good as meat!"
Nami studied her map with a calculating look, her orange ponytail swaying as she traced routes with her finger. "Shells Town. There should be a chart of the Grand Line there. If we get it, I'll be one step closer to mapping the world."
Koby's hands trembled with excitement, his glasses slipping down his nose. "And… and it's where I can report to the Marines! My dream… it's finally within reach! I can't believe it!"
Lucy pumped a fist, her rubber arm stretching for emphasis. "Perfect! And Zoro's there too! He's the strongest swordsman—he's gonna be my crewmate!"
Nami's jaw dropped, her map crinkling in her grip. "You can't just 'recruit' someone like Zoro! He's a demon! Ara ara, he'll slice you in half before you finish your sentence!"
Lucy grinned wider, unfazed. "Shishishi, perfect! Then he's exactly what I need! Demons make the best friends!"
I leaned back against the mast, watching their bickering with half-lidded eyes, the sea spray misting my face. "Guess fate's steering us to Shells Town," I said casually, my void-blue Haki flickering faintly as I sensed the currents ahead.
Nami huffed, rolling her eyes but smiling despite herself. "Fate? No. Idiocy, yes. Ara ara, you're all gonna get us killed."
Lucy laughed, throwing an arm around Nami's shoulder. "Same thing! Shishishi, idiocy's the best kind of fate!"
Koby sweatdropped, adjusting his glasses. "This crew's gonna be a disaster…"
Nami groaned. "Umu, tell me about it."
As the boat sailed on, the banter continued—Lucy challenging me to arm-wrestle (I let her win once, her rubber arm stretching comically), Nami teasing Lucy about her "queen" dream ("Ara ara, queens don't eat like slobs!"), Koby nervously asking about Marines. Romance sparked in the little moments—Nami's hand brushing mine as she showed me the map, her cheeks pink when I praised her work. Comedy in the chaos, like when Lucy tried to "stretch" the sail and nearly capsized us, screaming "Shishishi, oops!" as we all grabbed the rails.
And for once, even with RBG's twist, I wasn't facing God like enemy (he regretting saying this in future chapter). This Straw Hat girl, with her rubber fists and starry-eyed crush, was about to turn my world upside down—and I was ready for the ride.
**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.