Chapter 2

Luffy ends up on an island that the pirate Iron-Mace Alvida is using as a base. There he meets Coby, a boy who's been forced to be Alvida's servant despite his desires to become a marine. Luffy helps give Coby the courage to stand up to Alvida, after which Luffy promptly defeats her and leaves the island with Coby.

Information
Viz Title: They Call Him "Straw Hat Luffy" Japanese Title: その男"麦わらのルフィ" Romanized Title: Sono Otoko "Mugiwara no Rufi" Year Released: 1997 Pages: 23 Volume: 1 Pg.: 59

Summary
Luffy sets off in a dingy to form his own pirate crew, however no sooner had he left did he run into his first problem - a whirlpool.

Meanwhile on a remote island, Alvida is inspecting her ship, she clobbers one of her crew for leaving dust on the deck and asks Coby "who is the most beautiful in all the sea?". The boy fearfully replies she is. She comments on how Coby is only allowed to stay because he knows more about navigation then all the others and how useless he is besides that.

Sad and upset, Coby pushes a barrel he found into Alvida's hideout. Upon approach three of Alvida's crew stop him and take the barrel, bullying him into being silent about the fact they are going to drink the wine inside it without Alvida knowing. Suddenly, Luffy bursts out the barrel shocking everyone. Before they can get their answer as to why he popped out, Alvida sends her club flying into the hideout. Coby and Luffy flee, meanwhile Alvida accuses her crew of slacking because she heard someone call "Aw! What a nice nap!". They explain it wasn't them, but an intruder instead. Alvida fears the famous Zoro is here to claim her bounty.

Elsewhere Coby has dragged Luffy to safety away from Alvida. He shows him his boat he made over the last 2 years in a bid to escape from her and explained the sitaution he is in. Luffy comments on how whimpy Coby is. Luff tells Coby his dream to become Pirate King. Coby cannot believe Luffy is prepared to die for his dream and hits Luffy because he doesn't like his whimpy outlook. Coby admires Luffy's outlook on life. Coby then reveals he desires to become a Marine and catch bad guys. He boasts he would rather die trying to escape to join them then spend the rest of his life at Alvida's side.

Just then Alvida appears and destroys his boat. Alvida accuses Coby of hiring someone to kill her. When she asks him who the most beautiful woman is, Luffy interfers and outwardly states Alvida is an ugly old hag.

Chapter Notes

 * 1) This is the first time Marines are mentioned. Until now, there has not been any method of catching criminals mentioned in the storyline, even in the Romance Dawn chapters.  The resolution has always been one pirate (or Luffy) takes out another.

Plot Points

 * 1) Luffy's dingy ends up in a whirlpool.
 * 2) Alvida is introduced along with Coby.
 * 3) Coby background with Alvida is revealed.
 * 4) Zoro mentioned being in prison.
 * 5) Coby reveals his drem to be a Marine
 * 6) Luffy helps Coby get over his fear of Alvida.
 * 7) Coby explains Luffy needs One Piece to become Pirate King.
 * 8) They escape.

Characters Introduced

 * Alvida the Iron Mace
 * Coby
 * Zoro (mentioned)

Returning Characters

 * Luffy

Quotes

 * 1) Luffy: "I already decided I'll do it, so even if I die fighting for that cause that's fine with me."

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