Episode 68: Try Hard, Coby! Diary of Coby-Meppo's Marine Struggles
Air Date: 2001-05-13
Opening: Believe (2nd Opening)
Ending: Watashi ga Iru Yo (3rd Ending)
Manga Chapters: 83-85, 87-93, 95-99, 101-102, 104-106, 108-110, 112-113 (Cover Pages)
Adapted from: A Diary of Coby-Meppo's Harsh Struggles
Short Summary
As the Straw Hats head toward Little Garden, Luffy wonders about what happened to Coby. The events following Luffy's farewell to Coby are shown as Coby and Helmeppo are now enlisted in the Marines as chore boys. Captain Morgan makes a return appearance as he is arrested by the Marines, but he escapes on a boat with Helmeppo captive. Coby and Helmeppo fight against Morgan before being tossed off of the boat, and so Coby and Helmeppo are taken under Vice Admiral Garp's wing, being sent to the Marine Headquarters.
In-Depth Summary
The episode opens with Nami noting that the wind has stopped again, so they must take another break, worrying Vivi about the speed of their arrival to Arabasta. The Straw Hats decide to go fishing, but find out Luffy ate all of the bait. As Luffy suggests they eat Carue, everyone runs around crazily. Nami tells Vivi about all of the enemies that Luffy's beaten - Buggy, Kuro, Krieg, and Arlong. Zoro brings up Morgan, which causes Luffy to remember Coby, and wonders what happened to him. The scene shifts to Coby standing at the bow of a ship in a decorated Marine jacket, commanding a fleet. He talks about fulfilling his dream of becoming a commissioned Marine officer, when a giant Captain Morgan emerges from the water to fight him. However, a giant Luffy arrives and knocks him out with a Gomu Gomu no Tornado, and Coby if filled with wonder. Coby wakes up from this dream and falls from his hammock, landing on top of Helmeppo. Coby then sets to work mopping the floors of the Marine base along with Helmeppo, both of them working as chore boys. Helmeppo complains about not eating while Coby remains vigilant, honored to be doing the work he can be doing. Helmeppo demands why Coby is volunteering for more work, but Coby replies simply that it is a duty as a chore boy.
As Coby washes the windows, Helmeppo continues to complain. He daydreams about lounging around in a greenhouse reading comics and having the Marines serve him drinks. He looks back on those memories fondly, but complains that they are over since Morgan was stripped of his rank following his defeat at Luffy's hands. Helmeppo blames Luffy for his hard life, but then Coby shows up and offers to be Helmeppo's friend. Helmeppo continues to blame Luffy for his troubles, but Coby sticks up for Luffy. Coby proceeds to call Helmeppo weak for hiding behind his father. Coby mentions his dream of becoming a Marine officer, inspired by the way Luffy lives his life. He offers to live the dream together with Helmeppo, but Helmeppo refuses. The two break out into a fight, and as they wrestle around on the roof of the building several Marine soldiers gather down below to see what's going on. Both Coby and Helmeppo fall off the roof and land on a cannon, causing it to fire and demolish an entire building. The soldiers gape in terror. Coby and Helmeppo go to Rika's house, bandaged up, and there Rika shows them a newspaper article about Luffy's escape from Loguetown. Coby realizes this must mean Luffy has reached the Grand Line, so Luffy is one step closer to fulfilling his dream.
On a large Marine ship, a chained up Morgan is brought before the soldiers, including Helmeppo and Coby. It is explained that Morgan will be brought before the Marines for a court martial. This terrifies Coby and Helmeppo. Later, they polish up cannonballs in the cabin, and Helmeppo thinks about the fate of his father. He begins to cry, and asks Coby if he thinks his father will be executed. Both of them are called on deck, and they stand before Vice-Admiral Garp, also known as Garp the Fist. Coby is amazed, since Garp has traveled on the Grand Line. Morgan is given into the custody of Garp, and Coby has to hold back Helmeppo. Garp starts going on about how he's reached a record for eating donuts without stopping. He then nods off, and Morgan takes this opportunity to cut down Garp. He grabs Helmeppo and holds his axe to Helmeppo's throat, yelling that he will kill Helmeppo if he is not set free. He leaves with Helmeppo on a small boat, so some soldiers prepare to fire a cannonball at them. Coby begs them not to shoot, standing in front of the cannon. Helmeppo sees this from his father's captivity, inspired. Coby declares that he would rather be dismissed than lose his friend. He then jumps off of the ship, swimming for Morgan's boat. The Marines' superior decides to let them go.
Suddenly, Garp wakes up and smashes the cannon with his fists. He looks down and notices the big gash in his chest for the first time, shocking the soldiers. Meanwhile, on the boat, Morgan declares that the world will bow before him. He orders they change course for west, but Helmeppo says that he will arrest Morgan after being inspired by Coby's friendship. Morgan knocks down Helmeppo, kicking him around and calling him lowly. Helmeppo stands up for himself, however. At that moment, Coby pulls himself up onto the boat. Morgan declares he will kill both of them, and so Helmeppo and Coby go after Morgan. They cling onto his legs, biting at him, but Morgan picks up Coby and lifts his axe to kill him. Morgan then tosses both of them off of the boat, saying that they aren't worth killing. MOrgan starts to leave, and Helmeppo declares that he will capture his father. Later, Coby and Helmeppo are brought before Garp, and it is proclaimed that they will be dismissed from the Marines. Garp, however, offers to bring them to Marine Headquarters, once again shocking the soldiers. Garp tells Coby and Helmeppo that they won't be able to complain anymore. With that, they set sail for the Grand Line, for the Marine Headquarters, and the episode ends.
Mumbo230’s Notes
to be added
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