This one was painful...
Title: The Adventures of young Roronoa Zoro (Part 2)
Theme: Prince
Claim: Zoro
Words: 5797 (eek!)
Rating: PG
Warnings: Pre-canon Zoro, time skips, deus ex machina, blah blah blah. Continues directly from Part 1.
Disclaimers: I don't own One Piece.
Saint Purliss' shock soon morphed into what Zoro supposed was the Tenryuubito version of princely indignation, his piggy little eyes narrowing dangerously at Zoro out of the glass bubble he wore over his head. "What is the meaning of this insolence? You dare to keep your head raised before a World Noble?"
"I deeply apologise on the boy's behalf, Saint Purliss!" Kilnore said frantically. He crawled over to Zoro, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and tried to force him into a bow, but Zoro would have none of it.
"I won't!" He scrambled beyond Kilnore's reach and glared at the Tenryuubito, arms crossed in defiance. "Father said I wouldn't ever have to bow down to anyone. Not even you."
"I apologise on the child's behalf, Saint Purliss! He is merely ill-instructed..."
"Don't apologise for me! I haven't done anything wrong!" Zoro cut Kilnore off.
"Don't you realise what you're doing, Your Royal Highness? To go against the blood of this world's creators is to condemn yourself to death! Please, just bow!"
"This is your last chance, boy," Saint Purliss snarled.
This time, Zoro didn't even bother to think. "I'd rather die."
The gasps that greeted his declaration were followed by an uneasy silence, broken when Saint Purliss snapped the order: "What are you lot are waiting for? I want him down on his knees!"
"Yes, sir!" his men responded obediently, and promptly swarmed around Zoro.
"Leggo of me! Ow! You brutes! Pick on someone your own size, you bullies!" Despite his struggles, Zoro was inevitably overwhelmed, and he soon found himself kneeling before the Tenryuubito. "Dammit! Let me go!" he tried again, but with one man pinning down each limb, he was completely helpless.
Saint Purliss gazed at Zoro with malicious satisfaction. "What do you think, Kilnore?"
"My lord?" Kilnore sounded shaken.
"What should I do with this young whippersnapper? Have him strung up and hanged?"
"Oh, but, my lord, the treaty..." Kilnore stammered.
"What about the treaty?" Saint Purliss said, a touch of menace lacing his words.
"I mean, if that is your desire, you are perfectly within your rights to order his death, my lord..." Kilnore backtracked rapidly.
"Perhaps I will do that," Saint Purliss pondered. "Or perhaps I will make him a slave. How much do you think he will fetch at the Auction House on Sabaody?"
"The minimum bid would be 500,000 beli, my lord, but being of royal blood himself, he would certainly fetch many times that..."
"Yes, I can definitely think of several people who would enjoy having a little princeling pet to play with," Saint Purliss smiled toothily at Zoro.
"You can't do that to people! Let me go! My father will hear of this!" Zoro yelled, using for the first time in his life the worst threat in his arsenal.
"Purhahahaha!" Saint Purliss chortled. "Your father? He is a mere vassal of the World Government, far beneath me in rank. Nothing he can say will have any bearing on my actions."
"What gives you the right...!"
"The same thing that gives you the right to lord it over your own people - the blood running through your veins."
"We don't lord it over our people! Would I even be here if I was allowed to?" Zoro raged, all his resentment at having to become a hostage for his kingdom in the first place finally bursting its dam and rising to the surface.
"Lower your voice! Speak respectfully to Saint Purliss!" The man holding his right arm gave him a cuff on his ear.
"Ow! Leave me alone!" Zoro said sulkily. He looked up and met the Tenryuubito's eyes once more, only to find them boring into him calculatingly, almost suspiciously. "What's your problem?" he spat, knowing he was just inviting more blows to his head but unable to help himself.
Any intended reprimand was cut off by Saint Purliss saying thoughtfully, "That's true. If you really were a royal prince, and the only heir to your kingdom's throne, would your parents ever allow you to come as a hostage?"
"Huh?"
"There was some commotion on the docks before you left, so I hear. Kilnore, what was it all about?"
"That? There was a boy in the crowd, sir, who said he wasn't the prince, but his friend."
"A commoner, then?"
"So what? Yes, I played with the other boys. Yes, I acually breathed the same air as my people. What does that matter?"
Saint Purliss ignored his outburst, instead nudging his slave forward and instructing the two men holding Zoro by the arms: "Let me see his hands." Zoro suppressed a hiss of pain as they twisted his wrists roughly to bare his palms for the World Noble's inspection. "As I thought," he said grimly. "These are not the hands of a prince."
Zoro looked down at his hands, callused and scratched from the rough-and-tumble activities he'd participated in with his friends. "Just because I actually played...?"
"And this...moss growing on his head."
"It's hair!"
"King Jiro, what colour is his hair?"
"Black, my lord," Kilnore replied.
"And the boy's supposed mother?"
"What d'you mean, supposed?"
"Blond, my lord. Do you mean to say...?"
"Yes," Saint Purliss said grimly. "You've allowed yourself to be tricked, Kilnore. You've let yourself be taken in by a substitute, while the real prince stays safe within his own country."
This was so preposterous Zoro could only splutter incoherently for a few moments before managing a weak "that's not true!"
"Where's that treaty?" Saint Purliss asked, completely ignoring Zoro's objection.
"I'll fetch it, my lord," Kilnore stammered, and hurried off. He was back within a few moments.
The World Noble didn't even bother to read it. "Tear it up," he ordered.
"But...my lord..." Kilnore began, but the Tenryuubito fixed with a sharp glare.
"A treaty entered into in bad faith isn't worth the parchment it's written on, is it, Kilnore?"
"But...my mission was to get the treaty signed and the prince delivered to Goa. If I fail..."
"You have already failed, Kilnore. You brought an impostor on board instead of the prince."
"I'm not an impostor!"
"Tear - it - up."
Kilnore hung his head. "Yes, my lord."
"DON'T!" Zoro yelled, appalled, as he watched the document he'd traded his life for was shredded away.
"Now, bring me a Den-Den Mushi. We can't let them get away with this trickery." A Den-Den Mushi was duly brought. "Get me the nearest Marine fleet."
As Kilnore hastened to make the connection, Zoro asked warily, "Why are you calling them?"
"I'm going to have a fleet sent to your country to teach your king how not to deal with a World Noble."
"You mean...attack us?" Zoro processed the implications of the Tenryuubito's threat. But that was the whole point of signing the treaty!
"My lord, Marine Base E7 on the line." Kilnore held up the receiver.
That's why I'm in this mess in the first place!
"Marine Base E7? This is Saint Purliss speaking!" the World Noble barked in his most self-important tone.
I can't let this happen! With a strength born of sheer desperation, Zoro wrenched his right hand free of the guard's grip and grabbed his sword out of the hilt at the man's waist, swinging it around in a wide arc that left the four around him scrambling for cover.
His hands closed around the hilt, the feeling somehow disturbingly foreign yet comfortingly familiar. A rush of power coursed through him. I know how to use this.
"Get him!" Saint Purliss roared, pulling out a gun, as Zoro darted towards him, sword at the ready. Just as Zoro had anticipated, everyone dropped everything to come to their master's aid, including the Den-Den Mushi.
He abandoned the feint and dove for it as it fell from Kilnore's hands, narrowly avoiding the point-blank shot from the World Noble's gun as he did so. He heard a shrill cry of pain behind him, but he didn't care.
"Hello? Hello? My lord, there appears to be some kind of disturbance on your end - " The transmission was abruptly cut off as Zoro yanked the receiver off the telephonic snail. Goal met, he reached once more for the sword, only to see a heavy boot smash down against the blade. He launched himself backwards before the guard's other boot could stamp down on his hand, and found himself back-to-back with the Tenryuubito and his slave. The guard's eyes widened at his proximity to their master and grabbed a handful of his tunic to wrench him away. Zoro scrambled for something, anything to hold onto. His hand found the tube that connected the breathing apparatus on the Tenryuubito's back to the bubble on his head.
They heard a snap, and then a faint hiss of escaping air.
Pandemonium broke out.
Zoro was roughly thrown aside, pinned down and his hands cuffed in front of himself. He watched in a sort of detached fascination as Saint Purliss discovered the curious fact that the air everyone else breathed was not in any way toxic to him.
Nevertheless, Saint Purliss was shaking with anger when everything had calmed down and Zoro was hauled to his feet once more to face him. "How dare you. How dare you! What have you got to say for yourself?"
Zoro looked at the length of tube still in his hand. "Whoops?" he offered.
"String him up! I want him flogged till he begs for mercy!" the World Noble ordered.
"Yes, my lord!" his men barked, bending to their task with alacrity, eager to divert Saint Purliss' wrath onto someone else, slipping a rope through Zoro's handcuffs and looping it over a yardarm, while his back was bared for the whip.
Zoro made no protest. He felt suddenly exhausted and overwhelmed, the reckless euphoria fading fast against his disappointment at not having even gotten a single sword attack in on the Tenryuubito. Then again, stabbing him from the back would have been pretty cowardly...
"Done, sir!" the men reported.
"Bring me another Den-Den Mushi! You can wriggle up there while you listen to me give the order for your kingdom to be destroyed, boy."
"Er, my lord?" A Marine shuffled forward with obvious reluctance, his head cautiously bowed now that he'd seen the consequences of not doing so.
"Who are you?" Saint Purliss snapped.
"The communications officer, sir. That was the only Den-Den Mushi we had capable of transmitting at a distance that will reach any other Marine base, and it will take at least a few days to reattach the transmitter to the Den-Den Mushi. They're sensitive creatures, sir." The Marine was visibly trembling as he explained the situation.
"Imbeciles! I'm served by a load of imbeciles!" Saint Purliss raised his gun once more and, before everyone's horrified eyes, shot the man in the chest.
"My lord! That's one of my men!" The ship's captain, who had let the Tenryuubito's men run the show until now, stepped forward. "I cannot...allow..." he gulped as Saint Purliss's face darkened with anger.
"Do you want to be strung up next to that boy?"
"N-no, my lord," the captain swallowed hard, but gathered his courage and pressed on. "But still, I cannot allow you to harm my men..." Another shot pierced the air, and this time it was the captain's turn to hit the deck, red spreading across his dress whites.
"Who else wishes to interfere with the descendants of this world's creators?"
Everyone glanced nervously at the gun Saint Purliss was waving around, and at the captain's twitching body, and said nothing.
"You know," Zoro contributed from his vantage point, "that was probably a bad idea."
"You still dare to speak, boy?"
"You'll probably need him now that you're gonna be attacked by pirates." He nodded towards the distant ship flying its Jolly Roger, which had gone unreported in all the commotion.
"It's the Red-Haired Pirates!" someone shouted. "They're the worst pirates in East Blue!"
Saint Purliss turned a glare on Zoro. "I suppose your kingdom is now in league with pirates! You planned all this!"
"We didn't! Pirates are scum who attack our villages! Why would we do a thing like that!"
Saint Purliss snorted disbelievingly, then took charge of the situation, ordering, "Capture the pirates! I want them them strung up to be whipped next to this boy! Fire your cannons at them!"
"But sir, they're not yet within firing range!"
"Fire them anyway!"
"Yes, sir!"
Apart from the chafing in his wrists, Zoro was glad to have such a good view of the proceedings. He watched, highly entertained, as the cannonballs arced through the air and fell well short of the pirate ship.
"Saint Purliss, please leave this to the Marines," Kilnore pleaded. "Please go back to your cabin, where you will be safe!"
"Nonsense, Kilnore!" Saint Purliss dismissed his concerns. "I can direct this battle as well as this incompetent imbecile can!" Zoro winced as the Tenryuubito kicked the downed captain in the stomach. "Fire another volley!"
Zoro watched the Marines exchange nervous, hesitant glances, then proceed to obey the foolish instructions. They loaded and discharged several rounds uselessly, but now the pirate ship was getting close to where the cannonballs were splashing into the sea. The next barrage of cannonfire was aimed squarely at the ship.
"Purhahaha! Take that, pirates!" Saint Purliss rejoiced.
But instead of exploding, the cannonballs seemed to disintegrate in mid-air, leaving the pirate ship intact.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaa - " the Tenryuubito's eyes bugged out at the sight.
"It didn't work!" Zoro heard the cries of consternation from the crew.
"What happened?" Saint Purliss demanded. "You imbeciles! You did something to the cannonballs, didn't you!"
"It wasn't them! It's a swordsman!" Zoro squirmed in excitement. "There's a swordsman standing on the prow and he just sliced through all of them!"
"Fire another round!" Saint Purliss ordered, but it met the same fate of the one before.
"Awesome," Zoro breathed, but he seemed to be the only one who felt that way. All around him, Marines and Tenryuubito alike were panicking.
"It's the work of the devil!" someone yelled.
"Captain! Please! What do we do now?" A Marine was bent over the body of the captain, begging for help.
Saint Purliss stared at the seemingly invincible pirate ship in disbelief, then tugged on the reins of his slave and turned him towards the inner quarters of the ship. "We're taking cover," he announced to his entourage. He raised his voice and addressed the crew. "Fire on the pirate ship until it's destroyed! If the pirates board, cut them down! Protect my life at all costs!" He urged his slave on, and his men all disappeared below deck with him, leaving the Marines standing on deck, slack-jawed and leaderless, even as the pirate ship advanced perilously close. Zoro licked his lips in anticipation of seeing a real swordfight up close.
Suddenly he felt a sawing at his bonds, and he fell to the deck. He looked around to see Kilnore and two of the guards. "Hey, what are you doing?" he asked, as they picked him up and held him firmly.
"Saint Purliss' orders," Kilnore replied tersely. "Carry him below decks, to the brig."
"What? But I wanted to watch the battle!" Zoro protested.
"You're going to be put to death along with all the slaves. Saint Purliss doesn't to risk you getting freed by the pirates," Kilnore said sadly.
"That's not fair!"
"Be quiet, boy!" Kilnore snapped. "None of this would have happened if you'd just bowed!"
"None of this would have happened if that Tenryuubito guy wasn't such a stuck-up ass! Ow!" Zoro was given another cuff on the ear. He wriggled and struggled but he was no more successful in freeing himself this time than the last. They carried him into the depths of the ship and threw him into the brig. He was horrified to see that it was already fully occupied, with row upon row of miserable-looking collared slaves. He was tossed into their midst, somebody's lap breaking his fall.
"Use the gas. Saint Purliss's orders," Kilnore added, when the two men gave him a surprised look. "In retaliation for the breathing tube incident." They nodded in understanding and turned away to prepare something.
"Hey! Wait a minute! You're going to get captured anyway! You don't have to follow his orders!" Zoro pointed out. A bump rocked the ship, confirming that the pirates had pulled up alongside and were preparing to board.
"I'm going to go back and talk to the pirates, make sure they know just who they're attacking. Once they find out it's a Tenryuubito, they'll turn tail and flee," Kilnore explained. "And even if they don't, I am a servant of the Tenryuubito. I must obey their orders."
"Even if they're idiotic?" Zoro had seen enough of those today.
"Even if they're idiotic," Kilnore confirmed. "Goodbye, Your Royal Highness. I am sorry it came to this." He walked away. The two guards behind him tossed two small objects into the room, then slammed the door shut and turned the key in the lock. The brig plunged back into darkness.
"What're those things they just threw inside?" Zoro asked.
"Must be gas grenades," the man whose lap he happened to be sprawled across replied. "We'll suffocate to death." On cue, the people closest to the grenades began to cough. Zoro smelt a horrible smell, felt his lungs constrict, and realised deep inside that they were all going to die.
This is all my fault! He picked himself up and ran to the door, throwing himself against it in an effort to break it open.
"Forget it, kid. It would take ten men to bash that door down," a man sitting by the door said.
"But there are more than ten men in here! Why don't you all help?"
"What's the point?" the man shrugged. "We were doomed the moment we became slaves. Might as well die here rather than continue to live in slavery."
"But there are pirates up there, there's a swordsman too! They'll free you, but you need to survive first!"
"You heard what that guy said. The pirates will turn tail once they know what they're up against."
"They won't! I'm sure they won't!" Zoro clung to the one shred of hope he had left. "Listen!" It was hard to, over the growing coughing, but the sounds of battle could be distantly heard above them. "They're fighting! They didn't run! Let's fight too!" But by now everyone was coughing and wheezing, and made no reply.
"Fine! If you won't fight, I will!" Zoro bashed his shoulder against the door a few more times. If only I were stronger! He yelled at the top of his aching lungs. Please! I don't want to be the one who killed them! Damn handcuffs...maybe if he didn't have them on, he could hammer on the doors that much louder. If only I had a sword... He tried to pull his wrists out of the handcuffs, wondering how they would fit on an adult if they were small even for a boy's hands. If only my hands weren't there... Well, there was a plan. He grimly began to saw through his hands.
"What the hell d'you think you're doing, kid?" the man next to him wheezed, hearing his tiny whimpers of pain.
"I'm gonna get out of these things and get out of here."
"Ha...haha...that's a good one, kid. Just...spend your last moments in peace, will ya?"
"Shut up! I won't give up!" But Zoro did have to give up on Plan A eventually with his discovery that bone was far more durable than he thought. He slammed both fists against the door, screaming for help between his coughs. Gradually, though, his fists and voice lost their volume, and he felt the fight seep out of his body along with the oxygen.
We're really going to die.
I was weak.
I killed them with my pride.
"I'm sorry..."
Zoro slumped against the door, all energy gone.
The door swung open, and Zoro fell against the legs of a tall, mysterious figure wrapped in a black cloak. "Please...I killed them..."
"Easy, boy. I heard you," the cloaked man said, scooping him up in his arms.
But by then Zoro was no longer awake to hear.
After the battle
"Oi!" the captain of the Red-Haired Pirates called cheerfully as the cloaked man strode by him. "Stop stomping around and brooding and have something to drink!"
"I wish I could have your sense of irresponsibility," the man replied, "but I have to see to the slaves."
"Doc'll take care of them!" Shanks replied cheerfully. "Besides, the Tenryuubito drink uncommonly good wine. Here."
Reluctantly, the man took the bottle offered. "What will you do with this ship?"
"You can have it, with our compliments. I'll be glad to get rid of you freeloaders," Shanks replied airily. "Besides, it has a dragon for a figurehead. Fitting."
The man inclined his head. "You have our thanks for your valuable contribution to our cause."
"You're more than welcome. What would I do with a ship that big, anyway?"
"True."
There was a pause, before Shanks inquired, "What do you plan to do with your captives?"
"Some of them will doubtless have to be killed," the man said dispassionately. "The Tenryuubito is already dead, which removes one obstacle. There's also the man named Kilnore - the World Government negotiator - whom we'll be interrogating. He probably knows a lot of interesting information. The Marines can choose to be executed or to join us - we need some to man the ship. The slaves, of course, will be given a choice of joining us or being relocated."
"You sound quite bloodthirsty, my friend. But I know you will be fair."
"And what will you do, with your princely charge?" The cloaked head nodded in the direction of Shanks' cabin.
"My charge, hmm? I'm surprised you didn't want him."
"I have no love for the royalty or nobility of this world, but his kingdom happens to be one of the few that actually possesses a just king. And from what I have heard, it is clear he has taken after his father."
"Will his kingdom possess a king much longer?"
"Probably not, but that isn't something you or I can do anything about at this moment."
Shanks nodded. "Well! We'll drop him off where he chooses, I suppose. He's too young for a life of piracy. Especially not on the Grand Line."
"Of course. You plan to head there immediately?"
"The Marines will be after our heads once they find out about the Tenryuubito. We'll have to make a run for it. For that matter, what about you and this ship? It's a bit big to hide in East Blue," Shanks waved his hand at the Marine vessel, so many times the size of his own.
"I plan to take it to the one place they won't expect. Goa."
"Goa? Into the dragons' den? Oh, well, since it's you, why not?"
"Why not, indeed? I suspect we will find many more recruits to our cause there."
"This is where we part ways, then."
"Good luck on the Grand Line."
"Good luck in Goa. You'll need it more than me," Shanks laughed. He held out his bottle. "To freedom," he toasted.
A faint smile appeared on the man's tattooed face. "To freedom," he echoed, and drank.
The next day
"Cap'n!"
"Yeah, Yassop?"
"The boy's awake. Not being very cooperative, but he seems lively enough. I told him a bit about what happened."
"What did he say?"
"He didn't actually say anything. Apparently doesn't like the look of us pirates. But I could tell he was disappointed at not getting a crack at the Tenryuubito himself. Bloodthirsty little devil. But he seemed really glad to know the slaves were all right."
"All right, I'll talk to him." Shanks and Benn headed into the cabin.
"Hello there," Shanks greeted him cheerily. "My name's Shanks, I'm the captain of the pirate crew that attacked your ship."
When Zoro only pouted in response, Shanks raised an eyebrow. "Hey, the way I heard it, we came just in the nick of time to save your hide from a real tanning. Least you could do is be friendly."
"But you're pirates," Zoro said reluctantly.
"So what if we're pirates? Pirates are some of the friendliest people around."
"Pirates are scum. Father says so."
"Why's that?"
"Pirates come and attack our coastline every few months. They steal from our people and hurt them. They're bad guys."
"Ah. Well, there's pirates, and then there's pirates," Shanks said wisely. "And you're lucky these pirates happened to be delayed in East Blue long enough to rescue you from that mess you'd gotten yourself into."
"I guess," Zoro admitted. He glanced at Shanks' sword, his enthusiasm overcoming his reservations. "You're the swordsman, right? The one who sliced through all those cannonballs? You know, you're really strong! Even though...you have only one arm," he noticed, slightly belatedly.
"So I've been told," Shanks chuckled. "And you're one to talk. You almost sawed your own hands off, trying to get out of those handcuffs! Only thing I can't do is use two-handed styles. If you'd persisted, you wouldn't be able to use any sword style at all."
Zoro scowled, but his curiosity was piqued. "There are two-handed sword styles?"
"That's right."
"Wow! Can I learn them?"
Shanks chuckled. "Is that your dream, then? To become a swordsman?"
"Not just any swordsman. The world's greatest swordsman! I'll become so strong, I'll be able to protect my country even from bullies like the Tenryuubito!" Zoro resolved on the spot.
"World's greatest swordsman, eh?" Shanks laughed. "Wonder what Mihawk will make of this one. Eh, Benn?"
Zoro turned to look at the tall, imposing figure of the Red-Haired Pirates' first mate, who had been listening quietly all this while. "I think he would say that's quite an ambition," Benn said. "But you do realise that means never returning home again?"
Zoro's jaw dropped at Benn's pronouncement. "Huh? How come?"
"The world currently thinks young Prince Zoro is dead, killed by pirates. If you suddenly turn up alive, you'll have a lot of answer for everything that's happened," Benn explained. "They may let you off if you give them a good enough story, but you will almost certainly be taken hostage again, and never be trained as a swordsman. The alternative is to take advantage of the situation, let the world continue thinking you're dead, and free yourself to pursue your dream."
Zoro looked down at his chafed wrists. "Father gave me a choice once, between my country and my future. I chose my country back then. Maybe I should try going the other way this time...?" He ended off on a tentative note and looked appealingly at the pirates, as if begging for guidance.
They regarded the nine-year-old with sympathy. "It's your life, and your own choice to make. But in all honesty, I cannot say it's a bad one," Benn offered, and Shanks nodded in agreement. Zoro's shoulders slumped in relief.
"Do you...do you think I should let my parents know?"
"That's hard to say. Any communication we send will almost certainly be intercepted," was Benn's opinion. "And will be far more trouble than it's worth."
"If you truly wish to pursue your dream, you will have to leave your entire life behind. The path to becoming world's greatest swordsman is hard enough without the World Government constantly on your tail," Shanks advised.
A look of sadness crossed Zoro's face, but then his expression hardened and he squared his shoulders. "Okay. I understand."
"Good. Now, for what will happen next. We can drop you off at a dojo that happens to be on the way."
"Huh?" Zoro's jaw dropped. "You mean you won't train me yourself?"
"A pirate ship's no place for a kid, kid. Besides, didn't you say you wanted to learn two-handed sword styles?"
"Not to mention the Marines are going to come after us soon, for killing a Tenryuubito. Which means we'll have to head off to the Grand Line, which is even less a place for a kid," Benn added.
"I know the master of this dojo personally," Shanks reassured Zoro, seeing the boy's lost look. "I challenged him myself, but it came to a draw. That was back when I had two arms, too. Besides, Koshiro knows far better than me how to train someone else to be a great swordsman."
"Oh. Okay, I guess," Zoro said, but he still looked slightly forlorn.
"Hey, we're pirate scum, remember?" Shanks said lightly, clapping the boy on the back. "And Koshiro's a good man. He'll take good care of you, if you're willing to work hard."
"Of course I'll work hard!" Zoro looked a bit happier at the reassurance.
"Then you should be fine. Now...we'd better see about getting you a change of clothes. You can't go parading around in those princely robes. And you should choose a different name, too."
"A different name?" Zoro blinked. But he was Zoro. Always had been. Always would be.
"He can probably keep the 'Zoro'. It's a common enough name," Benn said. "D'you have a surname, back home?"
"Surname?" Zoro scratched his head.
"Yes. Like my name, Benn Beckman."
"All anyone's ever called me is 'Zoro'. Or 'Prince Zoro'. 'Your Highness' sometimes." Zoro still looked puzzled.
"'Mr. Prince'? That's quite the name." Shanks guffawed. "Not to mention it would give you away instantly. Maybe you should try a different surname."
"In that case...how about the name of a great swordsman?" Zoro asked eagerly.
"A great swordsman, huh? Let me think about it." Shanks mused for a moment. "What about 'Roronoa', after Roronoa Francesco? He was one of the greatest of all swordsmen."
"Roronoa...Zoro." Zoro rolled it around his tongue as if tasting it. He grinned. "I like it!"
"Good. Well then, Roronoa Zoro, why don't you go to bed? It'll take a few days for us to reach your dojo. If you see Yasopp - curly-haired sniper dude - let him know to make a new set of clothes for you, okay?"
"Okay. Thanks!" Zoro said eagerly. He jumped off the chair and went to the door, then paused. "You know, for pirate scum, you guys are pretty nice!" He flashed them a grin and ran away.
Shanks and Benn watched him go.
"Think he'll be pissed when he finds out that Roronoa Francesco was a great pirate as well as a great swordsman?" Shanks asked.
"Yep," Benn replied.
They landed at the island with the dojo three days later. Shanks and his crew went ashore to restock their supplies for a run to the Grand Line, and bade Zoro farewell at the edge of the village. "Okay, kid, this is as far as we go," Shanks said. "The dojo is in a small village in the mountains over there, a good few hours' walk. Think you can make it on your own?"
"Of course I can!" Zoro bristled.
"You have the letter of introduction I gave you?"
Zoro patted his pocket. "Yep."
"Good." Shanks stood back and looked at his erstwhile charge, and burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Zoro asked indignantly.
"Nothing, just that in that get-up you look like a real country boy."
Zoro looked down at the simple white shirt and the blue pants held up by little more than a piece of rope. "Yeah, I guess so," he admitted. "I prefer these clothes to those princely ones I used to have to wear, though. Mrrrmmmfff!" He spluttered as Shanks shoved a leafstalk into his mouth. "What's this for?"
"To complete the look," Shanks chortled. "And to shut you up." Zoro frowned questioningly, and Shanks reminded him, "From now on, Zoro, you were never a prince."
Zoro nodded solemnly. "I understand."
"Okay. Off with you now. Go become the greatest swordsman in the world."
"Thanks for everything!" Zoro waved and ran off, as the rest of the men yelled various goodbyes and encouragements.
Benn caught Zoro before he could go too far in the wrong direction.
"Other way, Zoro. Mountains. Up."
"Oh, right." Zoro reversed his course and jogged off.
"You sure he'll ever find it?" Benn asked, brow furrowing.
"A week's delay won't hurt him," Shanks chuckled. "Come on, we're off! To the Grand Line!"
"Yeah!"
It did take a lot longer than a few hours, but Zoro finally arrived at the dojo - fortunately the only one in Shimotsuki Village - to hear the sounds of sword practice in progress. He took a cautious peek into the dojo and saw thirty boys practising katas, each was holding a bamboo shinai, more sophisticated-looking than the sticks he and his friends had improvised, but still...that was kind of like stick-fighting, wasn't it?
He balled up the letter of introduction in his pocket, and declared his challenge.
Two minutes later, he found himself on his back, a bright red shinai mark gracing his forehead, and realised two things. One, that he'd just come face-to-face with the next big challenge of his life. Two, that the road to becoming world's greatest swordsman would be a very, very long one indeed.
.....
There'll be a third in this series, much shorter (thank goodness!). I'm going to revise this one at some point, so if you spot any logical consistencies and the like (I'm sure there are), *please* let me know!
Part 3's here...
Theme: Prince
Claim: Zoro
Words: 5797 (eek!)
Rating: PG
Warnings: Pre-canon Zoro, time skips, deus ex machina, blah blah blah. Continues directly from Part 1.
Disclaimers: I don't own One Piece.
Saint Purliss' shock soon morphed into what Zoro supposed was the Tenryuubito version of princely indignation, his piggy little eyes narrowing dangerously at Zoro out of the glass bubble he wore over his head. "What is the meaning of this insolence? You dare to keep your head raised before a World Noble?"
"I deeply apologise on the boy's behalf, Saint Purliss!" Kilnore said frantically. He crawled over to Zoro, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and tried to force him into a bow, but Zoro would have none of it.
"I won't!" He scrambled beyond Kilnore's reach and glared at the Tenryuubito, arms crossed in defiance. "Father said I wouldn't ever have to bow down to anyone. Not even you."
"I apologise on the child's behalf, Saint Purliss! He is merely ill-instructed..."
"Don't apologise for me! I haven't done anything wrong!" Zoro cut Kilnore off.
"Don't you realise what you're doing, Your Royal Highness? To go against the blood of this world's creators is to condemn yourself to death! Please, just bow!"
"This is your last chance, boy," Saint Purliss snarled.
This time, Zoro didn't even bother to think. "I'd rather die."
The gasps that greeted his declaration were followed by an uneasy silence, broken when Saint Purliss snapped the order: "What are you lot are waiting for? I want him down on his knees!"
"Yes, sir!" his men responded obediently, and promptly swarmed around Zoro.
"Leggo of me! Ow! You brutes! Pick on someone your own size, you bullies!" Despite his struggles, Zoro was inevitably overwhelmed, and he soon found himself kneeling before the Tenryuubito. "Dammit! Let me go!" he tried again, but with one man pinning down each limb, he was completely helpless.
Saint Purliss gazed at Zoro with malicious satisfaction. "What do you think, Kilnore?"
"My lord?" Kilnore sounded shaken.
"What should I do with this young whippersnapper? Have him strung up and hanged?"
"Oh, but, my lord, the treaty..." Kilnore stammered.
"What about the treaty?" Saint Purliss said, a touch of menace lacing his words.
"I mean, if that is your desire, you are perfectly within your rights to order his death, my lord..." Kilnore backtracked rapidly.
"Perhaps I will do that," Saint Purliss pondered. "Or perhaps I will make him a slave. How much do you think he will fetch at the Auction House on Sabaody?"
"The minimum bid would be 500,000 beli, my lord, but being of royal blood himself, he would certainly fetch many times that..."
"Yes, I can definitely think of several people who would enjoy having a little princeling pet to play with," Saint Purliss smiled toothily at Zoro.
"You can't do that to people! Let me go! My father will hear of this!" Zoro yelled, using for the first time in his life the worst threat in his arsenal.
"Purhahahaha!" Saint Purliss chortled. "Your father? He is a mere vassal of the World Government, far beneath me in rank. Nothing he can say will have any bearing on my actions."
"What gives you the right...!"
"The same thing that gives you the right to lord it over your own people - the blood running through your veins."
"We don't lord it over our people! Would I even be here if I was allowed to?" Zoro raged, all his resentment at having to become a hostage for his kingdom in the first place finally bursting its dam and rising to the surface.
"Lower your voice! Speak respectfully to Saint Purliss!" The man holding his right arm gave him a cuff on his ear.
"Ow! Leave me alone!" Zoro said sulkily. He looked up and met the Tenryuubito's eyes once more, only to find them boring into him calculatingly, almost suspiciously. "What's your problem?" he spat, knowing he was just inviting more blows to his head but unable to help himself.
Any intended reprimand was cut off by Saint Purliss saying thoughtfully, "That's true. If you really were a royal prince, and the only heir to your kingdom's throne, would your parents ever allow you to come as a hostage?"
"Huh?"
"There was some commotion on the docks before you left, so I hear. Kilnore, what was it all about?"
"That? There was a boy in the crowd, sir, who said he wasn't the prince, but his friend."
"A commoner, then?"
"So what? Yes, I played with the other boys. Yes, I acually breathed the same air as my people. What does that matter?"
Saint Purliss ignored his outburst, instead nudging his slave forward and instructing the two men holding Zoro by the arms: "Let me see his hands." Zoro suppressed a hiss of pain as they twisted his wrists roughly to bare his palms for the World Noble's inspection. "As I thought," he said grimly. "These are not the hands of a prince."
Zoro looked down at his hands, callused and scratched from the rough-and-tumble activities he'd participated in with his friends. "Just because I actually played...?"
"And this...moss growing on his head."
"It's hair!"
"King Jiro, what colour is his hair?"
"Black, my lord," Kilnore replied.
"And the boy's supposed mother?"
"What d'you mean, supposed?"
"Blond, my lord. Do you mean to say...?"
"Yes," Saint Purliss said grimly. "You've allowed yourself to be tricked, Kilnore. You've let yourself be taken in by a substitute, while the real prince stays safe within his own country."
This was so preposterous Zoro could only splutter incoherently for a few moments before managing a weak "that's not true!"
"Where's that treaty?" Saint Purliss asked, completely ignoring Zoro's objection.
"I'll fetch it, my lord," Kilnore stammered, and hurried off. He was back within a few moments.
The World Noble didn't even bother to read it. "Tear it up," he ordered.
"But...my lord..." Kilnore began, but the Tenryuubito fixed with a sharp glare.
"A treaty entered into in bad faith isn't worth the parchment it's written on, is it, Kilnore?"
"But...my mission was to get the treaty signed and the prince delivered to Goa. If I fail..."
"You have already failed, Kilnore. You brought an impostor on board instead of the prince."
"I'm not an impostor!"
"Tear - it - up."
Kilnore hung his head. "Yes, my lord."
"DON'T!" Zoro yelled, appalled, as he watched the document he'd traded his life for was shredded away.
"Now, bring me a Den-Den Mushi. We can't let them get away with this trickery." A Den-Den Mushi was duly brought. "Get me the nearest Marine fleet."
As Kilnore hastened to make the connection, Zoro asked warily, "Why are you calling them?"
"I'm going to have a fleet sent to your country to teach your king how not to deal with a World Noble."
"You mean...attack us?" Zoro processed the implications of the Tenryuubito's threat. But that was the whole point of signing the treaty!
"My lord, Marine Base E7 on the line." Kilnore held up the receiver.
That's why I'm in this mess in the first place!
"Marine Base E7? This is Saint Purliss speaking!" the World Noble barked in his most self-important tone.
I can't let this happen! With a strength born of sheer desperation, Zoro wrenched his right hand free of the guard's grip and grabbed his sword out of the hilt at the man's waist, swinging it around in a wide arc that left the four around him scrambling for cover.
His hands closed around the hilt, the feeling somehow disturbingly foreign yet comfortingly familiar. A rush of power coursed through him. I know how to use this.
"Get him!" Saint Purliss roared, pulling out a gun, as Zoro darted towards him, sword at the ready. Just as Zoro had anticipated, everyone dropped everything to come to their master's aid, including the Den-Den Mushi.
He abandoned the feint and dove for it as it fell from Kilnore's hands, narrowly avoiding the point-blank shot from the World Noble's gun as he did so. He heard a shrill cry of pain behind him, but he didn't care.
"Hello? Hello? My lord, there appears to be some kind of disturbance on your end - " The transmission was abruptly cut off as Zoro yanked the receiver off the telephonic snail. Goal met, he reached once more for the sword, only to see a heavy boot smash down against the blade. He launched himself backwards before the guard's other boot could stamp down on his hand, and found himself back-to-back with the Tenryuubito and his slave. The guard's eyes widened at his proximity to their master and grabbed a handful of his tunic to wrench him away. Zoro scrambled for something, anything to hold onto. His hand found the tube that connected the breathing apparatus on the Tenryuubito's back to the bubble on his head.
They heard a snap, and then a faint hiss of escaping air.
Pandemonium broke out.
Zoro was roughly thrown aside, pinned down and his hands cuffed in front of himself. He watched in a sort of detached fascination as Saint Purliss discovered the curious fact that the air everyone else breathed was not in any way toxic to him.
Nevertheless, Saint Purliss was shaking with anger when everything had calmed down and Zoro was hauled to his feet once more to face him. "How dare you. How dare you! What have you got to say for yourself?"
Zoro looked at the length of tube still in his hand. "Whoops?" he offered.
"String him up! I want him flogged till he begs for mercy!" the World Noble ordered.
"Yes, my lord!" his men barked, bending to their task with alacrity, eager to divert Saint Purliss' wrath onto someone else, slipping a rope through Zoro's handcuffs and looping it over a yardarm, while his back was bared for the whip.
Zoro made no protest. He felt suddenly exhausted and overwhelmed, the reckless euphoria fading fast against his disappointment at not having even gotten a single sword attack in on the Tenryuubito. Then again, stabbing him from the back would have been pretty cowardly...
"Done, sir!" the men reported.
"Bring me another Den-Den Mushi! You can wriggle up there while you listen to me give the order for your kingdom to be destroyed, boy."
"Er, my lord?" A Marine shuffled forward with obvious reluctance, his head cautiously bowed now that he'd seen the consequences of not doing so.
"Who are you?" Saint Purliss snapped.
"The communications officer, sir. That was the only Den-Den Mushi we had capable of transmitting at a distance that will reach any other Marine base, and it will take at least a few days to reattach the transmitter to the Den-Den Mushi. They're sensitive creatures, sir." The Marine was visibly trembling as he explained the situation.
"Imbeciles! I'm served by a load of imbeciles!" Saint Purliss raised his gun once more and, before everyone's horrified eyes, shot the man in the chest.
"My lord! That's one of my men!" The ship's captain, who had let the Tenryuubito's men run the show until now, stepped forward. "I cannot...allow..." he gulped as Saint Purliss's face darkened with anger.
"Do you want to be strung up next to that boy?"
"N-no, my lord," the captain swallowed hard, but gathered his courage and pressed on. "But still, I cannot allow you to harm my men..." Another shot pierced the air, and this time it was the captain's turn to hit the deck, red spreading across his dress whites.
"Who else wishes to interfere with the descendants of this world's creators?"
Everyone glanced nervously at the gun Saint Purliss was waving around, and at the captain's twitching body, and said nothing.
"You know," Zoro contributed from his vantage point, "that was probably a bad idea."
"You still dare to speak, boy?"
"You'll probably need him now that you're gonna be attacked by pirates." He nodded towards the distant ship flying its Jolly Roger, which had gone unreported in all the commotion.
"It's the Red-Haired Pirates!" someone shouted. "They're the worst pirates in East Blue!"
Saint Purliss turned a glare on Zoro. "I suppose your kingdom is now in league with pirates! You planned all this!"
"We didn't! Pirates are scum who attack our villages! Why would we do a thing like that!"
Saint Purliss snorted disbelievingly, then took charge of the situation, ordering, "Capture the pirates! I want them them strung up to be whipped next to this boy! Fire your cannons at them!"
"But sir, they're not yet within firing range!"
"Fire them anyway!"
"Yes, sir!"
Apart from the chafing in his wrists, Zoro was glad to have such a good view of the proceedings. He watched, highly entertained, as the cannonballs arced through the air and fell well short of the pirate ship.
"Saint Purliss, please leave this to the Marines," Kilnore pleaded. "Please go back to your cabin, where you will be safe!"
"Nonsense, Kilnore!" Saint Purliss dismissed his concerns. "I can direct this battle as well as this incompetent imbecile can!" Zoro winced as the Tenryuubito kicked the downed captain in the stomach. "Fire another volley!"
Zoro watched the Marines exchange nervous, hesitant glances, then proceed to obey the foolish instructions. They loaded and discharged several rounds uselessly, but now the pirate ship was getting close to where the cannonballs were splashing into the sea. The next barrage of cannonfire was aimed squarely at the ship.
"Purhahaha! Take that, pirates!" Saint Purliss rejoiced.
But instead of exploding, the cannonballs seemed to disintegrate in mid-air, leaving the pirate ship intact.
"Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaa - " the Tenryuubito's eyes bugged out at the sight.
"It didn't work!" Zoro heard the cries of consternation from the crew.
"What happened?" Saint Purliss demanded. "You imbeciles! You did something to the cannonballs, didn't you!"
"It wasn't them! It's a swordsman!" Zoro squirmed in excitement. "There's a swordsman standing on the prow and he just sliced through all of them!"
"Fire another round!" Saint Purliss ordered, but it met the same fate of the one before.
"Awesome," Zoro breathed, but he seemed to be the only one who felt that way. All around him, Marines and Tenryuubito alike were panicking.
"It's the work of the devil!" someone yelled.
"Captain! Please! What do we do now?" A Marine was bent over the body of the captain, begging for help.
Saint Purliss stared at the seemingly invincible pirate ship in disbelief, then tugged on the reins of his slave and turned him towards the inner quarters of the ship. "We're taking cover," he announced to his entourage. He raised his voice and addressed the crew. "Fire on the pirate ship until it's destroyed! If the pirates board, cut them down! Protect my life at all costs!" He urged his slave on, and his men all disappeared below deck with him, leaving the Marines standing on deck, slack-jawed and leaderless, even as the pirate ship advanced perilously close. Zoro licked his lips in anticipation of seeing a real swordfight up close.
Suddenly he felt a sawing at his bonds, and he fell to the deck. He looked around to see Kilnore and two of the guards. "Hey, what are you doing?" he asked, as they picked him up and held him firmly.
"Saint Purliss' orders," Kilnore replied tersely. "Carry him below decks, to the brig."
"What? But I wanted to watch the battle!" Zoro protested.
"You're going to be put to death along with all the slaves. Saint Purliss doesn't to risk you getting freed by the pirates," Kilnore said sadly.
"That's not fair!"
"Be quiet, boy!" Kilnore snapped. "None of this would have happened if you'd just bowed!"
"None of this would have happened if that Tenryuubito guy wasn't such a stuck-up ass! Ow!" Zoro was given another cuff on the ear. He wriggled and struggled but he was no more successful in freeing himself this time than the last. They carried him into the depths of the ship and threw him into the brig. He was horrified to see that it was already fully occupied, with row upon row of miserable-looking collared slaves. He was tossed into their midst, somebody's lap breaking his fall.
"Use the gas. Saint Purliss's orders," Kilnore added, when the two men gave him a surprised look. "In retaliation for the breathing tube incident." They nodded in understanding and turned away to prepare something.
"Hey! Wait a minute! You're going to get captured anyway! You don't have to follow his orders!" Zoro pointed out. A bump rocked the ship, confirming that the pirates had pulled up alongside and were preparing to board.
"I'm going to go back and talk to the pirates, make sure they know just who they're attacking. Once they find out it's a Tenryuubito, they'll turn tail and flee," Kilnore explained. "And even if they don't, I am a servant of the Tenryuubito. I must obey their orders."
"Even if they're idiotic?" Zoro had seen enough of those today.
"Even if they're idiotic," Kilnore confirmed. "Goodbye, Your Royal Highness. I am sorry it came to this." He walked away. The two guards behind him tossed two small objects into the room, then slammed the door shut and turned the key in the lock. The brig plunged back into darkness.
"What're those things they just threw inside?" Zoro asked.
"Must be gas grenades," the man whose lap he happened to be sprawled across replied. "We'll suffocate to death." On cue, the people closest to the grenades began to cough. Zoro smelt a horrible smell, felt his lungs constrict, and realised deep inside that they were all going to die.
This is all my fault! He picked himself up and ran to the door, throwing himself against it in an effort to break it open.
"Forget it, kid. It would take ten men to bash that door down," a man sitting by the door said.
"But there are more than ten men in here! Why don't you all help?"
"What's the point?" the man shrugged. "We were doomed the moment we became slaves. Might as well die here rather than continue to live in slavery."
"But there are pirates up there, there's a swordsman too! They'll free you, but you need to survive first!"
"You heard what that guy said. The pirates will turn tail once they know what they're up against."
"They won't! I'm sure they won't!" Zoro clung to the one shred of hope he had left. "Listen!" It was hard to, over the growing coughing, but the sounds of battle could be distantly heard above them. "They're fighting! They didn't run! Let's fight too!" But by now everyone was coughing and wheezing, and made no reply.
"Fine! If you won't fight, I will!" Zoro bashed his shoulder against the door a few more times. If only I were stronger! He yelled at the top of his aching lungs. Please! I don't want to be the one who killed them! Damn handcuffs...maybe if he didn't have them on, he could hammer on the doors that much louder. If only I had a sword... He tried to pull his wrists out of the handcuffs, wondering how they would fit on an adult if they were small even for a boy's hands. If only my hands weren't there... Well, there was a plan. He grimly began to saw through his hands.
"What the hell d'you think you're doing, kid?" the man next to him wheezed, hearing his tiny whimpers of pain.
"I'm gonna get out of these things and get out of here."
"Ha...haha...that's a good one, kid. Just...spend your last moments in peace, will ya?"
"Shut up! I won't give up!" But Zoro did have to give up on Plan A eventually with his discovery that bone was far more durable than he thought. He slammed both fists against the door, screaming for help between his coughs. Gradually, though, his fists and voice lost their volume, and he felt the fight seep out of his body along with the oxygen.
We're really going to die.
I was weak.
I killed them with my pride.
"I'm sorry..."
Zoro slumped against the door, all energy gone.
The door swung open, and Zoro fell against the legs of a tall, mysterious figure wrapped in a black cloak. "Please...I killed them..."
"Easy, boy. I heard you," the cloaked man said, scooping him up in his arms.
But by then Zoro was no longer awake to hear.
After the battle
"Oi!" the captain of the Red-Haired Pirates called cheerfully as the cloaked man strode by him. "Stop stomping around and brooding and have something to drink!"
"I wish I could have your sense of irresponsibility," the man replied, "but I have to see to the slaves."
"Doc'll take care of them!" Shanks replied cheerfully. "Besides, the Tenryuubito drink uncommonly good wine. Here."
Reluctantly, the man took the bottle offered. "What will you do with this ship?"
"You can have it, with our compliments. I'll be glad to get rid of you freeloaders," Shanks replied airily. "Besides, it has a dragon for a figurehead. Fitting."
The man inclined his head. "You have our thanks for your valuable contribution to our cause."
"You're more than welcome. What would I do with a ship that big, anyway?"
"True."
There was a pause, before Shanks inquired, "What do you plan to do with your captives?"
"Some of them will doubtless have to be killed," the man said dispassionately. "The Tenryuubito is already dead, which removes one obstacle. There's also the man named Kilnore - the World Government negotiator - whom we'll be interrogating. He probably knows a lot of interesting information. The Marines can choose to be executed or to join us - we need some to man the ship. The slaves, of course, will be given a choice of joining us or being relocated."
"You sound quite bloodthirsty, my friend. But I know you will be fair."
"And what will you do, with your princely charge?" The cloaked head nodded in the direction of Shanks' cabin.
"My charge, hmm? I'm surprised you didn't want him."
"I have no love for the royalty or nobility of this world, but his kingdom happens to be one of the few that actually possesses a just king. And from what I have heard, it is clear he has taken after his father."
"Will his kingdom possess a king much longer?"
"Probably not, but that isn't something you or I can do anything about at this moment."
Shanks nodded. "Well! We'll drop him off where he chooses, I suppose. He's too young for a life of piracy. Especially not on the Grand Line."
"Of course. You plan to head there immediately?"
"The Marines will be after our heads once they find out about the Tenryuubito. We'll have to make a run for it. For that matter, what about you and this ship? It's a bit big to hide in East Blue," Shanks waved his hand at the Marine vessel, so many times the size of his own.
"I plan to take it to the one place they won't expect. Goa."
"Goa? Into the dragons' den? Oh, well, since it's you, why not?"
"Why not, indeed? I suspect we will find many more recruits to our cause there."
"This is where we part ways, then."
"Good luck on the Grand Line."
"Good luck in Goa. You'll need it more than me," Shanks laughed. He held out his bottle. "To freedom," he toasted.
A faint smile appeared on the man's tattooed face. "To freedom," he echoed, and drank.
The next day
"Cap'n!"
"Yeah, Yassop?"
"The boy's awake. Not being very cooperative, but he seems lively enough. I told him a bit about what happened."
"What did he say?"
"He didn't actually say anything. Apparently doesn't like the look of us pirates. But I could tell he was disappointed at not getting a crack at the Tenryuubito himself. Bloodthirsty little devil. But he seemed really glad to know the slaves were all right."
"All right, I'll talk to him." Shanks and Benn headed into the cabin.
"Hello there," Shanks greeted him cheerily. "My name's Shanks, I'm the captain of the pirate crew that attacked your ship."
When Zoro only pouted in response, Shanks raised an eyebrow. "Hey, the way I heard it, we came just in the nick of time to save your hide from a real tanning. Least you could do is be friendly."
"But you're pirates," Zoro said reluctantly.
"So what if we're pirates? Pirates are some of the friendliest people around."
"Pirates are scum. Father says so."
"Why's that?"
"Pirates come and attack our coastline every few months. They steal from our people and hurt them. They're bad guys."
"Ah. Well, there's pirates, and then there's pirates," Shanks said wisely. "And you're lucky these pirates happened to be delayed in East Blue long enough to rescue you from that mess you'd gotten yourself into."
"I guess," Zoro admitted. He glanced at Shanks' sword, his enthusiasm overcoming his reservations. "You're the swordsman, right? The one who sliced through all those cannonballs? You know, you're really strong! Even though...you have only one arm," he noticed, slightly belatedly.
"So I've been told," Shanks chuckled. "And you're one to talk. You almost sawed your own hands off, trying to get out of those handcuffs! Only thing I can't do is use two-handed styles. If you'd persisted, you wouldn't be able to use any sword style at all."
Zoro scowled, but his curiosity was piqued. "There are two-handed sword styles?"
"That's right."
"Wow! Can I learn them?"
Shanks chuckled. "Is that your dream, then? To become a swordsman?"
"Not just any swordsman. The world's greatest swordsman! I'll become so strong, I'll be able to protect my country even from bullies like the Tenryuubito!" Zoro resolved on the spot.
"World's greatest swordsman, eh?" Shanks laughed. "Wonder what Mihawk will make of this one. Eh, Benn?"
Zoro turned to look at the tall, imposing figure of the Red-Haired Pirates' first mate, who had been listening quietly all this while. "I think he would say that's quite an ambition," Benn said. "But you do realise that means never returning home again?"
Zoro's jaw dropped at Benn's pronouncement. "Huh? How come?"
"The world currently thinks young Prince Zoro is dead, killed by pirates. If you suddenly turn up alive, you'll have a lot of answer for everything that's happened," Benn explained. "They may let you off if you give them a good enough story, but you will almost certainly be taken hostage again, and never be trained as a swordsman. The alternative is to take advantage of the situation, let the world continue thinking you're dead, and free yourself to pursue your dream."
Zoro looked down at his chafed wrists. "Father gave me a choice once, between my country and my future. I chose my country back then. Maybe I should try going the other way this time...?" He ended off on a tentative note and looked appealingly at the pirates, as if begging for guidance.
They regarded the nine-year-old with sympathy. "It's your life, and your own choice to make. But in all honesty, I cannot say it's a bad one," Benn offered, and Shanks nodded in agreement. Zoro's shoulders slumped in relief.
"Do you...do you think I should let my parents know?"
"That's hard to say. Any communication we send will almost certainly be intercepted," was Benn's opinion. "And will be far more trouble than it's worth."
"If you truly wish to pursue your dream, you will have to leave your entire life behind. The path to becoming world's greatest swordsman is hard enough without the World Government constantly on your tail," Shanks advised.
A look of sadness crossed Zoro's face, but then his expression hardened and he squared his shoulders. "Okay. I understand."
"Good. Now, for what will happen next. We can drop you off at a dojo that happens to be on the way."
"Huh?" Zoro's jaw dropped. "You mean you won't train me yourself?"
"A pirate ship's no place for a kid, kid. Besides, didn't you say you wanted to learn two-handed sword styles?"
"Not to mention the Marines are going to come after us soon, for killing a Tenryuubito. Which means we'll have to head off to the Grand Line, which is even less a place for a kid," Benn added.
"I know the master of this dojo personally," Shanks reassured Zoro, seeing the boy's lost look. "I challenged him myself, but it came to a draw. That was back when I had two arms, too. Besides, Koshiro knows far better than me how to train someone else to be a great swordsman."
"Oh. Okay, I guess," Zoro said, but he still looked slightly forlorn.
"Hey, we're pirate scum, remember?" Shanks said lightly, clapping the boy on the back. "And Koshiro's a good man. He'll take good care of you, if you're willing to work hard."
"Of course I'll work hard!" Zoro looked a bit happier at the reassurance.
"Then you should be fine. Now...we'd better see about getting you a change of clothes. You can't go parading around in those princely robes. And you should choose a different name, too."
"A different name?" Zoro blinked. But he was Zoro. Always had been. Always would be.
"He can probably keep the 'Zoro'. It's a common enough name," Benn said. "D'you have a surname, back home?"
"Surname?" Zoro scratched his head.
"Yes. Like my name, Benn Beckman."
"All anyone's ever called me is 'Zoro'. Or 'Prince Zoro'. 'Your Highness' sometimes." Zoro still looked puzzled.
"'Mr. Prince'? That's quite the name." Shanks guffawed. "Not to mention it would give you away instantly. Maybe you should try a different surname."
"In that case...how about the name of a great swordsman?" Zoro asked eagerly.
"A great swordsman, huh? Let me think about it." Shanks mused for a moment. "What about 'Roronoa', after Roronoa Francesco? He was one of the greatest of all swordsmen."
"Roronoa...Zoro." Zoro rolled it around his tongue as if tasting it. He grinned. "I like it!"
"Good. Well then, Roronoa Zoro, why don't you go to bed? It'll take a few days for us to reach your dojo. If you see Yasopp - curly-haired sniper dude - let him know to make a new set of clothes for you, okay?"
"Okay. Thanks!" Zoro said eagerly. He jumped off the chair and went to the door, then paused. "You know, for pirate scum, you guys are pretty nice!" He flashed them a grin and ran away.
Shanks and Benn watched him go.
"Think he'll be pissed when he finds out that Roronoa Francesco was a great pirate as well as a great swordsman?" Shanks asked.
"Yep," Benn replied.
They landed at the island with the dojo three days later. Shanks and his crew went ashore to restock their supplies for a run to the Grand Line, and bade Zoro farewell at the edge of the village. "Okay, kid, this is as far as we go," Shanks said. "The dojo is in a small village in the mountains over there, a good few hours' walk. Think you can make it on your own?"
"Of course I can!" Zoro bristled.
"You have the letter of introduction I gave you?"
Zoro patted his pocket. "Yep."
"Good." Shanks stood back and looked at his erstwhile charge, and burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" Zoro asked indignantly.
"Nothing, just that in that get-up you look like a real country boy."
Zoro looked down at the simple white shirt and the blue pants held up by little more than a piece of rope. "Yeah, I guess so," he admitted. "I prefer these clothes to those princely ones I used to have to wear, though. Mrrrmmmfff!" He spluttered as Shanks shoved a leafstalk into his mouth. "What's this for?"
"To complete the look," Shanks chortled. "And to shut you up." Zoro frowned questioningly, and Shanks reminded him, "From now on, Zoro, you were never a prince."
Zoro nodded solemnly. "I understand."
"Okay. Off with you now. Go become the greatest swordsman in the world."
"Thanks for everything!" Zoro waved and ran off, as the rest of the men yelled various goodbyes and encouragements.
Benn caught Zoro before he could go too far in the wrong direction.
"Other way, Zoro. Mountains. Up."
"Oh, right." Zoro reversed his course and jogged off.
"You sure he'll ever find it?" Benn asked, brow furrowing.
"A week's delay won't hurt him," Shanks chuckled. "Come on, we're off! To the Grand Line!"
"Yeah!"
It did take a lot longer than a few hours, but Zoro finally arrived at the dojo - fortunately the only one in Shimotsuki Village - to hear the sounds of sword practice in progress. He took a cautious peek into the dojo and saw thirty boys practising katas, each was holding a bamboo shinai, more sophisticated-looking than the sticks he and his friends had improvised, but still...that was kind of like stick-fighting, wasn't it?
He balled up the letter of introduction in his pocket, and declared his challenge.
Two minutes later, he found himself on his back, a bright red shinai mark gracing his forehead, and realised two things. One, that he'd just come face-to-face with the next big challenge of his life. Two, that the road to becoming world's greatest swordsman would be a very, very long one indeed.
.....
There'll be a third in this series, much shorter (thank goodness!). I'm going to revise this one at some point, so if you spot any logical consistencies and the like (I'm sure there are), *please* let me know!
Part 3's here...