Chapter Three

Before We Realized

Roronoa Zoro’s Point of View

            A sudden boom of thunder awoke me instantly. A few bolts of lighting zapped thereafter, before another few booms of thunder resounded in the seas of the New World. I sat up, rubbing my eyes wide open before stealthily standing up to go to the Crow’s Nest to resume my training. I glanced at the clock in the men’s dorm before rushing down the various hallways and into Crow’s Nest. It was 4:49 in the morning, and it was still dark and gloomy, and the heavens booming and zapping lightning bolts everywhere only helped with the latter.

            Once I reached the nest, I began stretching for about ten minutes before selecting one of the weights from the shelves and then began lifting a weight within the hundred pounds section.

            I closed my eyes as my arms strained the weight of several hundred pounds. Lightning and thunder thrashed about outside with no steady rhythm as the flares of electricity began illuminating the roaring dark navy tidal waves across the oceans. I opened my eyes to take another glimpse of the stunning scenery.

If you were intimidated by the crashing waves, you would find the Grand Line and the New World a lethal and threatening place, but, if you looked deeper into the picture and observed every little detail of nature and its inhabitants, you would find that the chirps of the South birds were awing and melodious. You would find the stormy seas, not intimidating, but rather enlightening. The flashes of lightning that reflected on its surroundings was a sight to behold and literally breathtaking. The many icy and snowy slopes of the Grand Line mountain ranges were difficult and dreary, but, once you reached the summit, the zenith kept the secret view of the sunset horizon a whole treasure of its own.

After an hour of staring at the stormy seas and lifting the several hundred-pounded weight, I set the weights down and took out one of the heavier sets to practice with.

Another few hours passed before Franky climbed up the ladder to the Crow’s Nest to tell me that brunch would be served. I took a towel and wiped the sweat off my creased brows before setting the set of weights away in their proper shelves.

Rushing down the ladder and into the kitchen, I heard the usual chatter in the room. Nami was still scolding Luffy like she always did over petty little things. The ero-cook was cooking silently to perfection. Brooke was rubbing rosin on his violin bow, while Usopp and Chopper were chatting away. Franky was holding out the chair for Robin to sit in as courteously as always. It was the usual thing and string of evens in the Straw Hat Crew, and I was kind of glad it was still the same.

“Eh, Nami,” I called out the navigator’s name. “When are we landing?”

Nami halted beating the crap out of her captain for having no table manners (hypocrite, in my opinion. She was beating up her captain at the dining table) before thinking deeply for a moment, as if she forgot when they would be landing.

“Oh, yeah,” Nami replied, reverting her gaze from the captain. “We’ll be landing this noon or afternoon. Somewhere about that time.”

She then dropped the captain from her grasp, and the raven-haired boy slammed face-first onto the floor. The orange-haired girl then smirked and crossed her legs under the table with that very smirk plastered across her face.

“Say, Zoro,” she smiled smugly. “Why don’t you finish telling everyone the story over breakfast before we get to the island and all. Besides, it’s raining so there’s not much to do right now, eh, Zoro?”

I sighed before sitting down across the orange-haired girl. By this point in time, everyone was situated around the dining table aside the blonde cook, who was finishing cooking the stew.

“Brunch will almost be served, so, Zoro, get on with the story already,” Sanji ushered his rival. “If we’re going to finish the flipping story before we get to the island, but, then again, it’s going to take forever, considering the fact that you’re such a blabbermouth.”

I grunted, a twitch mark forming on my forehead before I glared at the shitty cook, “Says the man who just ranted.”

The cook grunted a ‘tch,’ before waving the latter off with his hand.

“Zoro, the story?” Chopper asked, eyes brimmed with excitement and piqued with interest.

“Alright, alright,” I crossed my arms, sitting with good posture before diving into the story.

Flashback

            It wasn’t long ago for this final story about Yuki and me. This story’s about before I left on my journey to become the greatest swordsman, actually. I was training at the dojo, as usual, and Yuki was there, and, at that point in time, she was my equal. We were the same level of sword mastery, though, in some areas, one of us was better than the other. She was quicker and more agile, while I was stronger and stealthier with my use of strokes. Either way, whenever we battled one another, we had a good time improving our weaknesses and strengthening our strengths. No doubt about it, those years with Yuki were the best years of my life. No one, absolutely no one, could deny that.

            However, that all changed one day. Koshiro, my sensei and figurative father, encouraged me to begin my journey to become the greatest swordsman before I became too old, and it would be too late. On the outside, I was smiling that he encouraged me so much as to fulfill his deceased daughter’s dream. However, on the inside, I was distraught. I spent the last couple of years with Yuki, and, all of a sudden, I would be leaving . . . in a blink of an eye. Truth be told, we were close friends, and we confided within each other everything. Absolutely everything. I would be leaving, though. Soon. Too soon for my taste. Too soon . . .

~*~*~*~

At the dojo

            “Zoro!” I heard an ever so familiar voice call my name.

            I turned around and smiled at her, “Hey, Yuki.”

            “Hey, Zoro,” she smiled at me. “Ready to help train the level ones?”

            I grunted, “I don’t think I have a choice in the matter, Yuki.”

            She chuckled, “How blunt.”

            I ripped my gaze off her for a moment, before returning my gaze to her. I opened my mouth to say something, but I couldn’t bring myself to say, well, anything.

            She tilted her head before asking worriedly, “What’s wrong, Zoro?”

            I tried to speak the words I wanted to tell her, but to no avail.

            Instead, the only words that flowed out softly . . . were . . . “Nothing, Yuki . . . Nothing’s wrong.”

A few days later . . .

            I packed up everything I needed for my while trip into a small, convenient backpack. I took some money with me as well, just in case. Over the course of the past few days, I couldn’t bring myself to tell Yuki that I was leaving, and I made Koshiro promise me that he wouldn’t tell Yuki . . . in the least, not yet. It was now the crack of dawn, and I would be leaving today. Right now. I drew in a quick breath before ripping out a piece of paper from one of my drawers and scribbling a note to Yuki, telling her that I was leaving today. I couldn’t bring myself to tell her that I would be gone. I couldn’t bring myself to tear myself apart from her so . . . cruelly. I just couldn’t. So, in the worst way possible, this would be how I parted from her. My best friend.

Dear Yuki,

I had to leave to become the greatest swordsman before it would be too late. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you. I’m sorry. I know what you’re thinking. I’m the worst friend ever, and I know. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t bring myself to tell you the other day. I’m the worst.

I’ll be back one day, that’s for sure. By the time I return to the village, I’ll be the world’s greatest swordsman. I promise you that.

Zoro

End of Flashback

~*~*~*~

            Everyone’s stare was on me, as, outside, the stormy weather had died down to a minimal silence.

            Nami slammed her fists on the wooden dining table, “What?! That’s how you leave the love of your life! You’re such a pathetic, little . . . person!”

            The orange-headed girl spat out the word ‘person’ as if it were the most excruciating insult in the world.

            “Sorry,” I grunted as I swallowed another spoonful of stew that was set on the table during my storytelling.

            Usopp agreed with Nami, “When I left Kaya, I at least told her I would be leaving in person.”

            Chopper nodded his head in accord, “Yeah, Zoro. You’re so not romantic.”

            The skeleton in the room ‘cried’ a pool of tears before taking out his violin and playing a depressing song.

            “Oi, oi,” I grunted in annoyance. “Yuki’s understanding. I don’t think she was all that worked up about the matter as you guys here.”

            The crew exchanged glances with one another, before Sanji muttered under his breath, “You thought.”

~*~*~*~

            “I see land!” I shouted into the loudspeaker from the Crow’s Nest as everyone inside the kitchen or their respective dormitories began rushing out onto the deck.

            Nami then commanded everyone where to go and what to do, “Franky gear to starboard!”

            I looked through the scope before noticing another pirate ship. I zoomed in to find that the people on the ship were preparing the shoot the canons directly at our ship.

            “Enemy ship incoming at four o’clock,” I shouted once again into the loudspeaker. “They’re preparing to fire canons at the Sunny!”

            “What!” I heard Nami shout in contrast.

            “Yay! I good fight!” I then heard the captain shout in glee.

            I deadpanned, “Oh great. Here we go again.”

            As we were aiming our own bombs at the enemy, the enemy began firing at us simultaneously. There was a constant crash of lightning and thunder about the seas, and the canons from both configurative sides only added to the matter.

            Canons were thrown everywhere. They were barely deflected by Luffy’s rubber fruit ability, Sanji’s diablo kicks, and my sword cutting, and Robin’s net of hands. Franky and Nami were attempting to steer away from the enemy ship and back to the nearby island only a mere miles away. Meanwhile, Brooke was assisting Chopper in creating several potions just in case any one of us defenders of the Thousand Sunny became injured with this and that. Usopp, you may wonder, was down on the base floor of the Sunny, preparing and aiming canons at the enemy pirate ship.

            “Why are they attacking us?” Nami asked, completely distraught, as she directed Franky where to steer.

            “I don’t know!” I heard Franky shout back at her, even though he was standing right next to her. The canons shot at us were too much and too harsh. There were too many risks at hand and way too many canons everywhere that it seemed like they were falling like rain.

            “Nami!” we all halted our attacks to hear the Captain speak. Luffy was more serious as of now, seeing as the time was slightly more desperate. “Get to the island quickly.”

            Somehow, the orange-headed navigator ended up by the Captain’s side in a flash, smacking his face first onto the floor.

            “That’s what we’re doing, idiot!” she deadpanned, smacking her fist against her face. “Franky! Eighty-eight degrees west, thanks!”

            The cyan-head deadpanned as well before doing as he was told.

            As we fled the scene, I looked back behind the Sunny at the enemy pirate ship. We were beyond the reach of the canons at this point in time, and we were too far to shoot at them either, unless, of course, you wanted Sanji or Luffy to flip some bombs at them, no problem.

            Suddenly, I caught a glimpse of a glint aimed for the enemy ship, and, moments later, the ship began to sink. My eyes widened. What? Did we aim some of our canons at them? I thought Usopp was currently on deck.

            I glanced back at the rest of the crew to see some of them arching their eyebrows. The look plastered across their faces were mainly of confusion.

If we didn’t sink the ship, then who did?

~*~*~*~

            “Gosh was that close!” Nami sighed, wiping the sweat off her forehead with her wrist, leaning against the steering wheel of the Thousand Sunny. “Funny how the weather, only a few miles away, can change so drastically in the New World. I mean, over there where we were just moments ago is practically pouring rain, and over here is literally dry and sunny and stuff.”

            Usopp smacked the palm of his hand against his cheek, dragging the flesh down slightly, before saying, “I couldn’t agree more.”

            Sanji took out his lighter and lit the tip of his cigarette, “Say, what, or who, sank the pirate ship attacking us earlier? Usopp, you didn’t do that, did you?”

            The Pinocchio arched an eyebrow before replying truthfully, “No, I do believe that I was present on deck.”

            The blonde cook leaned in closer to the long-nosed guy, glaring at him, as if to determine whether or not he was lying. Sanji then “unreeled” himself away from his “bait” before releasing the puff of smoke trapped in his lungs.

            “Okay, you’re not lying,” the blonde stated bluntly before Usopp went on a ‘rampage.’

            “Of course I’m not lying, you idiot! Why would I be?” Usopp ‘rampaged.’

            He ‘coughed,’ “Um, you lie all the time with your tall tales?”

            Usopp deadpanned, “That. Was. Two. Years. Ago.”

            It finally dawned on the blonde that the tall-tales era was two years ago. “Oh . . . . I totally forgot about that.”

            Usopp anime fell before fainting.

            “Ah! You made Usopp die!” Chopper chided the blonde.

            “Tch,” the blonde grunted before finally simmering down.

            “Say, is it safe to land here?” Nami asked the crew nervously as she stared down at the island down below from the edge of the deck.

            “Why would you ask that?” Sanji raised an eyebrow, gradually becoming more and more worried by each and every second that passed by.

            The orange-headed navigator began fumbling with her words, “Th-there’s . . . a-a . . . bunch of i-i-islanders . . . wh-who l-look pre-pretty angry r-right now.”

            The rest of the crew and I began warily reaching the edge of the deck. Below on land were what seemed like thousands upon thousands of soldiers, aiming arrows, spears, and weapons at us as if we were trespassers. But, then again, we technically were. The crew and I docked the Thousand Sunny on uncharted land of the New World. This was what we kind of deserved, plus the fact that we were pirates . . . and that only added to the matter.

            Luffy stared at the tribal-dressed islanders with a blank expression. He tilted the rim over his eyes, shadowing it from view. Luffy then stated loud and clear, “Do you need something?”

            There was such an edge in the Captain’s voice that sent shivers down everyone’s spines. However, the islanders, though slightly taken aback, remained firm for reasons unknown.

            “Leave this island at once,” a person dressed with a fancier mask from the rest of the islanders spoke sternly. “You are not welcome here.”

            Luffy paused for a moment to let that statement sink in before replying, “And why is that?”

            The chief stomped his long wooden staff against the earth. Everything behind him rustled about. The leaves were drained from the trees in a whirling tornado. Pebbles rose into the air. Some of the trees even fell down against one another like dominoes. The islanders were, however, barely fazed by the act. They stood like stone cemented to the ground. They were firm. Strong. Cunning. There was no doubt about it.

            Nami scurried to Luffy’s side, tugging at his shirt, whispering to him, “Oi, oi, Luffy. We should leave. I don’t think we want to cause any trouble.

            From the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a few islanders scuttling away from the crowd mass. They carried a small sack.

            “It must be nothing,” I thought.

            “Why should we leave though, Nami?” I heard Luffy mutter in reply to the navigator of the ship.

            “Luffy, logic!” Nami whispered a shout. “Just go. We have other things to worry about, like not risking our lives before we even reach the edge of the New World?!”

            The raven-haired boy sighed before complying with the navigator. She was right. It wasn’t something worth fighting for.

            “Let’s move out,” Nami shouted to everyone as each and every crewmember began taking his or her places.

            Franky took command of the wheel, while Nami instructed him where to go. Sanji, deeming that the situation was already in control, returned to the kitchen to do whatever he wanted to do—cook, relax, or so forth. Robin sat on the ledge coiled around one of the mast posts to read in peace as we set sail onward to the next island. Luffy, as usual, was sitting on the lion masthead, gleefully setting forth.

            To lighten the mood, Brooke began playing sweet, melodious melodies on his violin, signaling the bittersweet of not being able to explore the tribal island (according to Luffy’s request . . . to play the song and all). Usopp returned below deck to continue working on whatever contraption he was inventing next. Innovative man, he is.

            After I personally deemed the situation in control as well, I returned to the Crow’s nest to not only further strengthen my abilities and keep on lookout in case anything bad was to happen on the seas before us.

~*~*~*~

Third Person Point of View

            Three men dressed in simple loincloths and adorned with various colors of paints on their faces tossed a dirty, beige potato sack onto the floor, exhausted.

            “Kami, that took forever,” one of them panted. “At least we have meat for the night now.”

            Breathing heavily, another one of the bunch added, “Indeed, but I’ve never seen an animal like him. Squirming like an idiot. If it weren’t for the hemlock you administered to the wretched creature, you know, I don’t think we could have ever captured him. Bah!”

            “I know . . .” the other trailed off. “The bunch of pirates earlier looked pretty . . . out of range. Some of them looked like freaks, others like mere children, and others as strong as boulders. Can’t believe we got . . . hm . . . what would you call it? Their mascot?”

            The other two laughed jovially, before one of them teased, “What would you call a creature like that? A reindeer?”

            One of them guffawed, “I thought you’d call it . . . what now? A moose?”

            One of them responded, “Bah! There’s some tale in the West, saying that there’s a legend about an old fat man who had seven reindeer or something and gave gifts to all the children in the world on some contraption called a ‘sleigh.’”

            All of them guffawed endlessly.

            “What? That’s hilarious!”

            “I know right?”

            “Idiots. Hahaha!”

            Creek.

            Pause.

            Creek.

            Pause.

            Creek.

            A silence crept throughout the room. The three men looked at each other wide-eyed.

            “What was that?” one asked warily.

            Creek.

            “S-stop c-creeping me o-out, you guys,” another one stuttered, utterly afraid.

            Creek.

            “Wh-what’s going on?”

            Creek.

            The three men involuntarily huddled closer together, as if it would shield themselves from whatever was to come.

            Thud.

            “What was tha-“ the man who uttered those words was thrown against the wall and landed to the ground with a ‘thud.’

            The other two men stared wide-eyed at the trespasser as the he knocked them out as well.

            A series of screams were heard from them and it awoke the other villagers, but, either way, by the time they came, it would be too late. The three would have already been ‘dead.’

            The invader scanned the room with his eyes for a moment before noticing the ragged potato sack. He took it and tossed it behind his back before, somehow . . . disappear in a puff of smoke.

~*~*~*~

Roronoa Zoro’s Point of View

            I sat down and took a small break from the intense pull-ups I was previously doing. Snatching a dirtied, ash-white towel from the spot next to me on the bench, I began wiping my face from all the sweat from the workload. I gave myself a small grin before taking a water bottle situated by my feet and gurgling almost half of it down. That must have been my fifth one, or, by now, fifth and a half(ish).

            Moments later into my break, Usopp popped his head into the Crow’s Nest from the ladder and told me, “It’s almost time for dinner.”

            I simply grunted and nodded my head before wiping all my sweat and hurrying down to the men’s dormitory to take a quick shower. These past few weeks, I’ve been training far more than I usually had, so, just once, I’d take a shower two times a week. This was sure to please Nami, for she always hated my stench at the dinner table.

            After showering quickly, but efficiently, I barely began putting my clothes on as I hurried down to the kitchen. I was hungry, and that was simply put.

            I slammed the kitchen door open before closing it swiftly and crashing down in my seat.

            “Wow, someone’s hungry,” Luffy teased, poking my cheeks.

            A twitch mark appeared on my forehead before I snapped, “Oi! Stop that, Luffy!”

            “Say, where’s Usopp and Chopper?” Robin asked with an arched eyebrow.

            Nami sighed in reply, “Usopp went to go get him from his office, or wherever he might be.”

            “Ah, I see,” Robin responded with a slight accented exhale.

            After a few more minutes, Franky muttered, “Sure is taking  long, huh?”

            “Yeah,” Brooke sighed, though he technically didn’t even have lungs or vocal chords. “Sure is . . .”

            Another wave of silence crashed into the room for another few minutes.

            Then another.

            Then another.

            Then another.

            Luffy slammed his fist on the table in frustration (he just wanted to eat), shouting, “Why on earth is Usopp taking so long?!”

            As if on cue, Usopp peeked through the kitchen door, his body halfway visible from the door ledges.

            He informed us with a slight pant, “I can’t find Chopper anywhere.”

Tony Tony Chopper’s Point of View

            A blur crossed my eyes as I attempted to open them. I closed my eyes due to the sudden intrusion of dizziness, and instead took a whiff of the aroma around me. It smelled of sakura flowers, to be honest, and it was wonderful.

            I tried opening my eyes once again before I took in all my surroundings. I was in a quite small, confined space. It had a nice edge to it though. It was somewhat a small, wooden hut or cabin.

            “I see you’re awake now,” I heard a strong, clear feminine voice once I sat up on the soft bed.

            I turned around to see a young woman, smiling, with sleek black hair, slim figure, and toned body. In her hands was a tray filled with a bowl of steaming soup, a glass of water, utensils, and some pills.

            She set the tray on the table beside the bed before kneeling down beside me.

            “How are you?” she smiled warmly at me. Her eyes twinkling with concern.

            “I’m good,” I replied as I scratched the nape of my neck. “Um, what happened? I just remembered being drugged by . . . by . . . Oh, Kami! Where’s the rest of my crew!”

            The girl before me simply laughed, “They left without you.”

            “Whaaa!” My eye popped out of my sockets. “They left me?!”

            The girl nodded her head in a light daze, replying, “Pretty much.”

            I crashed down against the bed once again before tears became streaming down my face. Was I really that useless? Was I really that weak? Was that why they didn’t want me anymore?

            Yeah, the islanders here are pretty rough,” she told me hesitantly as she took the bowl of soup from the tray. “Here, I’ll feed you the soup. You’ll feel a lot better after you eat it all up. Sit up.”

            “Thank you,” I said to her as I sat up.

            She smiled as she fed me before asking, “What’s your name?”

            “Ah!” I slapped my cheek, aghast at my informalities. “My name is Chopper. Tony Tony Chopper. Very nice to meet you.”

            I extended my hoof for her to shake, which she did.

            “What’s your name?” I asked her in return.

            “Confidential,” she smiled with a slight edge of amity in her voice.

~*~*~*~

Roronoa Zoro’s Point of View

            “What do you mean he’s gone?” I slammed my fists on the table.

            At this point in time, everyone was standing up, alarmed as ever.

            Usopp then fully entered the kitchen, closing the door behind him, saying, “Yeah, he’s not in his office, the dormitories, hallways, Crow’s Nest, deck . . . or anywhere.”

            “Then where could he be?” Nami asked, arms crossed in full concern.

            “He didn’t get off at the island . . . did he?” Brooke egged on, trailing off ominously.

            A sudden wave of realization crashed against my mind. The sack. The few islanders. Don’t tell me . . .

            “Crap,” I cursed, catching the attention of my fellow teammates. “I saw a few islanders carrying a beige sack in the direction away from our ship during our encounter with the islanders. If anything, I’m pretty sure they took him.”

            “Argh, Zoro!” Nami went super-saiyan. “Why didn’t you tell us earlier?!”

            I developed a twitch mark on my forehead, “I thought everyone was onboard, but I guess I was wrong.”

            “Guess you were wrong?” Nami shouted. “You were totally wrong, baka!”

            I deadpanned with sarcasm in my voice, “Well sorry for not alleviating the situation.”

            “So . . . guys . . . what’s the plan of action?” Usopp asked us, a little flustered by the sudden escalation of the situation.

            We all looked at each other before staring at Luffy.

            A drumstick in his mouth, Luffy stared back at us, asking, “What?”

            Literally, we then fainted.

~*~*~*~

Tony Tony Chopper’s Point of View

            Confidential? I didn’t even get to know the name of the person who nursed me back to health in (at least what I believe) was only a few hours?

            I finished the soup thereafter by myself as the girl began preparing some medicine to fully heal me.

            “Anti-hemlock,” I heard her mutter. “Parsnip, Marring Salts . . .”

            She began stirring the ingredients into a steaming pot. I saw her add some rosemary into the mixture so that the smell and taste could be more bearable. Clever.

            She then drained the impurities within the liquid before pouring it into a cup, before handing it to me.

            “Drink up and you’ll be as good as new,” she smiled.

            “Thanks,” I smiled back at her before chugging down the slightly-alleviated bad tasting liquid and handing it back to her.

            She took all the dirty dishware and went outside to wash them presumably by the water pump.

            I then snuggled back under the covers of the bed. The fire was cackling in the fireplace in a stead melody. The stars outside in the dark blanket cast overhead dangled from the skies like silver and gold pearls.

            But even all that didn’t hide the fact that my teammates forgot about me and left. A part of my mind told me that the other tribal islanders probably drove them off, but they took on Sky Island. They’re the ones that have stormed countless of Marines. Luffy’s the one who possessed Haki. We were dominant over the bad guys in the underwater battles. Yet . . . they didn’t even bother to save . . . mere . . . me?

            Right then, the girl stormed through the cabin, grabbed the meager supplies spread throughout the cabin and packed them messily into her small backpack. She sleeked her black hair into a high ponytail before opening the latch down to the small compartment to the smallest cellar. Inside was an object bundled with several layers of cloth. It was relatively small. She set it on the counter before ripping out a piece of paper from her backpack. She took out a pen from her pocket and then began scribbling on the piece of paper before tucking it under some of the folds of the wrapped package. She then set her backpack on her shoulders before kneeling down beside the bed.

            “The islanders have caught on to both you and me,” the words gushed out of her mouth.

            “What? How?” I asked innocently as she then stood up and took my backpack out of the cupboard.

            “Here’s your pack,” she gave it to me before adding a vial of the medicine she previously administered to me earlier in the backpack.

            “Thanks,” I smiled at her, un-tucking myself from the covers and out of the bed, feeling much better than earlier.

            “It’s still dark outside,” she rushed, handing me a small blanket out of her backpack. “So you’ll be able to escape easily. I’ve heard you ate a devil fruit that gave you some human characteristics. I know you can defend for yourself, right?”

            She began buttoning my shirt for me since it was pretty chilly outside.

            Hesitantly, she added while buttoning my shirt for me, “I . . . have something for a certain member of your crew. It’s the swordsman.”

            I interrupted her train of words, “You mean Zoro?”

            She reluctantly nodded her head, replying, “Y-yeah, him. Could you give him this package for me?”

            The girl grabbed the package quickly but delicately with care, “It’s fragile, so be careful. I’m sorry to impose, but the islanders are coming, and let’s just say that they’re pretty angry and all. You should hurry to the docks just South of here before they find you. I saw a ship that had a lion-sun kind of figurehead. I think that’s your crew, right? There we go. The buttons of yours were a little of a hassle, but that’s done. Now, go, before they discover that you and I aren’t here.”

            She ushered me out of the rusty cabin as she grabbed a bow and arrows out from the closet as well as a katana. The girl strapped the katana around her back, the bag of arrows upon the opposite shoulder, and the bow in her hand.

            “So long, Chopper,” she gave me a nervous smile before heading off North toward mountainous territory. South was a wooded and cliffy area, but at least my friends would be coming. But what about the mysterious girl? Where was she headed? Did she have any comrades?

            As those thoughts raced through my mind, I said aloud softly, “Goodbye . . .”

~*~*~*~

Roronoa Zoro’s Point of View

            “I can’t believe our very own genius captain forgot that one of his crewmates was missing,” Nami ranted. “And he then proceeded to no even think of a plan and flipping eat instead. Like, who does he think he is?”

            “Um, he thinks he’s going to be Pirate King?” Usopp poked his head into the conversation. “I’m pretty sure that’s still his goal.”

            “Yessiree!” we heard Luffy’s agreement in the matter. “To be Pirate King is still my goal!”

            “Wow,” Nami deadpanned. “Why am I not surprised.”

            I chuckled at her response to the latter before noticing that land was ahead.

            “Erm, Nami, land right in front of us,” I nudged her.

            “Oh, yeah,” the navigator noted aloud. “Forgot about that.”

            I sweat-dropped at her reply.

            “Ohoho!” Brooke’s voice echoed in the air. “Is that our favorite little reindeer I see by the cliffs?”

            “Oh, Kami, it is,” Robin added monotonously, breaking her stare from her book to the thought to be long lost reindeer.

            “Thank goodness he’s alright,” Franky added, leaning against the frame of the kitchen door.

            “I couldn’t agree more,” Sanji smiled.

            Once we docked by the cliff, Luffy extended his arm (literally) to Chopper before snatching him from the cliff in a snap of the wrist.

            “Sorry about that, Chopper,” Luffy scratched the back of his head. “WE may or may not have forgotten about you, hahaha. Don’t worry though. I made a plan to come back with no problems whatsoever.”

            Nami whacked her captain on the back of his head, knocking him out entirely as Usopp followed her orders of dragging him out of the scene.

            Nami graciously added, “Oh, yeah, Chopper. It was, in fact, Chopper. It was, in fact, my ideato get you back, and if only flipping Zoro had told us sooner that you were missing . . .”

            I raised my hands up in defense, “Hey, I didn’t know that Chopper was the one in the sack . . . in my defense.”

            Chopper nudged the back of his head in accord, “It’s fine, hahaha.”

            “Then let’s get sailing!” Luffy jumped up to the top of the mast posts before giving orders. “Sanji, cook us up a feast!”

            “Aye, aye, Captain,” the blonde replied sarcastically. “On it.”

            “Things are going to go back to normal, aren’t they?” Usopp sighed, hands folded under his chin.

            “Pretty much, my friend,” Nami patted his back amicably. “Pretty much.”

~*~*~*~

            “Yes!” Luffy shouted, fist in the air. “Finally! Food!”

            Sanji chuckled at his captain’s behavior before saying, “Dig in, everyone.”

            With that being said, everyone began piling bits of every dish onto their plates.

            “Omf,” Luffy talked with his mouth full. “Dish shuffle base food.”

            “Wait, what?” Nami arched an eyebrow, looking at him a bit disgustedly. “And what did I say about talking with your mouth full.”

            “Sorry, ma’am,” Luffy hung his head low.

            Chopper suddenly gasped as if to remember something before rushing out the kitchen door to race off somewhere.

            “Where’s he going?” Sanji raised an eyebrow.

            As if on cue, Chopper returned to the kitchen with a bundle in his hands (hoofs, technically speaking).

            “What’s that?” Luffy raised an eyebrow.

            “The person who saved me gave it to me,” Chopper told everyone. “She told me to give this package to you . . . Zoro.”

            I arched an eyebrow, “Me?”

            Chopper handed me the bundle as everyone’s eyes trailed the package.

            I held the package in my hands—hesitant to open it. What was in it? It was from a stranger, so was it even worth opening?

            “What are you waiting for?” Sanji released the puff of smoke in my lungs before patting my back. “Open it.”

            I grunted, “Tch, alright. Whatever.”

            I began unwrapping the cloth around the package. Cloth by cloth, I began unwrapping the package like a present, like a small child. Like the good old days.

            Moments later, I was done unwrapping and inside the package lay a dagger, but not just any dagger. . . . Yuki’s . . . dagger.

            My gaze slowly turned from the dagger to Chopper. The expression plastered across my face was not that of joy and shock, but rather that of rage and hurt. She had the nerve to stick around for Chopper, but didn’t stay with him and return to me to give it to me herself?

            “Where did you get this?” I questioned him with a slight edge of anger in my voice. “This is something-”

            “Zoro, what is it?” Chopper interrupted me innocently before his hoof passed by the note wrapped among the folds of the cloth. “There’s a note there too, by the way.”

            I snatched the note from his hands before my eyes zipped through the words on the parchment. Anger boiled inside of me before I slammed my fist on the table and rammed the kitchen the door, not even bothering closing it back. I didn’t even bother taking another look at the note. I just took the dagger with me. What was the point of it, I didn’t even know. I was a swords master, not a knife man. What were they thinking?

Third Person’s Point of View

            “Wow,” Sanji muttered. “Anger issues.”

            “What does the piece of paper say, Chopper?” Luffy asked curiously as always.

            “Is it right for us to read what was meant for Zoro?” Robin put her input into the conversation.

            “I don’t know . . .” Chopper replied hesitantly.

            “Well, why not!” Luffy smiled, snatching the parchment paper out of Chopper’s hands before reading it aloud. “Hello Zoro. Just for your travels. Koshiro asked me to give it to you on my way to Oshaniwa. Have fun. Yuki.”

            “Okay, that was plain out lame,” Nami sighed, stirring her drink with a straw. “I expected her to say something epic and romantic. Ugh. But then again, Zoro is so not romantic.”

            “I second that,” Franky chuckled.

            With that being said, the rest of the crew finished eating and went to bed. It was a tiring day, so a night’s rest was worth it for all of them.

Roronoa Zoro’s Point of View

            I couldn’t sleep. Thought were racing throughout my mind. Matters. Ideas. Thoughts. Everything. Did Yuki’s message have another meaning to it? Was there some sort of engraving on the dagger? I didn’t understand anything. Why did she have to give me the dagger? What was the point? Was there some sort of message to gain from it?

            Sighing, I got out of bed and silently crept back out to the kitchen to retrieve the note back. I lit a boxed candle in the kitchen once I reached there and set it on the table. I sat down in one of the chairs, making myself comfortable, before re-reading the letter.

Hello Zoro,

Just for your travels.

Koshiro asked me to give it to you on my way to Oshaniwa.

Have fun,

Yuki

            I read the letter over and over again. Maybe there was a secret message in the letter. I knew. I absolutely knew that Yuki wasn’t the type to just leave me a letter after she traveled all the way from my village to here just to give the dagger to me. I knew there had to be some importance to the dagger, but what was it? There were a million possibilities, yet only one was the right one.

            Out of rage, I threw the letter in the air—clearly frustrated.

            “Wow, Yuki, wow,” I muttered to myself, closing my eyes. “You sure know how to push all my buttons, don’t you?”

            It wasn’t long before I smelled a burning aroma in the air. I opened my eyes almost immediately and then realized that the parchment paper I threw in the air moments earlier landed on top of the candle.

            I mentally thanked the world for not burning the entire ship on fire. I noticed some sort of writing behind on the back of the paper. I quickly flipped it over and began reading.

Dear Zoro,

I missed you so much the past few years.

How’s it been?

Koshiro and I miss you at home.

Takao’s grown up now, and, if I say so myself, he could beat you in a battle (one day).

About the letter a while ago, it’s fine. I understood what it was like.

In any case, I found a dream for myself.

A goal, and it’s a nice one.

I’m trying to find the spring of Toyaki.

I know what you’re thinking. It’s stupid.

Why dedicate my life to finding a stupid stream.

Well, it’s not some spring, Zoro.

People say that when you drink it, it can heal any injury, give you wisdom, or let you see the world in a more clever light.

There’s different legends of this special water. People know it exists, but no one has found it yet.

It’s kind of like devil fruits, but, some people have found it, but not this kind of treasure.

It’s water. A gift of change. A gift of flow. A gift of life.

That’s what I want to find, but enough of me now.

I know you’ll become the best swordsman in the world one day, if not today.

We all at home know you will.

~Yuki