DISCLAIMER: I don not own One Piece. It is the property of Eiichiro Oda.
Sabaody Archipelago, 2 years after the war of the best. The day of Zoro's arrival.
Zoro walked into Shakky's bar and looked around. He noticed Shakky behind the bar and Rayleigh sitting on a bar stool in front of her. There was a man sitting in the corner strumming on a Satanic looking guitar but Zoro paid him no mind. "Ah so the first of you has arrived!" Rayleigh exclaimed. Zoro merely nodded in response and walked up to the bar. Shakky placed a tankard full of saké in front of Zoro and staring at him intently asked, "So how was your trip?" Zoro looked up at her and said "Long enough. The trip wasn't the problem so much as the company I had to deal with getting here. That girl from Thriller Bark got on my nerves." The man in the corner snorted in laughter at his words and Zoro looked at him questioningly. "And what's so funny about that?" Zoro asked. "Oh not much," the man started, "except that I never would have guessed the Roronoa Zoro of the Strawhat Pirates would even be able to stand 5 minutes of being around a woman." Zoro's brow furrowed as he looked at the man. "How would you know anything about me?!" Zoro shouted at the man. "Oh I know more about you than you might think." the man said as he stood up laying his guitar on the counter of the bar. He stood at 6' 2" and was easily 200 lbs. of pure muscle. He had short dark brown hair, and was wearing a black t-shirt, dark blue jeans, and black boots. He had a cross with a skull on it around his neck and was wearing a black trench coat.
"Roronoa Zoro, swordsman and First Mate of the Strawhat Pirates, wanted with a bounty of 120,000,000 beli, standing at 5' 11" and weighing in at approximately 175 lbs. You started your career as a simple student at a dojo in Shimotsuki Village with the dream of becoming the world's greatest swordsman. There you met Kuina, who became your first big competition for the title. You never beat her and will never get the chance for she died when she fell down the stairs at the dojo. After her funeral you pleaded with your master for her sword Wado Ichimonji, which now rests on your hip. Afterwards you kept training until you left and became a bounty hunter for the sheer purpose of feeding yourself as you traveled. Along the way you met Johnny and Yosaku and continued traveling and training to beat Dracule Mihawk, also known as the world's greatest swordsman. Eventually you ended up in Shell Town and were imprisoned there for defending a young girl named Rika from the son of former Captain Morgan, Helmeppo. He said that if you didn't turn yourself in for 1 month he would kill the girl and her mother for what you did. You, of course, agreed and thus began your imprisonment. Then not long after a truly fateful and grand day arrived. The day you met one Monkey D. Luffy. Your captain and savior. He helped you escape after telling you of Helmeppo's plan to kill you the next day and asked you to join his crew. That is one of the most important days in your history and mine."
As the man spoke Zoro's eyes widened at all the information that this man knew. Information that no one but his old sensei Koshiro, Luffy and a few others knew. Zoro sat down heavily wondering who the hell this man was.
"Who are you?" Zoro asked interrupting the man. "Me?" the man said. "My name is Conner Sabbath and I am one of the Strawhat Pirates' biggest fans. I have been following your progress ever since Luffy got his first bounty of 30 million. I have hoped to meet all of you for a very long time."
"Why would you want to meet us?" Zoro asked puzzled. "Because I hoped to join all of you." Conner stated looking at Zoro with eternal patience. "Join us? Are you crazy? Why would you want to join a pirate crew just like that?" Zoro exclaimed. Conner looked at Zoro with bright eyes and said in a voice full of hope, "To finally accomplish my dream!" Zoro stared at the man and asked "What is your dream?" Conner stared back looking serious and said "To join the Strawhat Pirates and find what I've devoted 15 years to getting."
"And what have you been trying to get for so long?" Zoro questioned. Conner looked sad for a moment and sighed before answering, "A cure." Zoro just gawked at the man. " A cure for what? Why would you need to be a pirate to find this cure?" Zoro shouted. "Because being a pirate makes it easier!" Conner explained as he laughed. Zoro noticed Conner had avoided his question about what he would need a cure for. "Well then 'Pirate Hunter' how do you feel about doing something with me?" Conner asked. "And that would be?" Zoro questioned while looking away from the man. "Duel me." Conner said as calm as ever. Zoro whipped his head back and stared at Conner "Duel you? Why should I?" It wasn't that he didn't want to but Zoro decided he wanted at least get this answer from the man. "For a rather simple reason. That reason being that we are both swordsman and we must honor a challenge." Conner said calmly knowing that Zoro was pressing for at least a few answers. "Alright then," Zoro said, "but don't be angry when you lose." Conner just looked at Zoro before he laughed and said "I really wouldn't plan on thinking it will be that easy. I trained with the sword every day since I was 6 years old." he said. Zoro's eyes widened when he heard of Conner's devotion to his training. Curious, he asked the man "So do you want to be the greatest swordsman too?" Conner shook his head saying "No I have no plans that grand."
The two men walked outside and got ready for a fight. Zoro got into a stance and took out 2 of his swords, Sandai Kitetsu and Shusui. Conner just stood there and calmly asked, "Only 2 huh? Am I not good enough for all 3?" Zoro said in return "I won't know until I see some of your style will I?" Conner just smirked and said "Well then, I guess Kokushibyō and I will have to show you what we're made of." Zoro's eyes widened again as he said "Black Death huh? Ever since I heard the name of the 12 Supreme Grade Swords I wondered where they all went. Now I know where 2 are but yours is by far one of the deadliest. Said to carry inside it the soul of Death itself and is of such high-grade it never needs taking care of." Conner just grinned in return saying "Well I should have expected you to know more about the Great Blades after being under Mihawk's tutelage." Zoro smiled in return saying, "Well you even know about that huh? I guess I shouldn't underestimate you."
With that Zoro was prepared to fight but Conner just stood there without even drawing his sword. "Aren't you going to ready yourself?" Zoro asked. "I am ready." his opponent said in return. Zoro just shrugged and launched himself forward faster than most eyes could follow but Conner was ready for anything Zoro could throw at him. As Zoro reached him Conner pulled out his blade faster than Zoro could even see and blocked both of his attacks before resheathing his sword as quickly as he drew it.
'Damn he's fast!' Zoro thought as he landed away from Conner. "Well then I guess it's time for my full power." Zoro said as he drew Wado Ichimonji and placed it in his mouth and then wrapped his black bandanna around his head. "Oh? Getting serious are we?" Conner asked, smirking at Zoro. Smirking in return Zoro just prepared for one of his best attacks. "Santoryuu" Zoro said as the air started shimmering around him. "Rengoku" Zoro dashed forward toward his opponent. "Oni Giri!" Zoro finished as he reached the man. Unfortunately for him however Conner had drawn his sword again and stopped all of Zoro's forward movement.
After recovering from the shock Zoro asked Conner startled "How did you do that? That's one of my best attacks!" The man just smiled in return saying "Easily enough. You aren't fast enough, strong enough, or smart enough to beat me." Zoro just glared at Conner angrily before noticing the man hadn't resheathed this time. "So what? Are you actually going to keep your sword out this time?" Zoro questioned. Conner just grinned and said "Well yes I think I'm going to end this as soon as possible." Zoro just stood there pissed. 'All my training and this man is standing here mocking me! How is he so powerful?!' Conner bent his knees slightly and while holding the sword in his right hand, he ran his left hand across the length of the 5 foot blade causing it to glow a bright blue. Zoro stared in surprise while thinking 'What? A Devil Fruit? This can't be good!' Conner then intoned "Roiyaru Kurosu" as he slashed once horizontally followed closely by another slash vertically and finally a swift jab forward which sent the cross-shaped attack at Zoro. As he attempted to dodge Zoro noticed how the attack stayed in midair until Conner had sent it forward. After successfully dodging the attack Zoro rushed forward and attacked in a flurry of swings. Conner calmly blocked all of them until one quick strike sent Kokushibyō slightly out of the way. Zoro grinned evilly seeing victory before him before he saw Conner's arm come up and block Zoro's oncoming swords.
Zoro looked surprised at Conner's arm and saw it was almost black signifying his ability to use Busoshoku Haki. Conner then looked Zoro square in the face before saying, "Well it looks like I've won." Zoro looked surprised but then realized that the battle was in fact over as Conner swung his sword three times and knocked all of Zoro's swords away before placing his sword near Zoro's neck signifying Conner's victory.
"Hmmmm. I guess I was too good for you Zoro." Conner said as he sheathed his sword while grinning at Zoro. "How did you do that?" Zoro asked as he sat down where he stood after retrieving his swords. Conner just laughed and said "I'll tell you when everyone else is here." Zoro looked up surprised when he heard Conner say this and saw that the man had a sack with him and was holding his black guitar again. "What are you doing?" Zoro asked. "Well Zoro, I think it's time you got to see an old friend isn't it?" Conner said smiling at Zoro. All Zoro did was quirk his brow and say "Who? I was the first to arrive." Conner just laughed and said "No you weren't." Zoro glared at the man before remembering that a Nakama was here. "Ah so you remembered huh? That's right. We're going to see the Thousand Sunny."
End of Chapter 1
A/N:
I got Conner's name from AC3 and Boondock Saints and his last name from Black Sabbath. Figured I should put that here so that I don't get sued.
Definitions:
Roiyaru Kurosu: Royal Cross Kokushibyō: Black Death (if you didn't catch that)