This is a bit of a project that I've had in the back of my mind for quite a while. Obviously the separation of the Strawhats ultimately led to them becoming much stronger...but I've got a different take on Zoro. In this one, he will NOT end up training under the world's greatest swordsman. He's got...a different path than everyone else from the crew.

This story begins with the scene near the end of One Piece Episode 404 (no, you will not get an error message, although Zoro is not there any longer)

One Piece characters are, quite naturally, the copyright of the fantastic Eichiro Oda (and TOEI Animation), while Warcraft characters are the copyright of Blizzard.

SABAODY ARCHIPELAGO

RORONOA ZORO

The towering bulk of Bartholomew Kuma, his strange book in hand, masked out all else. Roronoa Zoro, still gasping for breath, freshly wounded from where a beam of pure light had pierced his shoulder, at once realized that this...this was the real product, the genuine Warlord. Kuma's eyes held no emotion whatsoever as he regarded the swordsman. I am in no shape to fight...

Memory after memory fit into place as the swordsman and the warlord stared at each other. First, the wave of incredible agony; just a taste of Monkey D. Luffy's pain that had somehow been separated from his body, thanks to Kuma's bizarre power...

This was followed by the memory of Zoro plunging his arms into that ball of pain and suffering, taking every last inch of it on himself...all for the sake of his captain. His nakama.

Lastly, there was the image of Sanji approaching the swordsman after he'd taken that weight on his shoulders.

"WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!"

"N...nothing happened!"

Then he was jarred back to the present as Kuma spoke, a touch of surprise in his normally calm tones. "So...you survived, Roronoa?"

Zoro finally stood to his feet and gasped out, "Thanks to your mercy...yes..."

Zoro could barely hear Usopp's voice as the sniper stated in a shaky voice, "Oi, Zoro...this is no time to be talking! Hurry!"

Kuma inclined his head very slightly and then removed one of his gloves, tugging it free. That solemn, calm tone reached out to Roronoa's barely conscious mind. "If you were to go on a vacation...where would you like to go?"

Zoro's eyes widened and he gasped in shock. Kuma was about to use his ability...and he wasn't really asking about what Zoro wanted, either. Usopp reached towards him, "Oi, Zoro! If you don't hurry up and run..."

Then Kuma's eyes flashed white, and the Pacifista struck, sweeping his paw-padded hand at...no, through Zoro.

And then there was nothing.

SHADO-PAN MONASTERY, KUN-LAI SUMMIT

TARAN ZHU

The meditations had been going excellently for Taran Zhu...right up until a gigantic crashing noise echoed throughout the monastery. At once, they were interrupted as a commotion rose from the grounds of the Monastery and reached Taran's quarters. His eyes snapped open, golden orbs offsetting the dark black circles that most Pandaren had. His scarf gathered about his face and his helmet atop his head, Taran Zhu wore the full regalia of his order. If there were any doubts as to who the commander of the Shado-Pan was, Taran's presence and his bearing would settle those at once. It was time to investigate what had happened. Suppressing a sigh, the Lord of the Shado-Pan unfolded his legs and stretched himself to his full height. If his hearing was correct...the noises had come from the Grove of Falling Blossoms. A shout of alarm from a thick tone that Taran did not recognize soon rang out from the grounds, followed by the great gong of Snowdrift Dojo ringing. Taran was soon up and heading to the site of the disturbance.

He did not grab either his war mace or his greatsword as he departed his quarters. He was fully capable of fighting without a weapon and this was his domain. The cool mountain air of the Monastery in summer had become electric where once there was calm; the news of the disturbance had spread faster than a wildfire. Something must have gone amiss with someone's training. Taran surmised as he arrived in the Grove. Almost two dozen Shado-Pan stood there in a tight cluster, exchanging excited and worried whispers about what they thought had happened...and then there was a gasp of shock. Taran didn't know why. Then they became aware of him and the whispers hushed.

"Out of the way!" Yalia Sagewhisper's voice broke the silence; the Master of the Omnia Discipline moving like water through the throng of onlookers. She caught Taran's eye and bowed at once. "Lord Zhu."

"Can anyone tell me what happened here?" Taran asked, not addressing just Yalia but the others gathered here as well. He knew everyone here by name.

Lao-Chin the Iron Belly, the heaviest member of the entire order, a thickset Blackguard Brewmaster with streaks of black fur about his eyes, bowed and stated, "My Lord, an...outsider crashed into the grove." If this was a joke, Lao-Chin's solemn tones certainly didn't sell it very well.

"Crashed?" Taran's eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Did they fall from the air itself, Lao-Chin?"

There was no laughter at this statement. Lao-Chin was telling the truth. The huge Pandaren nodded. "They left an unusual mark, Lord Zhu. You can see for yourself."

Taran's eyes widened now. The crowd blocking him from the outsider parted...and Taran beheld a very unusual individual, lying on his back in the middle of an unusual pawprint crater...a thick circle with what appeared to be five finger 'pads' of a sort.

The individual had their green hair had cut short to the person's skull, a number of scratches and small wounds were scattered about the 'face'...at least, Taran had to assume it was a face. He'd seen and fought Yaungol, Zandalari, Mogu, Mantid, and Saurok, yet this one was...different. Their skin seemed soft, with no fur to protect it, and they also wore a strangely colored shirt, which was wholly inappropriate for any high mountain climate. Taran's eyes saw there was an undeniable strength in the person, and while he had never seen someone from this people before, he had seen enough battlefields to know when someone was in bad condition. The individual was barely breathing...and there seemed to be a small amount of blood gathering below them. The Lord of the Shado-Pan barely suppressed a gasp of shock as he saw a jagged scar stretching down the person's chest from their shoulder to their hip, the scar visible due to their shirt having been parted.

Without further ado, Yalia Sagewhisper took charge of the situation. Binding the green magic of mistweaving techniques to her hands, she soon summoned a bandage of a sort that emanated a faint green glow. She applied this to the person's shoulder, which seemed to have been pierced as though by a needle. "I will tend to this one." She stated firmly. "If someone would get me a stretcher..." Her voice carried a suggestive tone, yet Taran knew it was a command.

There was no shortage of volunteers for that. Seven Shado-Pan at once bustled off towards the dormitories. Taran knelt near the semiconscious figure and Yalia. "I take it we have no idea where this one is from..." He murmured.

"Quite correct, Lord Zhu." Yalia answered with a nod, summoning another jade bandage with her hands and placing it to the person's forehead.

The instant before the bandage made contact, the person's eyes snapped open. Yalia at once froze in place. The fierce eyes of the strange person looked to her, and then to Taran Zhu. "Where..." They gasped out. "Where am I?"

"You're safe." Yalia stated in a calm, assuring tone, recovering from her momentary shock and placing the bandage on the individual's forehead. "Rest. You're in good hands."

The green-haired figure nodded dimly and then collapsed, truly unconscious this time...hopefully, not dead. "Do what you must, Master Sagewhisper." Taran stood to his feet. Yalia made no spoken reply, but nodded as she continued to summon more healing techniques. "Shado-Pan, we will speak on this incident later. Return to your duties." He commanded the other members of his order. Yalia didn't need anyone getting in her way.

Those remaining from the initial gawkers looked to Taran and bowed, heading off. "Lao-Chin...please remain." Taran stated before the heavy Blackguard monk could depart the scene.

Lao-Chin nodded and met his commander's eyes. "Yes, Lord Zhu?"

"Speak with Rushi the Fox and get robes for our new guest." Taran stated. "As well as anything else that Yalia needs to tend to him. Once you have done so...report to me."

Lao-Chin bowed. "Of course, Lord Zhu." The huge Pandaren lumbered off to carry out Taran's commands.

Taran waited until the stretcher had arrived for the stranger, and then made certain that the grove was empty before heading back to his quarters. Yalia would report their new guest's status to him in all good time...