I do not owe One Piece (but I want to and I bet many of you would love that as well!), all rights are reserved by Eichiro Oda, Shueisha and Toei Animation!
So before the chapter starts, here are some answers to the reviews (Yey! I got some! Wohoo!)!
Luffy shall not have Logia, while I do love them I have decided to go with Paramecia instead.
The Romance is One Piece type of romance, so basically adventuring a meeting new people, though I have pairing in mind for future! And no, Shanks still has his arm for now. I may play a bit around it, but so far he has it.
And phew, isn't it getting hot in here?
Enjoy!
"The famous Roronoa Zoro! What an honor to meet you!" man mocked him. Zoro turned his head and looked at the stranger. He was clad in black mostly. His black pants were big baggy, but not too much. His upper body was covered in red dress shirt, but not tucked into the pants. Over that he wore black jacket that reach middle of his thigh, with bit high collar, reaching to the middle of his neck. At his left waist was katana with black sheath, black guard and black handle, with red cloth wrapped around said handle. Another weapon consisted of a gun, hidden in holster that was located at the back of his waist horizontally.
Zoro himself wore pant in dark green color, white shirt tucked in light green haramaki with black bandana wrapped around his left bicep.
"You like black and red, don't you?" Zoro asked. There was a twitch at the man eyebrow.
"That's the first thing you ask the man that just mocked you?" man asked in disbelief.
"First thing that came to my mind," Zoro answered and returned to his previous task, which is untying a knot and freeing the ship from docks.
"By the way, that is my ship you are trying to steal," man commented as he sat down beside Zoro, content with watching him.
"And?" Zoro growled as the knot would not loosen.
"Just that I do not like people stealing my things," man added amused.
"Yeah, try to stop me or whatever you want to do," Zoro said and jumped into the boat, having enough of the annoying knot. So he decided to cut it. He was halfway done with drawing the sword, when his danger sense kicked him high. He spun around and was met with palm into his chest. The hit caused him to fall.
Zoro started to cough and was slightly afraid. He felt like drowning. No matter how much he tried he could not take a deep breath. He was hit again into his chest, this time with two fingers from the man.
"That is what happens, when people try to steal from me," man replied unasked question with smile.
"What the hell was that?!" Zoro asked with bit of fear in his voice.
"A trick I learned during my travels," was the answer.
"Where the hell did you learn to cause people drowning effect with single palm to the chest?" Zoro panted.
"Secret," the man singed happily.
"I hate you," Zoro replied.
"Aw, and I really like you!" the man whined like a child.
Zoro could only think one single thing. The fuck?!
"Anyway, I arrived, ready to beat this stupid marine I heard about, only to discover that someone beat me to it," the man explained.
"Hmm, doesn't look like much," man said as he looked at the Shell town.
"Doesn't look like much? Luffy-san this is one of the bigger town in East Blue!" young boy with pink haired exclaimed surprise.
"Saw bigger and better looking, anyway, this is the place?" now identified Luffy asked.
"For example? And yes this is the place," boy replied.
"Logue town is bigger and nicer with nice platform in the middle," Luffy smiled.
"You saw the Execution Platform?" boy asked with wide eyes. OUt in the world there are many execution platforms, but when people speak about it, only one platform comes to mind and that is the platform, where Pirate King Gold Roger was executed.
"Many people saw it, it is kinda big, you know," Luffy commented.
"It's just that not many people get to Logue town, so I was surprised," boy explained.
"I see, so Coby, you really want to join the marines?"
"Yes, it was dream for a long time now," Coby nodded seriously.
"Very well, but if you change your opinion, you can always join my crew," Luffy finished and walked different way since his goal was somewhere else.
"Oh by the way, give this to the commander of the base, okey?" he said and threw him a object. Coby caught the object and inspected it. It was a locket with cross and five circles. one was in the middle of the cross and rest on the sides. Side circles are also hidden in triangle pointing towards the center of the cross.
"What is it?" Coby asked, but Luffy was gone already. He looked around but saw him nowhere. He steeled himself and took a big breath.
Luffy walked through the town, randomly. Hand in his pockets and jacket slightly blowing in the wind. While some may thing he is just walking, he is listening at the same time.
"...it happen yesterday..."
"...bounty hunter..."
"...Morgan in prison..."
"...Roronoa Zoro..."
Luffy scoffed at that. He wanted Coby to join marines and see how disgusting Morgan is, then he would jump in and beat the crap out of shitty marine. And nudged Coby slightly towards the reforming the marines. They had to change. And Coby could lay the ground works for others to join.
'Ah well, let's get back to ship,' and with that he turned around.
"You mean that Korgan guy? or whatever his name was," Zoro asked.
"It is Morgan actualy," Luffy corrected him. Zoro looked at him. For while they stared at each other.
"Do I look like I care?"
Luffy smirked. "Nope."
"Then why correct me?"
"I am bored, quite a lot actually," Luffy replied.
"So what do you want me to do? Dance? Tell you a bedtime story?" Zoro mocked.
"Bedtime story would be nice, how about why you kicked Morgan's ass?"
Zoro snorted. "Stupid idiot he is."
"What do you want?" marine asked.
"Here to turn this guy in for his bounty," Zoro answered and lifted beaten man.
"And he is?"
"Buro? Nah, em, Bito! Nah, not that either. I think it was B-O, but I do not know the rest. The bounty should be five million beri though," Zoro said.
"Give me a moment," marine said and entered guard both. He picked up a stack of wanted posters and started to go through them.
'Is he some kind of idiot, not to remember the name of guy he took down?' marine wondered.
"Ah, here he is. Bolt the Small, reward five million beri," marine said aloud and picked up a den den mushi and dialed a frequency.
"Yes?" came a voice.
"Sir, a bounty hunter came in with Bolt the Small and requested the reward," he answered nervously.
"Send him to my office," the gruff voice said.
"Yes, sir!" marine said and put down the speaker. He left the booth and came up to the bounty hunter.
"Come with me please, Captain Morgan will see to you personally," he said and opened the gate for him.
"Sure, not like I have anything better to do," he muttered and put the body over his shoulder and walked slightly behind the marine.
"Please be respectful when speaking towards the captain, he dislikes when people talk to him commonly," marine explained.
"I'll try," he answered and yawned.
They reached big doors and marine knocked on them. "Sir, I have brought the bounty hunter."
"Send him in," came the answer. Marine opened the doors and allowed Zoro to enter. The room was big, very big. And decorated with very expensive furniture and other things.
'He has a big ego, doesn't he,' Zoro mused.
"So you caught Bolt the Small," came the voice from center of the room. Zoro looked at the man sitting at the table. He wore navy pants with dark blue stripes and dark blue vest with few buttons undone. Over that he wore light blue coat with red inside. What caught Zoro interest was a steel plating on his jaw and axe instead of right hand.
"Yeah, I did, was quite easy as well," Zoro answered.
"Hmm, Marines are happy with you actions and your donations, you may leave."
"What donations?" Zoro asked with narrowed eyes.
"You reward, you have decided to donate it for our cause," Morgan explained.
"Yeah, I did not. I want my reward so I can leave," Zoro said and placed his left hand on Wado Ichimonji.
"Your reward was donated and nothing you can do about it," Morgan replied this time bit forcefully.
"Yeah I do not care, give me my reward that I worked hard for," Zoro squeezed the handle of Wado and prepared himself.
"Are you trying to undermine my position?" Morgan asked and stood up.
"I just want my reward," Zoro said and settled himself in to the battle stance.
"Impudence! You shall be executed for that by my own hands!" Morgan yelled and dashed at Zoro, who calmly draw his sword.
"Idiot," Zoro said and blocked the axe strike with Wado. He pushed Morgan back, which caused him to stumble. Zoro quickly dashed and drew his second sword. In seconds, Morgan fell to the ground with multiple slashes on his chest. Marines quickly rushed in to see what was going on, but stopped, when they saw Zoro standing over their fallen captain with his sword pointing at the neck.
"You guys, get me my reward," Zoro said to them. Marines looked at each other.
"Morgan is down!"
"Quickly, bind him!"
Zoro looked at them. "Are you guys idiots?"
"And that is what happened," Zoro recalled his encounter with Morgan.
"What an idiot and weakling he was," Luffy commented.
"Yeah, he was," Zoro said and stood up intending to walk away from the ship now.
"Wait," he said and looked around.
"Where the fuck are we?!" Zoro yelled. They were at open sea.
"Ah, we left Shell town about three hours ago," Luffy answered.
"But why did you took me!?"
"I like you."
"You are not my type!"
"So you do have men types? Huh, who would have guessed that," Luffy commented.
"I do not have men types!"
"Are yous ure about that? Cause it looked like you were checking me out when we meet few hours ago. Heck you commented on my cloths," Luffy smirked.
"I so want to kill you now," Zoro seethed and sat down.
"So where are we sailing?" he asked trying to calm down.
"Hmm, I want to see how strong this Buggy is," Luffy answered and handed Zoro the wanted poster. He was wanted for fifteen million beri.
"Interesting," Zoro mused.
"Anyway, Zoro I have a question for you," Luffy said and looked him into the eyes.
"Yeah?"
"You have any dreams?"
"To be the best swordsman in the world," Zoro grinned.
"So you want to take down Mihawk," Zoro nodded at that, "how does a weakling like you wants to do that?"
Zoro's eyes widened. "What did you call me?"
"Weakling. You may be strong here in East Blue, but we are known to be the weakest of the seas. Compared to Mihawk you are an ant," Luffy explained, his eyes closed and head slightly bend down. Zoro was angry. He draw his sword and quickly slash at Luffy, who continued sitting there. When the blade was about to hit him, he blocked it with his index finger. Zoro eyes widened. Not even blood spilled from the wound. Heck there was no wound there. Luffy bend his finger and hit the blade with it. The blade shattered on impact.
"Wha?" he could only get out, before he found himself on the ground, panting. Something was oppressing him, clouding his mind. Luffy opened his eyes and stared at Zoro. It was like his eyes were piercing Zoro's and looking at the soul itself.
"This is what I meant," Luffy said softly, "compared to me, or some other strong people you are an ant. You want to face Mihawk, but he would annihilate you with single slash of some random sword. Yes, he wouldn't even drew his black sword."
"So what am I supposed to do, huh? Give up? Run? I would rather face him and die for my dream then any of the above choices!" Zoro snarled as the pressure was released and he could think clear again.
"Join me and help me achieve my dream."
"And what is that dream of yours?"
"To be truly free. But to be truly free I need to be the strongest and have a title that will mean something in this world. A title that everyone wants to achieve," Luffy smirked as he saw Zoro's eyes widen, no doubt putting everything in order.
"That is right. My goal is to find One Piece and gain the title of Pirate King."
"You are crazy!"
"Many said so, but I will live and reach my goal. Only question is, will you be there when I do?"
Zoro was silent. "What will I get if I do join you?"
Luffy grinned. "An opportunity to test yourself against strong opponents of Grand Line!"
Zoro contemplating. It had some merits. If this kid could really reach his goal a lot of strong people would go after him. And they would be strong.
"But, I can give you some taste of what I will show you, should you join me."
"Like?"
"Sit crossed legs and close your eyes. Ignore everything and listen to my voice only," Luffy said. Zoro looked at him for while, but then followed his directions.
"Ignore everything, think about nothing but yourself. See nothing but yourself. Hear nothing but yourself. Feel nothing but yourself," and Zoro did. He heard his heart beating. Thoughts about himself came to the front of his mind. He saw himself. But he turned around and walked away from him.
"Follow yourself deeper," came Luffy's voice. But how? He had no legs? No arms, no body!
"There is nothing, but only you and what yours will command," came another hint. His will? His command? Was he supposed to will himself to follow? Maybe...It was worth the try. He willed for his nonexistent body to move. His legs to walk. And before he knew it his legs materialized. They walked in the same direction as his copy, or whatever it was. He walked through white nothingness, filled with gray fog. Until he came upon a doors.
"Touch them, feel them, push them open," another hint from Luffy came. Arms. He needed arms to touch, to feel, to push. Raise hands. Raise and touch the doors! And so they did. He could feel the wood of the doors and how rough they were. He pushed but nothing happened. He pushed again. And again and again.
"You can't push something when you have no heart," Zoro was confused. Heart? He had one. To assure himself he looked down, only to gasp. His legs were connected to nothingness. His arms started nowhere. And no heart was present? So he needed one? But if he created one, it would only bleed out! He would need veins. But they would fell off, they needed to be hold by something. Muscles! But to what would he attach them? Bones! Slowly and slowly his body was turning. Legs and arms disappeared, and instead of them a body made out of bones was present. Slowly and slowly a muscles, veins and everything started to form. And then his body was done.
"Push," and Zoro did. The doors opened and he entered a room. Inside it were two figures.
"What do you see?" Zoro looked at the left figure. It was made out of white substance, like light itself.
"The light," Zoro said. His eyes fell on the second figure. This one was made out of black substance, shining a little from the light that first figure emitted.
"The darkness," he continued, "but nothing in between."
"Anything else?"
"They...they are offering their hands to me."
"Take them," and so Zoro did. He raised his hand and slowly approached the two figure, until their hand met. The dark started to spread on his right hand, with light on his left. With each millimeter consumed Zoro felt stronger and stronger. He could take on a world and survive!
"Will it. Will it, to stop before it reaches your heart. Do not let yourself be consumed." Why? This was him, right?
"You are not ready, you will be consumed and lose yourself in it. You will die," the soft voice from Luffy warned. Is he right? Would he die? So far he was right about everything? Stop. Do not progress further. He decided. Luffy was straight forward with him and so will he. The essences started to slow down and eventually stopped at his shoulders.
"Will it again. Will it to your hands, let your hand bask in it, but do not let it pass your wrists," And so he did. the essences returned. Until they covered his hands only.
"Now, follow my voice and leave. Return back to your physical body," and Zoro tried. The images in front of him distorted, until nothing but darkness remained. And he opened his eyes.
"Welcome back," Luffy greeted him. Zoro tried to stand but fell back down.
"Wha?"
"You are exhausted. You were inside yourself for two days," Luffy explained.
"Two days?!"
"Yes, understanding yourself takes time. By the way you reached the doors in about five hours, and opened them in next ten, rest of it you spent controlling the essences," Luffy added and handed him a flask of water.
"Thanks, what was that by the way?" and took large gulp of water.
"Before I answer that, how do you feel? Stronger? Weaker? Faster?"
"I do feel something. Like I can do some things more easily. Does that make sense?"
Luffy nodded. "It does. What you experienced was unlocking an ability known as Haki, or commonly known as manifestation of one Will. The two figures represents two main branches, or Colors as they are known. Kenbushoku Haki or Color of Observation, and Bosushoku Haki also known as Color of Armament. The light for Observation and the dark for Armament."
"So what does it do? And why did I say, that I do not see nothing in between?"
"Kenbushoku allows you to see or sense others, allowing you to locate them and even predict their attacks," Zoro eyes widened, "Bosushoku on other hand allows you to attack or defend yourself, think about it like and armor and a sword while Kenbushoku like spy glasses." Zoro nodded.
"The between. Some call it combination of two previous Haki, some call it mutation of the two. But it takes on color of gray. It is known has Haoshoku Haki or Color of the Conquering King. While everyone can unlock the previous two Colors, you need to be born with ability to use Haoshoku," Luffy said.
"And what does it do?"
"It overpowers one will. I can bring you down on your knees with just a though, make you pass out or just scare you," Luffy explained and Zoro's eyes widen yet again, "fitting power for a king, eh?"
"So you have it," Zoro said and Luffy nodded, "damn."
Luffy smirked. "I can show you how to control yours Haki, how to manipulate in completely and in the end how to master it. For once you master it, the two figures will disappear and you will be one with them."
"It really is tempting. I could feel the power it has and it only reached up to my shoulders, how would it feel when I am covered completely?" Zoro mused.
"So will you join me and sail with me through the Gran Line and in the end turn the world upside?" Luffy extended his hands towards Zoro.
Zoro gave him blood thirsty grin. "Sure, why not?"
And he grabbed the hand.
So, yeah I planned to make it bit longer and introduce Nami next chapter, but I kinda like that final moment between Luffy and Zoro.
I have also played a bit around with Haki awakening and I shall explain more next chapter!
And I told the story using flashbacks, I think it is kinda awesome like that, let me know what you guys think about it!
I hoped you enjoyed it!
