Prince Deity awoke the next day fresh and ready. He brushed his hair and put on a white tank top over grey sweatpants and slip-on shoes. He pulled out a clean towel from his closet and smiled.

"Time for my morning training."

Exiting his bedroom he walked past the many other rooms that were currently being used by his guests. He felt a strange excitement and nervousness as he strode by.

"To think – I have pirates staying with me. Pirates!"

I'll let them sleep, He thought to himself as he reached the stairs and walked down. Entering a new hallway, he opened the second door on the right to enjoy the training room his father had built for him when he was younger.

"You must grow up to become a strong and wise King," his father had told him once, "so I'm given you your own place to grow at your own pace. Here you will learn the technigues of some of the greatest swordsman in the world."

"I can't remember if I cleaned my sword last time," he murmured as he entered the main training area, "I should check to make sure-?"

Deity stood at the edge of the mats to find The greened haired pirate – lifting the largest weights his father had in the training room, weighing more than five tons on either side! "Um, mister pirate?! Are you alright?! Those weights-"

"Will have to do," he replied as he lifted them into the air and back down, again and again. Deity stood in shock, noting the long scar on his chest and along his left eye. "You...you're having such as easy time with them..."

He tried to think of how to start a conversation, but he didn't know if that was such a good idea. What if I distract him and he drops the weights? They could crush him!

"Hey."

He snapped back to reality. "Y-yes?"

"That your sword?" The pirate held the dumbbell in one hand and pointed to the opposing wall, where barrels of practice swords and various shields were stored. Hanging on the wall was a beautiful Katana, a sleek golden blade with a velvet handled that was shaped into the form of a large bird, two diamonds for eyes.

Deity nodded. "That's right. Kasai fenikkusu no ōgon no tsume, a sword handed down from my grandfather to my father, then to me. I've had it since I was five.

"...I can tell that it's had a lot of experience in battle," the pirate commented, "and its strength surpasses its beauty."

"...I don't believe I got your name, sir."

"You can drop the sir," he placed the dumbbell back on the floor, "my name is Roronoa Zoro, but Zoro is just fine. I usually train in the morning on the ship, but Nami said I couldn't bring my weights into the castle."

THE Roronoa Zoro?! A-amazing!

"I-I wouldn't mind."

"Thought so, so I did anyway."

"Oh?" Deity looked around. "...Where are they?"

"I got lost on the first floor and left them somewhere."

...The first floor isn't that complicated...

"Then it took me a while finding this place. I was supposed to start training at five, and it's already seven."

...This man...what kind of directional sense does he have? "I can go find them, if you wish."

Zoro smirked. "No, I won't be needing them, because I have a sparring partner."

"You do?"

Am I going to get to see two pirates duke it out in my own castle?!

"Take hold of it."

"?"

Zoro pointed to the sword on the wall. "Show me what you know. Kasai fenikkusu no ōgon no tsume is lusting for some action."

"Lusting..," Deity felt his nerves tangle as he grabbed his sword and entered onto the training mats. The handle felt cool in his sweaty palms.

How could I possibly defeat the legendary pirate hunter Roronoa Zoro in a fight?...Wait...

"If you're a pirate hunter, how come you're on a pirate ship?"

"I was only given the title by others," Zoro replied as he picked up one of his swords, the one with a white handle, "I never claimed to actually hunt pirates. I only did it to survive."

He readied into his battle stance and held out his sword. " Kasai fenikkusu no ōgon no tsume, I'd like you to meet Wado Ichimonji, my most trusted sword."

Now he's talking to the sword. How closely can one come to being the perfect swordsman, I wonder? Does it involve reading the weapon as well as the opponent?

"Ready?"

Deity felt rigid, but nodded.

"Good. BEGIN!"

The next three minutes felt like a mere few seconds as Deity desperately tried to keep up with Zoro. The swordsman flew past and around him in a dizzying manner, and a few times Deity was sure he'd accidentally hit himself. When it was over, he sat down, exhausted. "Y-you're...you really are legendary, Zoro."

"Not yet."

"Hm?" Deity glanced up at him to find Zoro frowning, deep in thought.

"It's my dream to become the world's greatest swordsman. I have to. I made a promise to someone very important to me, that I would become only the best. That's why I've joined Luffy's crew – I will help him become the king of the pirates, and I'll become the greatest alongside him."

And to think, I thought all pirates were only striving to gain riches and fame, no matter the cost. "Aren't you strong enough yet?"

"If I were the best," he gave Deity a stare that could freeze blood, "you wouldn't be able to talk to me after three minutes of sparring."

Scary!

Zoro sheathed his sword, placed it with his other two and began to walk out of the training room.

The man who uses three swords...he's as terrifying as they say.

"I'm going to go clean up now."

"The washrooms are down the right hall."

"Thanks."

"...Zoro?"

"Yes?"

Deity stood up and held his swords out, examining its blade. "...You're going to be the greatest swordsman, right? What are you willing to give up for that dream?"

Is he willing to kill his own friends?

Zoro stopped and glanced back over his shoulder, smiling.

"I'll give it all up for my dream. That's what it means to be a pirate." He walked out of the room, leaving Deity pondering.

He'll give everything up for his dream...what a guy...!

"Hey, wait, Zoro! That's the left hallway!"