Chapter 2: Fate and Her Cruel Intentions

The crew began to make their collective ways back to the Sunny, having spent nearly the entire day out on the island. Sanji arrived with Nami. He ran into her during his errands and offered his services by carrying her purchases in his cart that he had borrowed for his supplies. Among his various foods and spices, he had a notebook full of the recipes of the local dishes that he managed to coax out of his fellow culinary-enthusiasts as well as a section filled with Nami's new clothing and map-making items. Franky was the next to arrive at the ship, carrying a massive crate, filled to the brim with a variety of tools, metals, and cola. Following closely behind him was the trio of Brook, Chopper, and Luffy with their assortment of medical books, sheet music, and food from the local vendors. Usopp greeted everyone with smiles but kept a tight lip on the occurrence with Zoro earlier. He was going to wait until everyone returned before discussing what had transpired.

The sun had set for the day and the moon had risen as the remaining two Straw Hats have yet to return to the ship they call home. Zoro, having been forced out of the bar at gun point, was making his way back to the ship, but due to his directionally-challenged mental compass, he managed to go further away from his destination. He walked along the street, "One pint of rum isn't enough for me," he thought to himself as he looked around to see if the ship was close. "I'll just grab another drink before I head back," though the swordsman as he swiveled his head, looking for another bar. He saw a fortune teller, sitting on her cushion near a lit torch and gazing into her crystal ball. He walked over with the intention of asking for the nearest bar, but he stopped when she peered up towards him. The fortune teller was an old lady, whose sight had faded from her eyes many years ago. "Well, so much for that idea. I was hoping she'd know," he thought as he began to turn around. "I know a lot more than you think, Roronoa Zoro," said a raspy old voice. He stopped and faced the old lady once more to see her looking straight at him. The milky film that laid over her eyes was as white as alabaster but seemed to let her stare into his soul. "Oi, what's going here? How did you know my name?" asked the perplexed swordsman as he began to wave his hand in front of her eyes. She grabbed his flailing hand and held on tightly. "The Man of Roronoa, your fate has been cast. The Dragon of Death will arrive at last." said the old lady as she lunged at Zoro with a dagger, nicking his side. Zoro grabbed his side as he turned to look for the old woman but couldn't find a trace of her. The wound on his side had disappeared too, with the hole in his shirt being the only evidence that the event had happened.

Nico Robin, amidst learning of the ancient prophecy, aided the old lady Mamiya to her house that resided in between the ruins and the port where the Sunny was currently anchored. The raven-haired pirate made her way towards the kitchen as she turned towards the host. "Would you like for me to make some tea or coffee as you tell me more, Mamiya," she asked. She raised her hand and pointed, "The tea is in the third cupboard on the left." Robin made her way over and began to make the tea. "Could you please continue with the story, Mamiya," she asked as she placed the kettle onto the stove. Mamiya looked at Robin with a furrow across her aged brow. "It is NOT a story! It is the TRUTH," she said as she shook her hand at the archaeologist. "My apologies. Would you please tell me more about the original event," said Robin as she grabbed cups out of the cupboard. Mamiya settled down and sat back in her chair. "The original Maiden also had the same ability as you possess. As I was told, the dragon and the Maiden were once lovers, but a mysterious evil force took hold of her beloved and threatened to plunge the world into darkness. In a last ditch effort, the Maiden," she said as Robin handed her a cup of the brewed tea. Mamiya took a sip and continued, "She used her powers to bind the dragon and sent it into the ocean to drown, but the dragon managed to grab her with its tail and drag her under the waves. Her possession of these abilities robbed her of the ability swim. The evil force that caused these events to occur stated that it will happen once again and will plunge the world into darkness. Our ancestors inscribed the events upon the walls that you saw and warned us to try and prevent it from ever occurring," she said as she finished her drink.

Robin sipped on her cup during the story as she absorbed all of the information. "Why did you say we had to get off of the island if the change is going to happen anyway," asked Robin. Mamiya looked at her and replied, "The prophecy will only come to fruition when The Man of Roronoa encounters the island and is marked by the evil itself. The faster you are off of the island, the less likely the evil will find him and leave its mark. It is the mark that starts the change." Robin pondered this new information. "So as long as Kenshi-san stays on the ship and doesn't leave, the chances of this event will drop significantly, but we must leave as soon as possible," she thought as she finished her cup. "We will try and set sail as soon as we can. Thank you very much for the tea and the information, Mamiya," said Robin as she collected the cups and placed them on the counter. "I will head back and try to get us off of the island as soon as we can." As Robin set them down, the door opened with the bartender gasping for breath. "Sappo, what's the matter," asked Mamiya Robin grabbed a glass of water and brought it over to the man. "Sister, the Prophecy... the Man of Roronoa... I saw him. He was in my bar," he said as he took drinks of the water and began to breathe normally. Robin took this as her sign to leave. "I must head back to my ship and see that he is alright." Mamiya looked up, watching Robin head to the door. "Please," she said as she grabbed Robin's wrist as she walked near her, "promise me that you will take care of your nakama, should he be marked. The fate of the world is at stake." Robin looked at her and could feel the fear in Mamiya through her shaking arm. "I promise," she said with a demeanor that reminded her of her old days with Baroque Works. She left the house and began to make her way to the house, pondering her decision to kill one of the people who put his own life on the line to save her from the World Government. "I hope that it doesn't have to come to that," she thought as she continued on her way to the Sunny. As she made her way, Zoro was making his way toward the ship, tracing the edges of the cut in his shirt. Beneath the shirt, a small mark began to appear. It was a single scale.