The Reaction
It has only been a little while since Luffy left the Straw Hat crew. The crew were all thinking different thoughts about this. But regardless of what they all thought they still could not believe this was happening. They wished it was all a dream and they would wake up to here Luffy's annoying yells for meat and adventure. Wake up to hear Sanji kick the crap out of him for disturbing his and his beautiful ladies, wake up to just being normal. But life was cruel and even more so a pirate's life. Luffy, one of their own and their captain had left them. The crew was still feeling the after effects of Luffy's decision.
"Luffy," cried a sniveling Chopper.
Ussop came down to hug the crying reindeer for once not in a hug of fright but one of comfort. He too was struggling to hold his tears in.
Franky and Brooke silently watched as the crew fell apart in grief and sorrow over a nakama. They both could understand why as they both held Luffy in high regards and his leaving affected them just as much.
Zoro was silent during the whole affair. Despite his calm appearance he too was shocked at the outcome. He had seen Luffy go to great lengths for his crew and for him to just leave, over a petty argument, he wasn't sure if he would ever trust him ever again.
Robin was silent as she tried to be strong. While harboring feelings for her captain, she knew she had to be strong for the crew because now the crew needed its strength more than ever since now they lost their strongest person.
Next to Robin, Nami took Luffy's leaving just as hard as Robin even harder. She had feelings for the idiot captain though she would never admit it, even to herself. But one thing she would not argue with was that she did not want him to go. But he did and now she began to think that is was her fault her captain left. If she hadn't started that stupid argument, none of this would have happened.
Sanji had already bitten down on his cigeratte. That shitty captain, how dare he leave this crew. He had a responsibility and now he is wrecking the crew apart and making his beloved ladies cry. He knew Luffy was selfish but this, this was a new low for him. A low he could never forgive.
"Well we should wait for the log to set," said Zoro neutrally.
The crew all turned to Zoro miffed at the fact he doesn't seem the least bit concerned about Luffy leaving.
"Zoro, damn you how could you say that," shouted an angry Chopper.
"Yeah your even colder than those swords you carry," Franky also shouted angrily.
"Zoro what the hell is wrong with you, can't you see Luffy left," an irate Nami said. The effects of her hero's leaving was more present in her than anyone else.
"Marimo you better have some good explaining to do before I kick your ass. The crew is falling apart and you just stand there talking like its nothing," said Sanji angrily who too was feeling like it was his fault Luffy left. Normally he would always admit that siding with the ladies was the right thing, but now he wasn't sure, not when siding with the beautiful ladies meant breaking the crew apart.
"Shut up all of you," said Zoro in a commanding voice.
The crew all instantly got out of their somber and angry mood. Somber for Luffy leaving and anger at Zoro.
"We have argued over plenty of things in the past. Over which course to take, how much money we have, who gets what food, many things indeed. But one thing all of us have stayed true to was the fact that the crew should all stay together and help each other no matter what," said Zoro in an authorative voice.
The crew all recongnized the seriousness of which Zoro was speaking in. He was using the same tone of voice he used when they were discussing Ussop's return. They knew he was serious and they had to listen.
"That was the foundation of the crew. It was something our captain himself founded and was the embodiment of," continued Zoro.
"He may have been an idiot but as the captain and founder of this crew he had to strive to be a role model for all his crew members. He had to do anything for his crew and do anything to make sure they all stay together. Now he, the one who started all this has turned his back on the very foundations he created when he started this crew. He has not only betrayed us, he has betrayed himself, turning his back on the very things he stood for by leaving the crew he founded. That cannot be forgiven so easily," said Zoro with a serious look in his eyes.
The crew all looked shaken but understood the importance of what he was saying. No matter what happened, Luffy should have never left the crew.
"There is something else," Zoro said and then paused for greater effect.
The group all listened attentively.
"Luffy is normally an idiot. But when he does say things that make sense, they may not necessarily be right but they are things he truly believes in. Like when he told Vivi that it wasn't right to not expect anyone to die, someone else might argue otherwise but you cannot deny the logic behind, it makes sense, even if you don't believe it yourself. Likewise with Moriah, beating him may not have necessarily returned our shadows but Luffy truly believed it would. Likewise Luffy explained why he believed he is the cause of all the problems of the crew, he truly believes that he was right, even if he may not have been," explained Zoro.
The crew all knew what Zoro was saying was true. When Luffy did make sense, he was usually right but even if he wasn't, he still believed he was right until proven otherwise, which has yet to happen.
"I would not allow Luffy to return to this crew unless he offers a sincere apology. When Ussop left, it was the same thing so it would be no different now. No, it would be different, Ussop may have been nakama, but he wasn't the captain. Also when he left, he left because he wanted to keep Merry our nakama. Also there was his own insecurities. Those reasons while not enough to leave where at least understandable. Luffy on the other hand left for reasons which were petty. He left over arguments that in the past never bothered him. An apology is needed from him, or else there is no place for him," continued Zoro.
"A captain who is willing to abandon the crew so easily will only make the crew fall apart," Zoro further declared.
The crew all looked down knowing he was right.
"Luffy is my captain too. I too was affected," said Zoro in a much more vulnerable voice and in that moment, two memories came back to both him.
Zoro remembered losing badly to Mihawk and then crying to Luffy that he would never loose again. Him, the monster, the demon was crying. Also he remembered giving his life for Luffy when Kuma came to capture him. For the same man Zoro cried and nearly died for to just betray him like this, he too was hurt. Sanji likewise at the same time remembered those two memories and knew that the swordsman would be affected just like everyone else. With the exception of Nami and Robin, he may have taken this the worse, perhaps even more than himself. It's interesting that despite all their bickering and fighting their minds were connected by those same two memories. However Zoro was the first mate and he needed to step up to keep the crew together.
"If Luffy truly believes he was right then even if he does come back, he may not apologise. If that's the case, it would be best to leave him on this island," Zoro said.
"But Zoro," pleaded Nami.
"No buts," retaliated Zoro.
Nami looked like she wanted to argue but kept silent.
"Nami-san let it go," said Sanji in a consoling voice.
"Me and the mosshead may not agree on many things but what he is saying is right," finished Sanji.
"The log sets in a few days. If Luffy was indeed angry then a few days should be enough for him to blow off his steam. When he comes back he should be in a calmer state of mind and apologize. We have a few days so we'll wait," finished Zoro.
The crew all agreed and decided to wait. The mood was somber having lost their shining beacon and things were more mechanic, done as if simply to keep a sense of normalcy, not out of sheer joy or fun. The waited for a few days and on the last day their tensions were at an all time high. It was the last day and they waited for Luffy to return. This would be the last chance they would get for the boy captain to rejoin but Luffy never came. The crew reluctantly left to continue sailing the further seas without their captain this time.
A month later.
In a vast fortress a young man wearing a green cloak and typical revolutionary attire was walking into a large throne room. Inside that room ten figures all in green cloaks all in typical revolutionary attire were present. And in front of them sitting on the throne was a large man also wearing a green cloak with dark clothes. Monkey D Dragon, Monkey D Luffy and 10 members of the Knights of D were together.
Next chapter, the official debut of the Knights of D. There are twelve members, Luffy and the other ten make eleven. There is a final twelfth member who will surprise all of you.
Zoro as first mate has to step up when the captain is not present so that is what he did.
This chapter was highly based on the episode where Zoro and crew discusss Ussop's return. You can see the similarities.
Also you will be blown away by the next chapter so strap on. Believe me. The next is probably my favorite.