Okay this chapter is somewhat boring. I haven't rewritten it even. Oh well. I'm in a hurry so I posted it anyway. And Franky and Paulie will come sooner.
CHAPTER 3: LOVELY SENTENCE
Once she was a queen, who stood by her mother's side, playing with her servants, consuming every bit of pleasure the riches and greatness of life could give.
Once she was a child. A child who stood by the light, feeling its warm embrace in her rosy white skin as pale as the snow, and her aura merging with its radiant energies of yellow bliss. A child who knew no end to what she had known as earth, smiling heartily at her surroundings, exchanging warm welcomes that bridged their colors and races. A child who knew no sorrow, who was ignorant of the darkness that had resided in her always, circling in her body like a gust of torment, prowling on her with their teeth's that clashed like shackles of the damned, and knew nothing about the pain and sorrow they brought…… A child who knew no sorrow indeed….
Helena looked at her yellow pendant. It was her family's heirloom given to her from her great-grandparents when they had finished the great pleasures they encountered in life. The treasure that she had carried from the day she left fortunes embrace, from the day her parents died, from the day Rizon had abducted her, from the day she became a pig, from the day her yellow haired friend began to visit her every night on her dreams.
She remembered what her mother had said to her when she was just a little child of about five. Those were unforgettable moments to her. And even though she had little recollection of her childhood past something inside her brain did not want to let her forget that single day in the sun where her mother gave her the topaz pendant.
It sized that to any ordinary pendant. It would become invisible to other people if she were to hide it inside her clothes, tucking it closely on her warm breasts pushed forward towards her skin with her cotton clothing. It was shaped of an egg. Glittering like the sun in Easter. It had four crevices on it, coming from all sides of the egg shaped topaz pendant. It was a priceless treasure she would never dare give to any other.
"If you wear this always you will know no sorrow. Trials may come to you little Helena. But you will overcome them, and you will be happy again, and you will know no sorrow." Those were the unforgettable words that came out of her mother's mouth during that day. And Helena could remember clearly the smiling face of her mother, regarding her with love and comfort from her presence.
Helena was lying on her bed. A bed especially made for her from Rizon's craftsmen. It had no feet and it had no base. All it had was cotton and wool stocked and embroidered inside the wake of a huge silk cloth, shaping a huge rectangle block its cotton cloth was glued to the ground so that the bed would not move whenever Helena would whimper and brood on her sleep. Intricate designs like flowers, roses and stuff were drawn on the silk cloth that made her bed. It never seemed to get dirty. This was because of the cloth's special property, a cloth very expensive in the GrandLine that cleans itself from any dirt it comes in contact with (okay enough with the bed let's go to Helena.)
Helena raised his right arm up the air holding her topaz pendant dangling towards his face as she lay. She recalled her mother's sweet words back again. Somehow, someway this topaz pendant that had served her for a long time had done its final magic. "How could I know no sorrow?" She grumbled to herself. "If right now I'm nothing more than just a pig?" She continued her sentence towards herself and began to recall her mother's sweet words. What a lovely sentence it was to have remained in Helena's memory for so long.
"If you carry this always young Helena then you will know no sorrow." Those words urged themselves to penetrate into Helena's fragile mind that was disapproving. "Know no sorrow." Helena could now see the back of her mother as she said those words back again. She as a child tried to reach out her hands to grab her mother's golden hair that were similar to hers.
Then her mother turned to look at her. But when she turned to show her face at Helena her face no longer bore the beauty and the warmness that was her mothers', but the golden haired friend who had visited her time after time of her depressions. It was the golden haired woman whom Helena had known to have haunted her in her nightmares, the golden haired woman who had proclaimed her as a pig who served for the pleasures and misdoings of men, it was the living embodiment of the sorrow and that resided in her. "Know no sorrow you pig!" The woman cried out loud. Looking at Helena eye to eye, her devilish grin made her lips reach onto the highest peaks of her cheeks. Her reptilian eye balls seemed to protrude and come out of her conjunctiva like hands grabbing onto Helena's face. Her vivid and tantalizing presence made Helena's body hairs stand in fright and coldness.
Helena quickly threw the pendant away from where she lay. She threw it at a floor mat just a few meters away from her. Then she got up to a sitting position, breathing heavily as she tried to get her wits together, her sweet sweat dripping all over her face, coming down to her neck, to her breasts, to her navel, and then to her groin.
"Am I still sane?" She asked herself. Then she got up from her bed leaving the yellow pendant that she had carried on the floor. She needed some fresh air. She need not waste time sulking herself inside her room like an insane person. She wanted company, to shove away all of her pains and guilt in life, to share with the beauty she had once experienced when she was the star, shining in the theater as the attention of all who came.
She opened the doors of her private room which led her straight across the path of the tables at Changi bar. She saw the bartender in the counter serving drinks for the customers. Business was booming as usual with their prostitutes and disco bars. She was not a prostitute, but she was just like the same of the women in the bar. Rizon owned her all for himself, and for Rizon's pleasure she had given all her pride and her dignity as a woman.
Rizon had appointed her as the head clerk of the entire city since Rizon was also the mayor in Dipolog. And Changi bar the best bar in the world was her main office. Although she did not like such as degrading job she had no other choice, she could never disobey Rizon's command, and she belonged to him, like a slave, like a pig.
She waved a friendly hand gesture towards the bartender, the person whom she had called uncle. But in reality the bartender was more like a father to Helena, the only person whom she could tell her problems into, to keep her from being happy, to keep her from being loved, and to keep her from being sane.
The bartender countered Helena with another wave as he saw the lovely golden haired woman sit on one of the benches of the counter.
"What'll you have Miss Helena?" He made a friendly question and smiled as he said the words to the depressed woman. The smile and the presence of the bartender seemed to move and soothe Helena from all her sorrows.
"I'll have the usual." She slumped down in the base of the counter, her lips showing a sign of disappointment.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The door creaked itself open as Zoro and Robin entered the bar in the middle of the night. Robin was now leading the way holding Zoro's left palm with her right hand. She was the one to have entered the bar. She saw the total fashion and greatness of Changi bar not in the outside but in the inside.
Changi was the best in the GrandLine, and it did not acquire such a reputation mainly just because it served good women. It was clean and comfortable inside. Huge air-conditioned den-den mushis filled the walls of the room making the place a cold nirvana for backpackers. Flashy neon lights glittered in the dance floor as tons of men and women indulge themselves with a pleasure of a dance. The music was RnB (that's what disco's are anyway). Its lively music seeping into the hearts of the customers, forcing their feet and their legs to propel in the air and climb up to that shiny wooden floor to do a dance or two. Discos do not have formal music like swing, tango and cha-cha, its melody was made for everybody to dance, that includes the able and the unable. The tables and chairs of change bar were made from well melded alloy having plump cushions to comfort the customers. The women who carry trays and services that walk around the disco lobby were hot. They wore less than bikinis, a mellow and tantalizing flavor with jealousy from a combination of cherry and zucchinis.
Robin placed her hands on her chests, admiring such a beautiful sight inside. She had always thought of bars which held prostitutes as a dirty place. Where the lowly people crawl inside given everything they want. And the women, she thought that prostitutes in a bar always looked like low lifted women. But it was different in Changi, the women were very beautiful, even she as a woman could adore that lovely sentence coming out of her brains. The air-con denden mushi's blasted away the sweet smell of mint perfume in the area, coming inside of her noses, giving her comfort and satisfaction.
Robin then turned to face Zoro who was looking at the bartender in the counter. The bartender was serving a golden haired woman who was slumping down the benches with her drink being held on one of her hands.
"So where's this woman?" Robin asked
Zoro seemed a bit surprised from what Robin had said. He quickly turned his gaze towards the black haired woman who had brought him to this place like a kid. He would have gladly introduced the woman Helena whom he had met the other day at this bar to Robin. But the truth is he never got the chance to introduce himself to the woman.
It was a bravado attempt for him to try and rescue Helena from those three guys who had DevilFruits. But that did not mean he had won the heart of the lady. What if Helena would not recognize him when he would approach her? What if Helena was really angry at him?
Robin would only laugh at him if she ever saw Helena freak out from his presence. And Zoro did not like being laughed at. But he had to do something. Helena was already at his sight. And he did not know what to say or what to do when he approaches her. He had to make an excuse.
"Err she's not here." Zoro beamed.
"What? Where is she? Did the two of you plan a meeting or something?" Robin asked.
"No we didn't. And you know…maybe we should return to the ship and forget about that woman." Zoro said to Robin. He could not believe that those words had came out of his mouth. He could not believe that he had missed the opportunity to meet his goddess once again. But he felt embarrassed, and he felt scared that Helena might not entertain him. He did not know what to say or do.
"Okay!" Robin came out smiling.
Zoro was surprised. He thought Robin would force him to move on, but no. Instead Robin agreed to return to going-merry. He took a good look at the woman who was looking at him straight in the eye with a jolly but bored face. Was she planning something?
"But first let's have a drink Mr. Swordsman." She quickly grabbed Zoro's arm and went straight towards the bartended who was serving Helena a drink.
Zoro was dumbfounded. "W…wait!" he said. But it was already too late. Robin had already sat at a bench in the counter sitting next to Helena in only a few meters away. Zoro sat next to her away from Helena's sight.
Robin knew who Helena was. She had memorized that lovely face of the woman the day she saw the show at Shindel Opera. And from the first glance at the woman in the counter who Zoro was looking at, she knew that this golden haired woman was Zoro's ideal. If Zoro was too lazy enough to get to Helena, then she would help him hook up with the lady. She was playing a funny game she thought. But little did she know the secrets Helena had on her past.
"Hey Zoro!" The bartender suddenly recognized his green haired friend who had approached at the counter. "It's nice seeing you again my lad." Then the bartender turned to face Robin who was sitting next to him. "I see you've got yourself one after all." He gave out a wink that seemed to freak the hell out of the marimo.
Zoro raised his hands and pointed his palms to the bartender waving them left and right. "Oh no you've got it all wrong. She's just my…my…"
"Cousin!" Robin came out with a jolly and calm expression.
The bartender looked at her, then to Zoro, then to Robin again. There was a somewhat very confused expression on his face. Now why would a guy like Zoro bring his cousin into a place like this?
Helena overheard the three of them speaking. She returned back to a formal sitting position. Her right hand still holding into his glass goblet filled with wine. Then she turned her head to face Robin with a neutral glare. "Are you new here Miss?" She asked Robin with a casual and formal look. She still could not see Zoro who was blocked by Robin's body.
"Yes I am." Robin gave out a cheerful smile and turned her head to face Helena with a friendly glare.
Helena countered it with another. Then she held out her left hand that was not holding the goblet to shake Robin's. "Are you looking for a job or something?" She asked again.
"Oh no I'm not." Robin scratched her temples shyly.
Helena made a surprised look. Then she gave out a heartily smile, also scratching her temples. "Oh I'm very sorry. I though you were an applicant. I hope I haven't offended you."
"No! You didn't please. It's okay. I'm Nico Robin. What's your name miss?"
"My name is Helena". Helena came out with a formal and womanly voice. "Anyway this is the first time I've seen you before. What can I be of service to you?"
Robin countered her with another smile. She was shaking hands with Helena right now. The two of them had found some kind of friendship the first time they had met. Even Zoro was surprised to find Helena smiling from Robin's company. He could not do anything to get the lady's attention, and now it was Robin's turn to help him out.
"Me and my cousin Zoro are just looking for a place to have some fun." Robin came out. "We heard good music when we passed by this place. And I was just curious if maybe we could get a dance or two in this place."
"Oh is that so. Then I'll be glad to give you services for a company. We have many women…" Helena replied with a smile.
Before Helena could even finish her sentence Robin continued her talk. "Actually my cousin is kind of shy. So it might be good if a good friend of mine would dance with him, someone I know…..Someone like…..you." She gave out a huge heartwarming smile that could melt a hundred grumps. Not even Helena or Zoro could resist that smile, that innocent begging of an angel who seemed as if it was asking for solitude.
Helena could not decline to Robin's request. Zoro on the other hand was dumbfounded. He gave out a rebellious look as he tried to speak a word and oppose Robin's sudden proposition to Helena. But before he could speak a hand materialized out of nowhere in his body and came up to grab his mouth, preventing him from speaking. It was good thing that the bartender was not looking at Zoro, because if he had then all hell would've broken loose inside Changi.
Then Robin leaned her body away so that Helena could see Zoro who was behind her. She raised her left arm as if trying to give an introduction to Zoro's presence. "This is my cousin Zoro. Zoro this is Helena, a friend of mine. Helena meet Zoro, Zoro meet Helena."
Helena regarded Zoro with friendly smile. A smile that Zoro would have died for if that was the first time he had seen of the woman. A smile that could bridge any age or difference they had. A smile that could bridge their colors and the dignity they bore, a smile that could melt Zoro if he would keep looking at it for a minute.
"Pleased to meet you Mr. Zoro." Helena came out.
"H..h…hello" Zoro said. He was waving his hand to the lady like a boy.
Then the bartender interrupted Robin who was enjoying herself in matching the two.
"What will you have Miss Robin?" The bartender asked.
"Oh thank you. I'll have a coffee please." Robin stated, he was smiling to the bartender as she said her line.
Then the bartender went to a corner in a counter for a cup of coffee. Robin was now patting Zoro's shoulders with her hand and the opposite hand to Helena's.
"So, you two seem to be getting along. Why don't you leave me here while you dance." She smiled; her face was filled with youth and joy as she said those words to Zoro and to Helena.
"Aren't you coming along?" Helena looked a bit disappointed. She was making a questionable look as she said those words to Robin.
"Oh let me finish my coffee first. I'll catch up to the two of you as soon as I finish them." Robin came out confidently.
Zoro thought of himself. Why was he such a coward in something like this? This was his chance given to him by Robin. And he would not let the chance pass by. This dance with a goddess that he was looking at right now could be the last time he had since there was a big possibility that they would leave the going-merry tomorrow.
But his feeling towards Helena was not the same as before. Something in Helena made Zoro's mind question, looking for an answer towards an invisible aura that seemed to be dragging Zoro's spirit towards her attention. But that was the other night. Right now it was different. Helena no longer possessed such a terrifying and mysterious aura. Right now she seemed a normal human being to Zoro. And this made Zoro confident. But it also made his mind question.
It made his mind question that something was wrong. Right now he was looking at an ordinary woman, true she was beautiful, calm and sensual. She had a great body that Zoro could not deny. But that was not the thing that attracted Zoro's attention when he first met her, it was something else. Something mysterious, something elusive, something that was dragging his body to keep on looking at the wonders of Helena's body, something great, or something evil.
Zoro stood up from where he sat and let out his right hand for Helena to take.
Helena looked at him as she sat. Even Robin could tell the spasms on her skin. She was shaking, she was afraid of Zoro. Robin and Zoro knew it. They felt the fear that had welled outside Helena's pores, leaving her in a state of calm but visible fright and panic.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Helena realized she had to be strong. She needed to trust the friend she was looking at right now. She realized she would not give in to the nightmares that tormented her on her sleep. She realized that she would not give in to the living embodiment of her sorrow and insanity. She realized she would not loose to the golden haired apparition that had haunted her in the lowest times of her life. She realized that she had to be strong.
After all there was nothing wrong having a dance or two about Zoro. He was after all the cousin of his trustworthy friend Robin.
"There is no malice for just a dance." She said to herself. "This is a gentleman I am facing right now, and he is my friend."
Helena realized that she needed people like these, to serve as her friends, to keep her from being happy. She wanted company far too long, she had known sorrow for too long, and now she needed to abandon it, at least for a time being until Rizon would come back to her.
Helena pulled up all courage she had to stand up and take Zoro's arm. The music was RnB and how the hell were they supposed to do some sweet dancing if the music is like that? Oh well maybe Zoro could do a thing or two about his situation right now.
Zoro stinked when it came to dancing, he did not know what to do after they had gotten up at the dance floor, the music was RnB after all. And music like that did not seem to suit an occasion such as this.
Then all of a sudden the music turned from RnB to sweet (comeon do I need to elaborate why this happened?). Zoro placed his hands onto Helena's waist. Then Helena placed his hands towards Zoro's shoulders. Zoro could feel her shaking. He could feel the uneasiness and the nervousness coming outside of Helena. Zoro could feel that the woman was petrified. He tried to look at Helena who was looking down at his feet.
"Hey are you okay?" Zoro asked.
Helena raised her head to take a good look at Zoro. "Yeah I'm fine. Don't worry about it." She tried to force a smile despite the nervousness she was at.
Zoro could feel the uneasiness from Helena's voice as she spoke. He knew the woman was not comfortable from his presence. He remembered the words that had came out of the bartenders' mouth the other night. Maybe he should reconsider himself from dancing with the woman. But it was already too late. Zoro had wondered what had attracted him from Helena in the start. Did he pity Helena who was once a rich woman turned into a toy for a pirate known as Rizon? Did he want to help her? He had always hated men who ruled and bullied innocent women, but this time it was different. There was something else that attracted him to Helena. Was he mistaken the other night about how he felt for Helena? Or maybe it was because of the wine that Zoro took why Helena was so appealing to him?
"Do you remember who I am?" Zoro gave out a smile to Helena who was very busy looking at the corners of the bar.
"Huh? Wha…what?" Helena exclaimed, she appeared a bit surprised from Zoro's remark.
They were not really dancing, they were just strolling in the dance floor, holding hands and waists the same as the other people on it were. Zoro turned to look at their surroundings eyeing at the other people who were dancing at their side. He saw Robin dancing with somebody on the dance floor only a few feet away from them.
It was Max. And he seemed to be enjoying himself having Robin for a company. He noticed Zoro looking at him so he gave the marimo a thumb up. Robin who was also dancing with the brown skinned guy seemed to be enjoying herself. Then she turned to look at Zoro and Helena, she gave out a friendly wave to them which Zoro countered with another.
Helena on the other hand was very busy looking at Zoro.
"What do you mean Mr. Zoro? Where have I met you before?" Helena spoke to Zoro.
"It's me Miss Helena, the guy from last night." Zoro gave out a grin as he spoke those words. "Don't you remember, you were taken by these guys when…"
Helena suddenly took off her hold in Zoro's shoulders. She felt nervous, she began to shake and look terrified. Zoro could sense her grief now.
"You….you…I told you not to come back here!" Helena cried, it
was good that not everybody in the dance floor could hear it because
of the music. "Why are you so stubborn!" SLAP!
She gave Zoro a huge slap in the left cheek. Zoro was surprised and
he felt a little bit angry this time.
"What? What did I do now!" Zoro gave out a questioning look.
"That woman. She's not your cousin is she!" Helena said to Zoro. The people were still unable to hear it. But it was loud enough to make a small commotion. And besides, Helena was already clinching her fists pointing them both to the ground on her waists.
"Er…no…She isn't" Zoro replied. "But she only came here to help."
"To help with what?" Helena came out with a more frustrated look to Zoro. Zoro could feel the anger welling in her eyes.
Now Zoro had blown it. He shouldn't have said the "to help" part of his sentence. He tried to think of another idea on what he would do to make an excuse about Robin's presence on the dance floor.
"Anyway can we just get on with one last dance and be off with it?"
"No!" Helena seemed more furious and angry than before and Zoro felt scared right now that maybe she would start up a commotion.
Then all of a sudden their conversation was distracted by a banging in the door of the entrance of the bar. All the eyes of the people and women in it were looking at five men who had entered the bar.
Zoro could recognize three of them. One was Kuryu, the human drill who had pummeled him to a wall the other night. The other one was the fat man whom Zoro recognized was able to control his hairs. Another was the pale gray person whom Zoro had punched and whose powers and abilities were still unknown. The two persons were very new to Zoro, it was the first time he had seen them in his life.
The other person looked more like a bully who wore a handkerchief tied onto his head, his skin was colored brown. He had a well built body that made him stood up to five feet nine. Wearing a brown shirt that was torn into the sleeves and a bunch of ragged pants he gave out a smile to Zoro and the shifted his glance to the other man on the middle of the five.
The person in the middle was a giant. He stood at least six feet and more. His hair was black and so long that it went down towards hi scapulae. He had a very huge body that was perfectly developed and gifted with muscle works and fitness. His face resembled his age to be at least in the mid-thirties. He wore a huge loose but formal Japanese attire bearing colors of red and yellow. He wore only a brief which was almost unnecessary since his huge Japanese attire had went down towards his knees covering most of his legs in its presence. He carried a huge nodachi (a giant katana or some sort) on his right hand. The nodachi was so long and so huge that the black haired giant had to carry it on his shoulders to avoid damage on the surroundings.
The people on the dance floor began to panic. They began running randomly giving out shouts of warning and terror. "It's Mayor Rizon run for your lives!" They came out in all directions which made Zoro dizzy.
Helena was looking more petrified than ever. In fact Zoro could fear her shaking like crazy right now. Her face had made out a terrifying sight of anguish and implosion as if she had seen a ghost. Zoro held out Helena's hand to stop her from shaking with nervousness. But Helena would not stop. Her entire could not be controlled from the fear that welled out of her.
"Run! Run for your life Mr. Zoro before he sees us." She gave out a terrified cry to Zoro, begging him to get away from her as soon as possible.
Okay so chapter three was a little boring. I'm very sorry, but the story has to bear fruit just yet. It has not come to the middle part. Rizon and his goons only play a very little role in this story. Remember the story is about Helena and Robin and Zoro, not about Helena and Zoro only. I will update this story next week in July 25 and get on with the good part. But until then please review.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PARTH FOUR PREVIEW:
"I said I'd come back for you." Zoro said to Helena, he gave out a serious but confident look grabbing Helena by the arm who was trying to run away from his side. He looked at her eye to eye and she looked back at him.
"No!" Helena came out loud. "I do not know you! We have no connection in here please leave. I beg of you!" She seemed desperate this time as she began tearing out Zoro's flesh with her nails.
Rizon and his four men were already approaching the dance floor. Only Helena and Zoro were seen to be left standing on it. Max had grabbed Robin on her waists and took her to a side so that she would not be involved in the conflict. Helena was now looking at Rizon who was coming close to her, at the same time she was raking herself out of Zoro's grip.
"Master Rizon. It's so nice meeting you here." Helena forced out a cheerful smile, but her nervousness and fright were too obvious. Rizon and Zoro could see from her face that she was worried and scared like a baby. "This is my…my cousin Zoro…he just came here to ask if he could get some women from me for free…he…he…he." Helena's words were loaded with sorrow and uncertainty.
"You're cousin?" The fat man suddenly bellowed. It was a teasing voice that seemed to mock Helena towards her conscience.
Then the pale gray haired man beside Rizon began to speak, he held out an accusing look to Zoro who was still holding Helena in the arms. "Master Rizon that's the man we were talking about. He's the one who trashe Kuryu and me the other night."
Rizon turned to look at the man, and then shifted his gaze towards Zoro and Helena.
"Return my woman to me kid." Rizon said. It was a gruff and terrifying voice which seemed to take the people in his surroundings to his knees.
Even Zoro could feel the incredible aura emanating from Rizon's surroundings. It was as if he was looking at a very powerful person right now. But he did not tense. Instead he gave out a confident smile and held pulled Helena to his chests. He was hugging her by one arm right now as his other arm grabbed onto his wadou's handle, preparing for an attack or defense Rizon might make. Helena was helpless all she could do was look at Rizon in horror and tremble in Zoro's arms with pity.
"So you're Rizon huh?" Zoro came out confidently. "I've been looking all over for you."
"I said return my woman to me you little punk!" Rizon came out again. This time his voice was more of a scold. It was so powerful and so loud that the people on the bar started running towards the exit of the bar.
"What if she doesn't want to come back?" Zoro replied with a cool glare. Instead of releasing Helena he tightened his grip more. Helena on the other hand was already crying with panic and fright. "She's not your woman. She never was."
Rizon looked furious from Zoro's remark. He quickly positioned his huge nodachi for a fight, pointing it to Zoro who was at the dance floor. "He's my woman! I have wom her as a booty from the glorious conquest of Rizon's loot in Shindel Opera!" All of the people had already gotten out including Robin who was dragged forcefully by Max outside the door. "You little kid don't you know who I am! I am the great Pirate Rizon, terror of the GrandLine and Mayor of Dipolog. And that woman you hold right there is mine! And mine alone!"
"So you're a pirate huh?" Zoro came out. He released his hold on Helena, sending the golden haired woman running for shelter on the side of the dance floor.
She did not look back to Zoro or Rizon who was looking at each other face to face. She was crying and shaking as she ran. Then she fell to her knees as she was almost on the edge of the dance floor. She turned her head to take another look at the two men.
Zoro unsheathed his three swords, placed one on his right hand, the other on his left and the other one he bit on his mouth. The he pointed his sword on the right to Rizon with a challenging look. "Let's settle this. Davy back fight style."