Title: Philosophical Differences
Theme: Set #03, #13 Sacrifice
Claim: Zoro + Chopper
Words: 1026
Rating: T
Warnings: Mild swearing and violence. Sort of a dark theme?
Continuity: Could be whenever, but I think it works nicely post Thriller Bark.
Disclaimers: Nothing you recognize in here is mine in any way. All rights belong to Eiichiro Oda and all the multitude of people involved in production of the One Piece manga and anime.

Chopper blinked bleary eyes and tried to focus on his surroundings. He was tied securely to a large stone of some kind. He had also been gagged. What was happening? How did he get here?

The last thing he remembered was venturing into the jungle on this island to search for medicinal plants.

It was very difficult to collect his thoughts and his limbs felt heavy. His captors had probably used some kind of drug.

He tried to shift into heavy point, hoping to break his bindings, but nothing happened. He flinched as something cold was splashed on him. Sea water...

Several figures moved into his line of sight, speaking to one another in a language he didn't understand. They were clothed in animal skins and had painted their bodies in various patterns. Robin would probably find this all fascinating, but Chopper began to worry when he noticed one of them had a large knife with an intricately carved handle.

As his vision continued to clear, Chopper realized there was a small crowd of other people standing farther back. These people were not as elaborately clothed and he spotted several children among them. Grass huts were visible behind them, and Chopper realized he was in some kind of village.

He thought he heard a voice call his name in the distance and tried to make some kind of noise, but all he managed was a soft whimper.

"Chopper!" The voice was closer now and he recognized it as Zoro's. "Where are you?"

"I believe I see some lights in this direction." Robin was with him.

The crew must have gotten worried and started searching for him! He felt momentary relief until he realized his captors had heard the voices, too. Some of them were armed, and he didn't want anyone to get hurt! He struggled slightly, prompting one of the painted men to douse him with more water from a full skin slung over one shoulder.

Robin and Zoro came into view at the back of the crowd. The others backed away from them. The man with the knife called out what sounded like a question.

"Can you understand him?" Zoro asked.

"No," Robin admitted, "but it seems quite clear he wants to know what we're doing here."

"Shit! Is that Chopper tied up over there?!" Zoro reached for his swords and found several spears leveled at him.

"It would appear they plan to offer our doctor as some kind of sacrifice," Robin remarked.

"Like Hell they will!" Zoro growled and took a menacing step forward. His opponents attempted to prod him backward again with their spear points, but with a single fluid movement, Zoro drew, swung, and resheathed Wadou and all the spear heads fell to the ground below.

"Wait!" A boy in his early teens stepped out of the crowd. "I speak some of your words. This creature is yours?"

"Creature?" Zoro looked ready to protest further, but Robin held up a silencing hand.

"Yes," she answered. "He is with us."

The man with the knife asked another question and he and the boy had a brief conversation.

"This sacrifice is very important to our people. The creature's arrival is a gift. My father, our shaman, says you may stay for the ceremony, if you wish," he addressed Robin, "but the other must not come any closer to the sacred grounds. He bears the mark of the Death Spirit." He gestured at Zoro's green hair. "He brings bad fortune."

"Tell your father I'm not going anywhere unless the 'sacrifice' goes with me!" Zoro snapped. "Let him go, unless you want to see exactly what kind of 'bad fortune' I'm capable of bringing!"

The boy turned back around nervously and had another exchange with his father.

"He says you may take anything from the village that you feel is fair trade for the creature."

"Unfortunately," Robin began carefully, "we are not willing to negoti-"

"Anything?" Zoro interrupted to ask.

"Y-yes," the boy answered warily. "That is what he says."

Zoro stepped forward again, made sure he was making direct eye contact with the shaman, and slowly and deliberately placed one hand on the boy's shoulder and the other on his sword hilts.

The shaman had to think about it for all of a few seconds. He cut Chopper's bonds with the knife and carried the still incapacitated reindeer-human over to them.

"Is there anything you want me to tell him?" the boy asked.

"No." Zoro released his shoulder in order to take Chopper. "I think we have an understanding."


Back at the ship, Chopper approached Zoro rather timidly. The swordsman was gazing up at the night sky.

"Feeling better?" Zoro asked.

"Yes, thank you," Chopper mumbled. Finally, he blurted, "Would you really have killed that boy?"

"Probably not." Zoro sighed. "I didn't mean to frighten you. I needed to make a point. That shaman guy had the wrong idea about sacrifices, that's all."

"What do you mean?"

"They said you showing up was a gift, right? So they were just going to turn right back around and sacrifice you? That's bullshit, Chopper!" When the doctor looked alarmed, Zoro took several deep breaths and continued in a calmer tone. "If it doesn't take any real effort or cost you anything, it's not a sacrifice. I needed him to understand..."

"My life means as much to you as his son's meant to him, right?"

"Exactly. The only life a person should ever consider offering is their own."

"However," Chopper objected, "a person's life has meaning and value to the people around them. It would be pretty selfish to take that away without consulting them first."

"True enough." Zoro couldn't help a rueful smile. "You may have to keep reminding me of that, though."

"Don't worry." Chopper settled down next to him on the deck. "I will."

They watched the stars in comfortable silence.