A/N: ZareEraz here! This is one of my favorite episodes in the series because its one of those where the dynamic of the crew changes a bit. Up until this point, Zoro was mostly a part of Luffy's crew to make his own ambitions come true, but by the end of his fight with Mihawk, that changes: he is now also fighting for Luffy's dream as well as his own. It's really sweet and I hope I did it justice! Enjoy! :3
Chapter 4: Solemn Vow
ZOOOORRRROOOOO!" That was Luffy, screaming his name. NOOOOOOOOOO! Luffy was calling out to him, but all he could think of was the pain. The pain in his chest and the pain slicing across his whole body…it was Mihawk. That's right. Mihawk fought him…and he lost. He just wasn't good enough, the difference in their strength and technique was too great. He'd been toyed with the whole fight up until the end, when Mihawk got serious. And he'd lost. He was going to die now, sliced open like an animal, his life snuffed out like a dying candle.
He'd failed. He'd failed his captain.
You shouldn't rush these things, young man. A smooth voice broke through the pain, amber eyes staring straight through him. Zoro could hear Mihawk and he could feel the pain, but he couldn't sense death creeping over him as he fell into the sea. He was in so much pain that he had to be alive, the salt of the ocean stinging like hell. He floated for only a few moments before two sets of hands were dragging him up to the surface. He gasped, coughing up blood. Luffy was yelling again, but he couldn't hear it very well. Usopp's voice was far away too, even though it was right next to him, saying something about medicine. He couldn't concentrate very well through his suffering, but he did hear Mihawk's shout, telling the swordsman to find him when he was stronger. That he could promise. And…he had one more promise to make.
Zoro opened his eyes and saw Jonny and Yosaku on either side of him. Jonny was holding his sword – Kunia's sword – and he reached for it.
"He's alive!" Usopp shouted. "He was just unconscious!"
"Big Bro!" Jonny and Yosaku cheered.
"If you're alive then say something!" Jonny had tears running down his face as he spoke.
"Zoro!" That voice was Luffy's and it was so far away. Zoro drew his sword, hoping that his voice would reach his captain. He held up the Wado Ichimonji and sealed another promise on its blade.
"Luffy!" He shouted, his voice thick and breaking. "Can you hear me?" Each word, each breath was agony on his lungs and torn skin, but he still forced it out, no matter the pain.
"Yeah!" Came the reply. He knew that Luffy was looking over at the ship, that he could see his sword if nothing else. And that's all that mattered.
"I'm sorry for disappointing you. I know that you need nothing less than the best swordsman in the world." Zoro admitted his failure, and it was harder than he ever thought it would be. He had so much pride that being defeated so quickly was stinging more than his wounds. But he had to do this, for his captain and his friend. "I let you down…please forgive me." He coughed, blood flying out of his mouth, the strain of talking with a sliced chest starting to be too much.
"Okay! Okay! You can stop saying things!" Yosaku pleaded, tears running down his face too.
"Big Bro!"
"I solemnly swear…from this moment forward…" Zoro choked out, squeezing the hilt of his sword with what was left of his strength, tears rolling down his cheeks as he faced his new vow. "I will never lose again, until the day comes when I defeat him and take his title!" The blade of the Wado Ichimonji shined, filled with a new purpose alongside the old one. "I will never, never be defeated! Is that okay? King of the Pirates?" Is that okay, Luffy?
He could hear Luffy's laugh loud and clear, and he could feel the smile on Luffy's face.
"Yep!" It was one word, the one word that validated his existence on the crew, the one word that forgave him for his failure and let him know that he was still Luffy's friend. It was all Zoro needed to go on. He would fulfill his dreams and Luffy' failure would turn into a burning fire of ambition and desire and nothing would stop him from taking that title, the title of greatest swordsman in the world and he'd do it with the King of the Pirates by his side..
Zoro's sword dropped, his arm giving out, his body demanding rest as Usopp started to patch him up as best as he could. Luffy told them to go on and get Nami back, and he'd get Sanji to join their crew, that way, the five of them could set sail for the Grand Line. Zoro didn't pay attention to all the details, slipping in and out of consciousness, but with his sword lying at his side, he would do whatever it took to keep both of his promises.
