Chapter 6: Pirate's Compass
Zoro walked slowly to the bar, easing the pain he feels in his body. He just wanted to get out of bed and do something. When he sat at the bar, Mira just smiled at him, understanding that he doesn't want to stay in bed. Her smile made Zoro feel a lot better.
"Finally, someone who just shuts up and accepts what I want." He mumbled then drank from his mug. She just giggled as response and continued doing her work.
"Don't you plan on going on jobs?" Mira asked him.
"Not really. I have enough money to get on with the next month's rent." He answered.
"Master announced it right? That the S-Class exams are just months away?" Lucy sat down beside him then Mira served her milkshake as she answered.
"Right.. What do I need, anyway to get in that exam?" He slammed his mug down, making the table shake a little.
"Master observes you guys on how you fight. And also feedbacks on jobs are helping too!" After hearing her answer, he immediately grabbed a job and sat back to where he was before, beside Lucy.
He chose a job where he has to fight some bandits and break their group. It might be simple, but he just wanted to go on a job for the S-Class exams. He knew he needed someone with him so he looked for the closest person next to him to pull him or her to the job.
"You, come with me. I need to go on a job in a place called Oshibana. Do you know where that is?" He pulled Lucy's wrist and brought her outside. Since she wanted to go on a job too, she just went with Zoro.
"Yeah. We just have to ride a train to Oshibana." She said.
"Right. Let's go." He walked ahead.
"Uh.. Zoro? The train station's this way." Lucy sweat dropped and pointed where she was facing. He grunted then followed Zoro. When they boarded the train, Lucy thought of something.
"Zoro, I heard you get lost a lot.. Is that true?" She nervously asked.
"Wha- I don't! Who told you that anyway? I'm gonna slice that guy up.." His scary face made Lucy scared.
"No.. It's a she... She's Levy-chan.." When he heard that it was Levy, he sighed then just looked out of the window.
"W-well, uh. Since you're like that I can give you a little help.. You do know what a celestial mage is, right?" She asked. Nobody knows about being from another world except from Levy and the Master so they don't know that he's a stranger to everything in their world.
"No."
"O-oh.. I see.. Um, Celestial mages are those who can summon spirits from the celestial world. And I have a spirit that can help you. Gate of the compass! I open thee! Pyxis!" She pulled out a silver key then summoned a red penguin that had a compass on top of its head. Zoro's eyes widened, unable to tell or explain what the creƤture in front of him is.
"Wh-what's that?"
"He's a spirit! His name is Pyxis And he can help you! I know you have a bad sense of direction, so I'll try to tell you what I know. Pyxis, show us East!" The compass turned and pointed where the sun rose. Zoro focused on Lucy, telling her that he would listen.
"Since it's morning, we could tell easily where east is. You should look where the sun rises. That is the east. When it's already evening, you look for the sun again. That's where west is. Where the sun sets. You could tell where the sun is by looking at your shadow. The sun would be just at the opposite direction where your shadow falls. Pyxis, show us north." The compass turned and faced north.
"Finding the north would be easy at night. Well, I'm not good at finding north at day so I'll tell you how in the night. Look in the sky and find the constellations Big Dipper and Cassiopeia. When you do, focus on the Big Dipper and find the brightest star near it which is the Polaris, the north star." When she finished, she smiled and looked at Zoro.
"So, simply put, East, where the sun rises and west is the opposite. North, find the north star then south is the opposite. Right?" Zoro summarized it the way he understood it.
"Yeah! I'm not that good in these too but if I need help I summon Pyxis. I hope you understand a little. Pyxis, thank you. You can go back now!" She patted his head then the spirit faded away.
"Thanks for the help. So, are we there yet?" He asked.
"One more station to go." Soon, they arrived at Oshibana. They looked for the bandit group called Black Bandits.
"Hmm.. Says here their base is located where Eisenwald used to be.. I think Eisenwald is.. Uh.. West forest?" Lucy looked at the job post and thought about where the bandits could be.
"West forest? Well, let's try that. West, right? So the sun.. Then the opposite.. Is it there?" He looked up then pointed to where he thinks west is. He looked at Lucy for confirmation.
"Right! Let's go!" She raised a thumbs up then started walking. Zoro smirked then walked too. They got out of the town then entered the forest. As they went in deeper, the trees were starting to get darker. Soon, they found dirt paths that led to a small building that says Black Bandits.
"This is stupid. Way to hide their base in a forest when they put dirt paths leading to it and a big sign board." Zoro smirked.
"Enough with your judging, let's get to work! You go first. You're way stronger than me!" She whispered then pushed Zoro's shoulder lightly. He grunted then moved. He walked fearlessly along the path like he was just one of the bandits. Well, he looked like one.
"Hey, you! Who are you? Are you a new guy?" Some guys asked him. Lucy's eyes widened and she covered her mouth, feeling nervous that Zoro was found.
"New guy? Heh. There's no way I'd join some shitty bandits like you." He drew two of his swords then slashed the group of guys.
"Follow in after 10 seconds spirit girl!" He shouted then ran inside. She grabbed her keys and counted down.
10...
9...
8...
7...
6...
5...
4...
3...
2...
1...
"Here I go!" She grabbed her Leo key and ran inside as fast as she could. When she entered, half of the bandits were already down.
"What are you waiting for Spirit girl?" He said as he blocked attacks from a group of guys using two swords.
"Right! Taurus! Leo! I open thee!" She opened two gates at once then grabbed her whip.
"Lucy! I love your sexy body!" Taurus said with hearts on his eyes.
"Lucy.. Will you go on a date with me?" Loke fixed his glasses then used his charming voice.
"Heh. Those two spirits combined are Just like that Love cook eh? Taka Nami! He jumped then spun quickly, cutting a number of guys at once.
"Whatever just attack them!" She commanded then started hitting bandits with her whip.
"Virgo!"
"Punishment, yes?" The pink haired girl in a maid outfit appeared.
"Get them!" A guy shouted.
"Virgo! Knock those guys out!" Lucy said. Soon, they took everyone down. Nobody else was standing except for Zoro and Lucy.
"Now all we have to do is destroy this place." Zoro said as he out his hands on his waist.
"Yeah.. I think you'd love to do that." Lucy said, brushing her bangs away, feeling exhausted.
"Exactly.. Nittoryu Iai: Rashomon" He just sheathed his two swords a little and cut the building immediately. Lucy was astounded.
"Ch-ch-ch... H-how did you..."
"Let's go." He started walking back to were they came from. He was getting a hang of telling east and west but not so much on north and south. They arrived back at the guild before lunch and got their reward.
"Ah! Finally. Have enough to pay the rent!" Lucy stretched her arms then sat at the bar to get a milkshake. Zoro was beside her again.
"You really like milkshakes do you?" He said.
"You really like sake do you?" She copied the way he asked her. Zoro drank a few mugs then decided to go home. Again, Levy approached him before he could leave the guild.
"You again? Don't tell me you're gonna make me stay in bed and rest? Or scold at me for getting lost or something." He said before Levy could say anything. Levy got mad.
She was about to ask him to go with her on a job but he just said mean things to her instead. She clenched her fists, bit her lower lip then walked away. By the way she looked, Zoro knew that he was wrong. That she wasn't thinking anything like that. He grunted and scratched his head then followed her out. He walked on a distance from Levy as she ran. Even though she was already running, Zoro could catch up with her just by walking. Soon, he saw her sit on a bench in a place, he assumed was a park. He sighed then walked towards her.
"What?" Levy said, turning away from him.
"Ugh. What's wrong with you? Okay, I'm sorry alright? For saying that to you." He sat on the bench beside her and slouched like it was his own couch.
"I was just gonna ask you out for a job.." She said.
"A job? What job? Oh wait, you're not gonna tell me right?" He asked. She didn't answer. She just turned away even more.
"Gah. Alright. Let's go. If we didn't go now, we'll arrive back at the guild late." He rubbed his head then stood up. Levy slowly stood up then looked at him with an annoyed face.
"I'll just go to my place for a while. I'll grab a jacket." She mumbled.
"Jacket?" He asked.
"Yeah. We're going to Mt. Hakobe. It's snowing there. You might wanna buy a coat too." Levy suggested.
"Heh. Right. I'll just meet you at the train station." He smirked then walked away.
