Jade: OMG! New record! 4 reviews for one chapter! That beats 3! Chapter 9 must rock… probably because it doesn't have a disclaimer :P
Nami: It's been ages since I was in the author note.
Jade: Well, you're in it now.
Nami: smartarse…
Jade: my arse is smart ain't it? XP
"Oh, crap" Zoro said as he quickly tried to get his bandana back on.
A girl stopped in her tracks and squealed, "OOOOOHHHH! IT'S PRINCE ZORO!"
The entire marketplace fell silent and stared at him. The girl continued to jump around squealing. Suddenly everyone was rushing in at him trying to talk to him first. Zoro could see nothing but faces and arms closing in on him. He was struggling to remain standing under the crowds pressure, some guy was trying to sell him shoes, several people were trying to get him to sign clothing of theirs and a group of girls were trying to grab something to take away as a souvenir, one girl succeeded in tearing off a small bit of his singlet.
Sanji, Nami, Ussop and Luffy were pushed back by the swarm of people. Sanji was staring in shock, ashamed of revealing Zoro's identity and also a little bit envious of the way some of those girls were acting over him. Ussop completely freaked, his knees shook as the crowd grew more violent. Nami put her hands on her hips and huffed at the sight of some girl grabbing Zoro's singlet, she was a bit pissed at them going all over him. It took Luffy a while to gather what was going on, and then realise that he didn't want it to happen.
"HEY!" Luffy shouted when some big guy lifted Zoro up above the crowd, "LEAVE HIM ALONE! HE'S MY FRIEND!"
Luffy somersaulted over the crowd, picking Zoro out of the guy's hands on the way. Luffy landed on his feet with Zoro still in his arms. He didn't put Zoro down, he just ran, Nami and the rest followed too, so did the guy.
"PUT ME DOWN NOW!" shouted Zoro.
"No time" said Luffy.
Zoro pushed at Luffy to get free, for some reason he was trying to get back to the guy. He got free and stood his ground.
"DON'T BE STUPID MARIMO!" Sanji yelled at him.
Ussop pushed Zoro, trying to get him to run. At this the guy dived forward and pushed over Luffy. Luffy tripped and accidentally took Zoro down with him. The guy helped Zoro to his feet.
Zoro look annoyed, (doesn't he always?) "Marc! Leave me alone! I don't want to go back to the castle."
Now Marc looked annoyed, "I have put up with your childish behaviour for years, the mess, the pranks and the endless worrying for your safety, THEN you run away! You ARE coming back to the castle and that's final!" The crowd was backing off, they were all watching with keen eyes. "AND YOU!" he pointed at Ussop, "you pushed the prince? How stupid! And you DARE insult royalty?" he pointed at Sanji, "and you knock him to the ground!" he pointed at Luffy, "You are all to be put in the stocks then trialled by the king and your redhead friend can join you!" he then pointed at a stunned Nami.
The crowd immediately went back to what they were doing before, pretending as if theZoro and the othersweren't there. After all, they didn't want to be in the stocks.
"My father is in no state to convict them!" Zoro argued.
Marc's voice dropped, "there is something… you have to… oh…" he looked down, "you need to come back to the castle now."
Zoro had never seen Marc depressed before, he looked like he was holding back tears.
"Only if my friends can come," Zoro said, "the ones you want to put in the stocks."
"If you wish, but they still need to be punished" Zoro's jaw dropped, "there is nothing you can do to stop it."
"But they are my friends, they didn't hurt me, they didn't…"
"They may not have harmed you but by doing that they have insulted the entire royal family."
Zoro couldn't believe it, "just let them come back to the castle before they are… punished."
"They can come but are not allowed to step foot inside the castle, they can wait in the courtyard."
Zoro sighed, "Are you guys coming?" he looked around at his friends, Ussop was shaking violently.
"I'll come" Nami stepped up beside Zoro.
"Then we're coming too!" Ussop, Luffy and Sanji shouted in unison.
Zoro grinned, he was thankful that they wanted to come. They could have run off to the forest and remain hidden, no one would find them there. But they chose to come.
Jade: I don't own One Piece… oooOOOooo… disclaimer after the chapter… THAT'S different :P
Marc: am I a good guy or bad guy?
Jade: you're… ummm… good but no one actually likes you.
Marc: oh I see… oi!
Zoro: Why do I need to go back to the castle?
Marc: it's because…
Jade SHUTUP! Don't spoil it!
what a shrot chapter. woah, chapter 10 already, double didgets, i'm suprised how quick i'm updating... sorry to say, but i think i regret making this story, what i love about One Piece is not just the characters but the fact that they are pirates. every chick i know, they all wanted to be a princess or fairy or even a witch when they grew up... i wanted to be a pirate :P
Update on fingernail wound: Right side of nail has gone as burple as Sanji-luver's hair… owy owy owy owch!
REVIEW! … or I will sneak around to your house and eat you're pets………… food…. Heh heh heh heeeeehhhhhh…..
