7. A Frog Sitting On The Lip Of A Well

Story Start: Baratie

Usopp and I picked up Zoro on our way off the Merry and the trio of us filed into the dining hall of the Baratie. As we filed in, we were greeted by the sight of Gin coming in with a large man's arm over his shoulders saying "Please, feed him! We have money this time!"

"Am I the only one not liking what their Observation Haki is telling them about that big guy?" Usopp asked the pair of us.

"It's not just you, I can practically taste the treachery he's exuding." I said with a frown, pulling my Battlescout off of my back and pumping it once before pointing the barrel at the floor.

Zoro's hands tightened on the hilts of his swords even as he grinned and said "Well I personally welcome a good fight."

"You would." Usopp and I said together. We traded a glance with each other then turned our focus back forward as Patty began going on about that being Krieg and how he could never be trusted and to call the Marines since they'd never get a better chance to catch the bastard. He was interrupted by Sanji kicking him out of the way, a plate of food in his hand.

Once placed on the floor in front of him, Krieg fell on the food eagerly. I took advantage of his distraction to slip closer, though at an angle, something Zoro mimicked a moment later, though he went straight. Usopp meanwhile made for the stairs, pulling out his slingshot as he did so. Luffy noticed us shifting forwards and, idiot savant that he was in all things battle related moved to be in a more forward position rather than off to the side as well.

The moment Krieg was done eating, he stood up and moved to lariat Sanji. Before he could touch the blond cook I snapped the barrel of my Battlescout up and pulled the trigger. My shot took Krieg in the left pectoral and he grunted in surprise from the shot. The quick instant of pause that my shot created allowed Sanji to quickly jump backwards avoiding the Lariat and the next instant Luffy nailed the man with a stretching punch to the face. Krieg fell back on his rear clutching at his face in pain as Luffy pulled his fist back and said "That's not very nice, attacking the person who just fed you."

"You god damned brat!" Krieg roared out as he sprung back to his feet. He gave a flex of his body and his clothes were shredded revealing him in gold colored armor that made him look much more bulky than a moment ago.

I blink in stupefied shock and asked "How the hell-?" At least now I knew why my shot had only caused him to pause for a moment rather than act like he had been shot, rather than get a puncture wound he had probably only felt a slight shock when his golden armor took the shot for him.

Krieg, asshole that he was, didn't bother telling me how he had managed that bit of anime bullshitery. Instead, he pulled a pair of pistols out and his shoulder pauldrons and two armor panels at his ribs popped open revealing multiple gun barrels. An instant later, Krieg cut loose on Luffy who took all of the shots directly to the chest. Krieg's smirk of satisfaction fell at the same time Luffy's own smug smirk appeared as our captain let out a small "Heh" before flexing and shooting the bullets back at Krieg as he shouted "THAT WON'T WORK ON ME!"

Eyes widening, I shouted "Hit the deck!" The next instant, the bullets ricocheted off of Krieg's armor and everyone in the dining area (even me) dropped to the floor, Usopp letting out a squawk of fear as he jumped up and did a split to avoid a bullet that almost got him in the unmentionables.

Springing up to my feet with a snarl, I said "Right then, EVERYONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIGHT GET OUT OF HERE!"

The customers were more than willing to follow that order, more than one letting out an (in my opinion) pointless scream as they all ran out the back. In order to make sure Krieg didn't take a pot shot at any of their backs, I shifted into Zaboomafoo and leapt across the couple of tables seperating us, putting my Battlescout on my back as I went. My movement grabbed Krieg and Gin's attention but by that time I was already bounding off of the last table and coming in high. Flipping in midair, I shifted into my half and half form and landed on Krieg's shoulders before pushing off into a twisting back flip. As Krieg stumbled backwards, I shifted back into Zaboomafoo and landed on Luffy's shoulders even as he slammed a palm strike into Krieg's chest plate throwing him out of the double doors.

Turning my gaze on Gin, I redrew my Battlescout and pumped it as I said "Now to deal with your treacherous ass. Sanji gave you food when you were starving and how do you repay him? By bringing your leader here to attack this ship."

"I swear he promised me he wouldn't attack anyone!" Gin said, quickly standing up with his hands raised.

"And you actually believed him?!" Carne asked incredulously.

Before Gin could respond to that, Krieg let out a roar and came charging back through the doors with rage in his eyes. Swinging my barrel towards him, I aimed low and shot his left knee. Since Krieg was a big enough idiot not to have any armor plating on his legs there wasn't anything to stop the round and he went down with a roar of pain and an equally loud clatter of armor.

I pumped the Battlescout again but before I could finally do the smart thing and aim for the Bastard's head, Luffy reached up and pushed my weapon downwards as he said "That's enough Matt, leave him to me. Captains fight Captains!"

I matched Luffy's stern gaze with my much calmer one for a moment before I shrugged and hopped off of his shoulder, turning back into my human form once in the air and once I had fired the prepared shot out of an open window put my Battlescout back into its holster on my back, making a 'he's all yours' gesture towards Krieg with my hands.

Luffy's stern look turned into a grin as he stepped forward only to pause as Zeff's voice called out "Now, now, let's not all be so hasty."

As we all watched Zeff come down the stairs with a bag as big as he was and make his way over to the entrance, Krieg forced himself back onto his feet, with his weight kept on his right leg. As he walked, the Grand Line veteran continued "After all, should you really be getting in a fight with the state of your ship and your crew, Don Krieg, defeated warrior of the Grand Line?"

As Zeff set the bag down, all of the chefs stared in shock, Carne saying "No way...even the Ruler of the East Blue couldn't make it there?"

"I'm not surprised." I said, and everyone in the room turned their attention to me as I crossed my arms and said "Disregarding the fact that this moron doesn't have any armor on his legs or a helmet to protect his face making him vulnerable to accurate weapons fire, trying to keep an armada of fifty ships together in that meteorological nut house of an ocean? Hell, were you even able to get them all past Reverse Mountain without crashing a dozen or so against each other as they went through the choke point? You would have needed Den Den Mushi on each ship for coordination, and most likely your own Adult to communicate through the Red Line. Course, that's not taking into account all of the currents merging into one that your navigators would have to deal with." I then grinned viciously and finished "And let's not forget the giant ass Island Whale that's been hanging around the Twin Capes for the last fifty years. Going ten thousand feet downhill with ships as large as yours? That's a lot of speed, would have been pretty hard to avoid something that big with your giant ships." I then cocked my head as I said "Also, I sure hope you had Log Poses and weren't relying on plain old compasses to navigate that magnetic hodgepodge."

Gin clenched his eyes shut and put his hand over them, and Krieg gritted his teeth angrily as I spoke. When Gin's hand fell from his eyes and his gaze turned downwards and Krieg let out actual steam from his nostrils at the last of my little speech, I openly stared and asked "Are you fraking kidding me? You tried to navigate the Grand Line without Log Poses?!"

Zeff though seemed nonchalant as he said "The Grand Line tends to be the harshest with those who are overconfident and believe that it is like the Blues in any way other than the fact that it is an ocean made out of water." Gesturing at the bag of food, he continued "There is enough food in there for your men. I suggest you hurry and take it back to your ship before anymore dies. But remember, just because this is a restaurant doesn't mean that the staff doesn't know how to fight." He then pointedly looked down at Krieg's left knee and said "And you might also want to have that leg looked at by whatever passes for a doctor on your ship."

"Head Chef Zeff, you can't seriously be willing to feed the rest of these pirates?! Their Captain already attacked Sanji when he fed him and they'll do the exact same thing!" One of the other chefs cried out.

"Zeff?" Krieg asked with narrowed eyes before they widened as he said "You're Red Shoes Zeff!"

"That was my epitaph yes, what of it?" Zeff asked, his own eyes narrowing the smallest of fractions.

"Hmph, 'Red Shoes' Zeff. So you're alive. A unique Pirate, the Captain-Cook." Krieg said, a little bit of sweat coming down his face to mix with the blood from Luffy's punch to the face.

"So what if I'm alive. Now I'm a chef exclusively. What's it to you?" Zeff asked.

Krieg let out a bark of laughter as he said "Ha! You say it like it was a choice. But did you CHOOSE to be a cook...or was being a pirate too much for you? Looks like your red shoes days are behind you."

Krieg gave his own pointed look at Zeff's peg leg before he looked back up at his face with a smirk and said "'Red Shoes' Zeff...master of the deadly kick, who never used his hands in battle. That awesome leg strength could smash bedrock and even leave footprints in steel. The blood of your enemies dyed your shoes hence your unusual nickname. They say you died at sea. I see you didn't lose your life...but you did lose one of your precious legs."

Zeff raised his hands up and said "I can't fight anymore, but I can cook, long as I have these two hands." He lowered his hands and his eyelids as he asked "What are you getting at? Spit it out."

Now grinning, Krieg said "Red Shoes Zeff...You once sailed that devil's nest, the Grand Line. But you returned unscathed. You kept a record of that voyage, a whole year's log. GIVE ME YOUR LOG-BOOK!"

"So Matt was right, you DID go to the Grand Line!" Luffy said with a grin.

Zeff side eyed Luffy and allowed a brief grin on his face as he said "Aye, I did." His eyes then turned forward and he frowned at Krieg as he said "My logbook, eh? Yes, I still have it. But I won't give it to you. For me and the men who sailed with me, that logbook is a testament. I won't give it to the likes of you!"

"Then I'll take it from you!" Krieg declared, clenching his fist as he continued "It's true that I didn't succeed on the Grand Line! But I am Don Krieg, the MIGHTIEST OF ALL! Weaklings do well to shun that dark route. But I had plenty of strength! Ships and Men! Ambition! The only thing I lacked was KNOWLEDGE! That's what stopped me! I just didn't know enough. I'll have that log...and this ship, too!" Pounding his fist onto his armor chest plate, he continued "I'll take Zeff's log, assemble another armada...capture the One Piece and lord it over this great Age of Pirates as the PIRATE KING!"

I couldn't help it, I threw my head back and hollered with laughter. As everyone around me stared in surprise, confusion, and in Krieg's case, rage, I wrapped my arms around my stomach and laughed hard enough I cried a little.

"WHAT IS SO FUNNY YOU IMPUDENT BUG!" Krieg roared.

I gave one last chuckle before I rolled my head to the side and looked at Krieg as I said "That would be you. You assume that a logbook covering ONE ship's journey of a year in the first half of the Grand Line will help you. IT WON'T. You think that the second half of the Grand Line is just like the first. IT'S WORSE. You think building another Armada, relying on quantity instead of quality will help you. IT WON'T. You think that you can stand up to any of the Yonko. YOU CAN'T. You think that you can take on the full might of the Marines. YOU CAN'T."

Turning my head to its proper orientation, my eyes turned hard as I said "You who hides behind armor, manpower, and trickery could never hope to stand at the top. You claim to have 'Ambition', but you're no Conqueror, merely a frog that decided he was too large for the well he was born in." I then smirked and said "But what happened when you left that well? You got attacked by a hawk that knocked your slimy ass back into the well where you belong."

"YOU IMPUDENT BUG, I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT I CAN DO!" Krieg yelled, all of his guns coming back out as he fired on me. The storm of bullets were all on point, each one hitting my chest...and bouncing off of my Armament Haki'd bullet proof vest to drop to the floor with a clatter.

As everyone stared in stunned surprise, I cocked my head and said "You're bullets are just like you Don. Weak." Idly looking down and brushing a bit of lint off of my vest I continued "I think I know why you rely on twelve barrels, it's because you know that a single bullet won't be enough when you fire it."

Looking back up with a grin fit to grace the Joker's lips, I continued "You can't even handle a guy who had his Zoan devil fruit and gun for six months and you think you can take on Marine Admirals who have had their Logias for years? Don't make me laugh. Oh wait, too late for that."

Beads of sweat went down Krieg's face before he put on a facade of nonchalance. Grabbing the bag of food, he put it over his shoulder and said "Now listen carefully, all of you. I'll give you a chance. I'm taking this food to the men on my ship. Then I'm coming back. Anyone who doesn't want to die had better be gone when I return. All I want is the Captain's Log and the ship." Turning around and beginning to walk out, while trying to hide the limp of his left leg, he continued "But if you're eager to die...wait for me. I'll bury you at sea. It's your choice."

As he left, I snorted and said "See what I mean, hiding behind manpower."

"Indeed Carpenter." Zeff said with an upward twitch of his lips.

As he came to stand by our sides Sanji said "Thanks." When I gave a hum of confusion, he said "For keeping Krieg from hitting me earlier."

"Oh that, you're welcome." I said with a quick shrug before I turned to look back at the stairs as Usopp said "Man Matt, you've really got giant brass balls don't you?"

I snorted and said "Usopp, don't tempt me to play AC/DC just before a fight, I doubt no one else will appreciate it."

Usopp spitted a bit as he tried to hold back a laugh before failing. Luffy let out a laugh of his own while Zoro rolled his eyes. All of the chefs looked confused, as did Gin who was still kneeling on the floor.

After a moment, Gin discarded his confusion and turned his head down again as he said "Sanji, forgive me! I didn't think he would do this! I...I..."

"It's not all your fault, Swabby." Zeff said, causing Gin to look up and let out a confused "Huh?"

As the chefs also looked at him, the old Captain said "The cooks helped to bring this on us, as well."

"Chef! Are you siding with Sanji? You crazy?!" Patty asked.

"He's the guy who started all this trouble!" Another chef said quickly followed by another that said "Sanji wants to destroy your precious restaurant!" Turning to point accusingly at Sanji, he continued "Don't you Sanji?! You'd do anything to be the head chef!"

"Either that or you're insane. Which is it?!" Another demanded.

"SHUT UP, YOU EGGPLANTS!" Zeff yelled, causing all of them to fall silent as Zeff continued "Has any of you ever really been hungry before? Have you gone for days without food and water on the high seas? Do you have any idea what agony that is?!" As Zeff spoke, Sanji lowered his head and lit a cigarette, his visible eye shadowed.

"Huh? So what, Chef?" Patty asked.

"If you're gonna keep moaning then just head out the back door!" Zeff declared, pointing a thumb over his shoulder.

Patty's grip on his fork weapon that had mysteriously appeared in his hands at some point in the last couple of minutes tightened and he said "I'll stay and fight. I can't stand to let Krieg have his way."

The other chefs all held their own mysteriously appearing super sized utensil weapons as well as another said "Me neither! This restaurant is my home!"

"Yeah! I got nowhere else to go!" Another chef said.

"Are you guys crazy?! You won't be able to fight off the Don and all of his men once they recover!" Gin declared.

"I beg to differ. Especially since they have a Paramecia, a Zoan, one Santoryu user, and a Sniper on their side. Also, I'd just like to point out that the idiot has no lower armor or helmet. And I already showed how stupid THAT decision was." I said with a grin once more drawing my Battlescout in demonstration, a grin that Luffy matched with a clenched fist. Zoro's grin was a lot more blood thirsty as he gripped one of his swords. A glance at Usopp showed that his knees were shaking but he was still standing in his spot on the stairs, and he still had his slingshot in his right hand. Seeing me looking at him, he gave me a shaky thumb's up with his left.

Sanji let out a huff of amusement, causing a large smoke cloud to leave his mouth. Sitting down on a nearby table and crossing his left leg over his right knee, he took the cigarette out of his mouth as he said "Gin...Listen to me. As a cook, I consider it my duty to feed the hungry. But soon I'll be facing plunderers with full stomachs. So if I have to beat your mates to death, don't complain. If they try to take over this ship I'll slaughter them without mercy, and that goes for you, too. Got That?"

Gin let out a gulp and Patty let out a 'hmph' as he said "First you save 'em then you kill 'em? Good idea, Sanji."

"Be quiet, crap-cooker." Sanji retorted.

Luffy let out a quiet Shishishi at the byplay before he turned his gaze back to Gin and said "By the way, Gin..."

"Aye?" Gin asked, looking towards the rubber man.

"You said you didn't know anything about the Grand Line. But you've been there!"

Gin looked down again, clutching at his head with both hands as he said "I know nothing. It's all a crazy fog. Something happened on our seventh day out. But was it a dream or reality? It's all mixed up in my head. He appeared so suddenly...JUST...ONE...MAN. HOW COULD ONE MAN SCUPPER 50 SHIPS?!"

As everyone in the room bar me and Zeff expressed their shock at his words, I let out a soft "Huh, guess he got all of his fleet through Reverse Mountain in one piece after all. Maybe the Island Whale wasn't there at the time." I then cocked my head in confusion and asked "Then why were they so upset when I mentioned it?"

"Could be some of their ships were clipped when it came to investigate so many coming down the mountain at once. After all, present doesn't mean UNDAMAGED." Zeff offered nonchalantly.

"Good point." I said with a nod.

"Are you two just going to ignore the fact that Krieg's armada was destroyed by one man?!" Usopp asked angrily.

Both Zeff and I shrugged as I said "Consider the fact that Whitebeard, one of the Four Emperors can sink an entire island with his Tremor Tremor fruit then ask us that again."

Usopp let out a wheeze at that but everyone's attention was drawn back to Gin as he continued "Before we knew it our ships were sinking, one after the other! If that storm hadn't come up...he'd have sent the flagship to the bottom, too! I'm not sure how many ships survived...It was terrible...I can't believe it was real! I don't want to remember that man! THAT MAN WITH THE PIERCING HAWK EYES, EYES THAT COULD KILL WITH A GLANCE!"

"WHAT?!" Zoro asked, a vein bulging on his forehead and beads of sweat appearing.

Me though, I had an entirely different reaction as I said "Huh, you know, I had been speaking metaphorically when I mentioned a hawk kicking Krieg back into his well. I didn't think that you had LITERALLY run into one."

"Eh, what are you talking about Matt?" Luffy asked with a cocked head.

It was Zeff that answered though as he said "It had to be HIM, had to be Hawk-Eye. You said his eyes were like a hawk's. That's proof enough. But what he did to your ships...It had to be HIM!"

"Um, could someone tell me who this Hawk-eye is?" Luffy asked with crossed arms and a pout.

"Dracule 'Hawk-Eye' Mihawk, one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea and the current holder of the title World's Greatest Swordsman." I said, trigger finger idly tapping at the plastic above said trigger on my Battlescout as it hung down by my right leg. My eyes narrowed in thought and I continued "I'm kind of surprised that he was so close to the entrance of Paradise to be honest."

"He's also the man I've been looking for. Johnny said he comes here." Zoro said.

"I SERIOUSLY doubt that." I said with a frown.

"Well, don't know about old "Hawk-eye"..," One chef started before the rest of the chefs continued

"...But 'Old Red-Eyes' was here."

"Aye, he drank so much wine his eyes turned red."

"Then the fool caught fire and exploded!"

"Yeah, what a sight."

Anger flashed in Zoro's eyes as he said "That sea snake! He lied to me!"

"Less lied, more got a couple of names mixed together I think." I said with a 'what can you do?' shrug.

Zoro let out a deep sigh and said "Yeah, I guess so."

"So he beat the whole armada. Did you do something to make him mad?" Sanji asked Gin.

"Not that I know of! He just attacked!" Gin said.

"Maybe you interrupted his nap." Zeff said.

"That's not funny! He murdered my crewmates!" Gin shouted.

"I don't think he was joking." I said, eyeing Zeff.

"I wasn't. That's the kind of place the Grand Line is." Zeff said.

"Sounds fun, a place where anything can happen!" Luffy said, literally shaking with excitement.

Usopp gave him an angry look and said "Please, for once think of the danger!"

Zoro grinned and said "Now I know where I have to go. To the Grand Line. That's where I'll find HIM!"

Sanji took a deep drag of his cigarette before blowing out the smoke cloud and said "You're fools. You'll both be killed as soon as you get there."

"Maybe." Zoro said with a shrug before he continued "But don't insult us. The day I decided to be the World's Greatest Swordsman I gave myself up for dead. Nobody calls me a fool but me. I have my reasons."

Luffy grinned and put a hand on his straw hat as he said "Me too. If I want to be the Pirate King then I can't let a silly thing like a dangerous ocean stop me. Plus, I made a promise on this hat to a very important person who's waiting for me there."

Sanji eyed them for a moment before he looked away with a mutter of "Stupid."

Zeff though let out an amused "Heh" before turning back to me with a raised eyebrow and asked "What about you Carpenter?"

"Me?" I asked with a grin, bringing my arm back up and bending my elbow so that the Battlescout rested upside down and pointing backwards on my shoulder as I said "I don't really have some great ambition to work at, I'm just here to enjoy the ride."

Zeff let out a hum at that but our attention was grabbed by Patty as he said "You lame brains! Do you realize what kind of trouble we're in!? Right out there, them sea-wolves are reviving themselves ABOARD PIRATE ADMIRAL DON KRIEG'S GALLEON! They're the most savage pirates in the Easter Seas! If you wanna dream, do it after this crisis is over!"

Punctuating his words, there was a massive roar outside as the Krieg Pirates celebrated there salvation.

We all tensed ready to repel them but before the Pirates could get off their ship my Observation Haki hollered a warning at me and two wind blades sliced right through the galleon, cutting it in thirds as easily as a knife slicing through butter. As the ship began breaking apart under its own weight now that it had no structural support, and throwing up massive waves as it sunk in the process, Usopp chocked on his own spit and said "Guys, there's someone out there, and he's getting closer!"

I ignored Zeff ordering the cooks to weigh the Baratie's anchor and instead turned my gaze and Observation Haki to where the wind blades came from and copied Usopp as I choked on my own spit as well. The figure now in my metaphorical sights had an absolutely Titanic presence about him. That combined with the sword slash had me widening my eyes as I said "Ah hell, he's here."

"Then it seems that my target has come to me." Zoro said with a blood thirsty grin.

Luffy though didn't care about that, instead running through the restaurant as he shouted "Forget about him! Nami, Johnny and Yosaku are still on the Merry!"

We all ran out to the entrance where Merry USED to be docked only to see the bounty hunter duo in the water struggling to swim aboard and no ship or navigator.

"Yosaku! Johnny! You Okay?! Where's our ship?! Where's Nami?!" Zoro shouted to them.

"Sorry Brother Zoro! They're gone! Sister Nami! She sailed off with all the treasure!" Johnny shouted.

"WHAT!" Zoro and Luffy roared while Usopp shouted "SHE TOOK THE SHIP!?"

Luffy quickly had the pair onto the deck and as the two bounty hunters explained what happened, I let out an angry scowl and my Observation Haki lanced out. A moment later, I locked onto Nami's signature. Snarl growing, I said "I've got her location!"

The others looked in the direction I was pointing and seeing how far the Going Merry already was Luffy looked at the bounty hunter duo and said "Yosaku! Johnny! Where's your ship!?"

"It's anchored nearby." The pair said in their odd synchronized way.

"Zoro! Usopp! Matt!" Luffy said, quickly turning towards us, the two dao sword users quickly rushing off to bring their ship over.

Zoro though raised his left hand up in a show of disinterest as he said "Forget her. Why go chasing after that little thief?'

"But what about the ship?! Kaya's ship?" Usopp asked angrily.

"Usopp's right Zoro, without that ship, we're not going to be able to last long in the Grand Line, and since she took all of the money we won't be able to buy a new one. If nothing else, we need to get the Going Merry back." I pointed out. I then crossed my arms with my scowl growing as I said "Clearly though, we're going to have to find a new navigator once we get the ship back. Shame, I actually liked her."

"NO! Nami's going to be our navigator and NOBODY ELSE!" Luffy said with a glare.

Zoro entered a staring contest with him for a few tense moments before he sighed and said "Fine, what a high maintenance captain."

Just then, Anime Timing came into play in the worst possible way. Just as Johnny and Yosaku reappeared on their ship, Mihawk finally got close enough in HIS to enter Zoro's Observation Haki's range reminding him of his presence. Seeing him stiffen and look in that direction, I sighed and hung my head as I said "Aw, goddamn it!"

The next instant, Zoro was leaping across the field of debris, ignoring Usopp and Luffy's shouts to come back.

Heaving a sigh, I shifted my legs to have the best jumping ability and said "I'll go bring him back." Mostly to myself I continued "Preferably with a lump on the head so he doesn't fight back."

Luffy put his arm in front of me though as he said "No wait, don't interfere."

I gave my Captain an incredulous look and said "Are you kidding me? Nami's getting further and further away with our ship and there's NO WAY Zoro's ready to face the World's Greatest Swordsman yet."

"OI DON'T DISS BIG BRO ZORO!" Johnny and Yosaku shouted.

I gave them a flat look and said "Dracule Mihawk can slice mountains into itty bitty tiny grains of sand, can Zoro do that?"

The Bounty Hunter duo gave gulps that were loud enough for us to hear from ten feet away and they said "Withdrawn."

Turning my gaze back to Luffy, I said "Mihawk normally operates in the Grand Line Captain. There will be plenty of time for Zoro to get stronger then search him out further along the way of our voyage."

"Matt, ready or not, Zoro CAN'T let this opportunity pass." Luffy said seriously, his eyes sharp with focus. Even so, I still saw the speck-small glimmer of concern that Luffy was trying to hide in that gaze.

After a moment, I sighed and shifted my legs back to normal and said "Fine, but the others should get close so that way they can dive into the water to retrieve his body. Whether it's a live body or not, well, I guess we'll just have to see what kind of mood Mihawk's in."

Luffy's lips pursed as he nodded before he looked at Usopp and jerked his head at Johnny and Yosaku's ship. Usopp quickly hopped aboard and Luffy turned his gaze to the other two aboard and said seriously "Whatever happens, don't get in the way of Zoro's fight." The pair swallowed again but nodded then began carefully maneuvering their ship closer. As they drifted away, Luffy and I looked at where Mihawk was now standing in front of Zoro talking to him and Luffy asked "Not going with them?"

"Best to remove the temptation of diving after him myself. While I am trained as a lifeguard, now that I'm a Devil Fruit user if I dived in after someone there would only be two people who needed rescuing instead of one." I said, folding my arms as I watched Mihawk take off his cross necklace and reveal it to be a knife.

Luffy let out a hum at that but didn't say anything. We saw Zoro use his Oni Giri technique as an opener and we both winced when Mihawk stopped it cold, his arm not even bending as he held Zoro at bay with his small dagger at the point where Zoro's blades crossed. Frowning, I said "Oh, this will NOT end well." I knew it wouldn't before of course, but knowing and seeing were two very different things.

Luffy gritted his teeth and his hands grabbed the railing as he forced himself to stand still. Mihawk pushed Zoro back a little but Zoro started swinging his swords in a fast blur the moment he could move them again. Mihawk seemed to lazily move his little knife to block some swings, the rest he simply moved slightly to avoid even as he began to step backwards. A moment later, he was in front of a railing that he hopped on only to leap straight up a moment later as Zoro sliced straight through the railing with a downward cut an instant later.

Landing, Mihawk side stepped with a turn to avoid another of Zoro's downward swings, the santoryu user stumbling past and rolling. As he turned back around, I could see that he was exhausted from all of the frantic yet useless swinging of his swords.

Mihawk though seemed as unflappable as ever as he asked in a carrying tone of voice "What Drives you? Why do you fight so hard when you cannot win? You're a weakling..."

"OUR BROTHER'S NOT A WEAKLING, BUZZARD EYE!" Yosaku shouted at the same time Johnny yelled "I'LL TEACH YOU A LESSON. THAT MAN IS..." The pair had a foot on the rim of their ship with their Dao's drawn.

Before they could actually interfere with the fight though, Luffy was suddenly there, no doubt warned by his Observation Haki what the pair planned. He grabbed the back of their shirts and yanked them back as he said "STOP! STAY OUT OF IT, YOSAKU AND JOHNNY!" Pushing them down and shifting his hands to on top of their heads, he continued "CONTROL YOURSELVES!"

Back on the Baratie, I turned my full attention back to the 'fight' and saw Zoro put his two hand held swords behind the one in his mouth, the sharp edges pointing at each other as he said "Tiger..." Leaping forward, he finished "HUNT!"

There was a massively disproportionally loud "SHUNK!" as Mihawk's knife entered Zoro's chest stopping him cold.

"BROTHER!" The bounty duo shouted in horror and my fists turned white as I resisted the urge to draw my Battlescout. Against a man of Mihawk's caliber it would have been worse than useless, I'd probably just get a wind blade for my trouble.

What was really concerning though was how Zoro wasn't stepping away. Mihawk seemed slightly surprised as he asked "Are you just going to let me pierce your heart? Why aren't you withdrawing?"

"I don't know why." Zoro said, not moving an inch as he continued with blood coming out of his mouth "I don't know why, but...if I withdrew even a step, I feel like those various important things such as pledges and promises in the past will be shattered, and I won't be able to come back to where I am now..."

"Yes, that's what defeat is about." Mihawk said.

Zoro let out a pained chuckle and said "Then, all the more reason I can't withdraw..."

"Even if you'll die?" Mihawk questioned.

"I'd rather die." Zoro said resolutely.

Mihawk was silent for a moment before he withdrew his knife, stepping back and putting its cover back on as he said "Kid! State your name."

Zoro moved his swords into a pinwheel formation and said "Roronoa Zoro."

Mihawk reached over his shoulder and said "I'll remember it." Drawing his sword, he continued "It's been a while since I've met one so brave. I will honor the Swordsman's Code and send you to your death with this Black Blade-the finest in the world."

"I appreciate it." Zorro said and as Mihawk took his stance started spinning the two swords in hands in opposite rotations. The amount of focus needed to keep those two from hitting each other or cutting into his hand while spinning them at high speeds was incredible but futile in the end.

Mihawk launched himself forward as he called out "Fall!"

The next instant, he was past Zoro whose two unnamed blades shattered and a blood spurted from a slash across his chest. Zoro dropped to a knee for a moment, discarding his now useless hilts and sheathing Wado Ichimonji. Then, he stood up and to my utter disbelief turned around with arms outstretched.

"What are you doing?" Mihawk asked in surprise.

Zoro grinned as he said "Scars on the back are a swordsman's shame..."

Mihawk matched his grin as he said "Well said." The next instant, he slashed Zoro's chest, and it was only my Observation Haki telling me that there was no killing intent that kept me from saying "SCREW LOGIC!" and try to shoot the yellow eyed bastard.

Somehow, I managed to hear Mihawk's soft "Don't be in such a hurry to die young warrior."

However, most of my attention was grabbed as Luffy yelled out "ZORO!" As Zoro fell into the ocean, Johnny and Yosaku quickly diving in after him, Luffy threw his arm forward hard enough it knocked his hat off (Which thankfully fell INSIDE the boat). His hand grabbed a piece of railing behind Mihawk and he rocketed forward with a cry of "DAMN YOU!"

"The young swordsman's crewmate. You did well to let him fight his own battle to the end!" Mihawk said and I briefly wondered how the hell he managed to get that all in as Luffy came flying at him before Mihawk easily side stepped Luffy's attack. Luffy crashed into the wood headfirst and his neck stretched as he struggled to get it out.

Not looking at him, Mihawk said "Don't worry." As Luffy finally got his head out and fell onto his back, he continued "I left him alive." At that moment, Johnny and Yosaku resurfaced with Zoro in between them and shouting "BROTHER! BROTHER! SPEAK TO US!"

"ZORO?!" Luffy shouted as well.

As the two got him aboard their ship with the help of Usopp, I cupped my hands and shouted "USOPP! GRAB THE FIRST AID KIT! CLEAN OFF THE SALT WATER, PUT IODINE ON AND AROUND THE WOUND TO DISINFECT, THEN SEW THE WOUND CLOSED AND WRAP HIM TIGHT WITH BANDAGE WRAP!"

"ON IT!" Usopp shouted back before darting into the small cabin, coming back with the bounty hunter duo's small first aid kit. (Something I forced them to buy from the Baratie's own stock of first aid equipment when I learned they didn't have anything more than bandages on board) Usopp quickly got to work on Zoro, doing as I told him to.

As Usopp worked, Mihawk decided to be a dramatic bastard. Crossing his arms, he called out "My name is Dracule Mihawk! It's too soon for you to die. Discover yourself. See the world! And grow strong! However long it may take...I shall await you at the top. Strive with your whole heart and mind to best this blade, fierce one! Strive to surpass me, Roronoa Zoro!"

From where I was standing, I heard Zeff ask "Why would Hawk-Eye say something like that?"

'Because he's found someone to be his successor.' I thought to myself with wide eyes, remembering the flash of approval Mihawk had felt when Zoro had told him that scars on the back were a swordsman's shame.

Mihawk though, wasn't done and turned to Luffy and asked "Lad, what's is your goal?"

"TO BE KING OF THE PIRATES!" Luffy declared and I felt a shimmer of what I just KNEW had to be his nascent Conqueror's Haki lightly pulse inside of him with my Observation Haki causing me to smirk.

Mihawk probably felt it as well given his grin as he said "You tread a perilous path. Even more perilous than trying to surpass me."

"I DON'T CARE! THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO BE!" Luffy said and there was another pulse of FACT from him.

Zoro grabbed everyone's attention as he suddenly raised Wado Ichimonji up high and said "Lu-Luffy, were you worried? If I fail to become the World's Greatest Swordsman, you'll be disappointed, right!? NEVER AGAIN! I WILL NEVER LOSE AGAIN! FROM NOW TO THE DAY I BEAT HIM TO BECOME THE GREATEST SWRODSMAN... (Mihawk's grin grew) I WILL NEVER LOSE AGAIN! GOT A PROBLEM WITH THAT KING OF THE PIRATES!?"

Luffy smiled so hard his eyes closed as he said "SHISHISHI! NOT AT ALL!"

"Hm, they make a good team." Mihawk mused to himself before he turned around and made his way to his ship as he said "I hope to encounter you two again...someday."

His would be dramatic exit was ruined as Krieg leapt onto the piece of ship debris they were standing on as he said "Hey, Hawk-Eye! Didn't you come here for my head? For the head of Don Krieg, King of the Eastern Blue!?"

Mihawk barely deigned Krieg with a glance out of the side of his eye as he said "That was my intention. But I've had enough fun for now, so I shall head back home to take a nap."

Krieg cracked his neck handlessly as he said "You may have had enough, but I'm tired of getting beaten."

"D-Don?" One of his men asked, followed by another who asked "Why are you trying to keep him here?"

All of a sudden, all of Krieg's weapons were out and he shouted "Die before you leave!"

As he fired his weapons, Mihawk put a hand to the hilt of his large sword and said "You are indeed a slow learner." Mihawk swung his sword and the air pressure pulled the surrounding sea water up into a giant wave. Warned by his Observation Haki, Luffy grappled himself back onto the Baratie, grabbing the outside of the railing next to where Zeff was.

When the wave passed, Mihawk was gone and Krieg tsked as he said "Damn it, he escaped."

'He says that like he wouldn't have been turned into gold and pink mist in seconds.' I thought to myself before I focused again as Luffy shouted "Usopp! Set Sail!"

"Uh, Right, but what about Matt?!" Usopp shouted back.

"GO! I'll help him out here then we'll rejoin you!" I called even as I moved to stand next to where Luffy was.

"Alright then, Zoro and I will go after Nami! You and Matt get the cook to join us!" Usopp said before he threw Luffy's straw hat towards him and continued "And when we've got everybody together! WE'LL SAIL FOR THE GRAND LINE!"

Luffy stretched out his arm to grab his hat and once he had it on his head he said "RIGHT! LET'S DO IT!"

Here come the locusts." Sanji said and Luffy and I turned our gazes to where all of the Krieg Pirates were preparing to charge. Luffy grinned as he looked out at them and asked "Hey, Mister! If I chase those guys off...can I stop being chore boy?"

Zeff looked amused as he said "Sure kid, beat up the pirates and I'll call us even."

'Heh. Called it!' I thought to myself with a smirk. The prelude was finished. Now the main event was about to begin...

End

Author's Notes: SO. We finally get to what I consider the first split in these three 'branched path' stories. As a flightless Zoan, I couldn't travel across the ocean and so Nami got away...for now. Also, you guys have no idea how tempted I was as a writer to just have Zaboomafoo shoot Krieg in the head with his Battlescout and be done with it. Unfortunately, Luffy would have still been obligated to remain at the Baratie for a month if I did that so yeah... Anyways, see you guys next time!