This is the 16th chapter. Like I did the 3rd chapter, this chapter focused on Zoro which it's how he became a swordsman before he was bounty hunter and a pirate.
Zoro's Past: Zoro and Kuina's Vow!
Somewhere in the sea
It's been a week since they left the Treasure Island which the story was just an exaggeration to scare those pirates away and finding a treasure was a complete bust. In that time, they had all developed a daily routine. In the morning, Nami would check the course and everyone would help with the ship maintenance while Ventus stretch out his wings to do a morning flight, mid-afternoon, Luffy and Usopp fish while Zoro and Ventus spar each other and Nami would be in the kitchen recording their current position.
Zoro had noticed over last week, Ventus was flying since he has to stretch out his wings and try fly a bit. Nami told him that he needs to fly just to keep his wings in shape and to improve his aerial combat with his lance which he can understand that.
Usopp then noticed that Ventus was reading some books and studying some maps whenever he's not sparring with Zoro which he was surprised about it. He told Zoro that Ventus was reading some books and studying maps, much to him surprised.
So that afternoon, Zoro and Ventus sharpening their weapons which he decided to confront the young Dragoon.
"You doing okay, kid?" Zoro question, earned a nod from him. "I've noticed that you were flying over at sea this morning."
"I just need to stretch my wings a bit." Ventus told him. "Just to keep them in shape and to use it in aerial combat."
"Yeah, Nami told me about it." Zoro nods. "I've also heard that you're reading."
"How do you know that?" Ventus asked with shock.
"Usopp told me." Zoro answered. "Look, it's fine that you're reading, but didn't anyone ever taught you in daily basis?"
Ventus then averted his gaze with his sad expression on his face as he spoke.
"I was mostly self-taught." Ventus said, leaving Zoro raise his eyebrow. "No one ever taught me anything only because of my heritage. So, I visit to the libraries just to learn some basics and I have to learn how to write, studying maps, reading a compass, everything."
That got Zoro shocked of his explanation and how these people never teach Ventus. Then again, they've been treating him like an outcast long ago which he didn't have any option, but to educate himself when no one else could.
"But what about the lance? Surely, someone must have taught you that." Zoro said.
"My teachers taught me how to use a lance and some basic everyday skills that doesn't involve physical labor. They were close friends to my mother." Ventus answered. "They never treat me like everyone else did. They treated me like I was part of their own since they knew about my dragon heritage."
"I see." Zoro nods with a understanding, felt relieved that someone treated him kindly. "What were they like?"
"They're Dragoons." Ventus told him. "I was surprised that they took me in and raised me after my parents died long ago. Freya Crescent was friendly, humble, and had a sharp mind while Fratley was fearless, driven by duty, and adventurous. Apparently, they're not from around in Ishgard, they were from Burmecia."
Zoro gave him a nod with an understanding which he's glad to see that the two have taking care of him, teach him, and raise him like.
'At least someone have raised him, unlike those ungrateful bastards. As far as I know, he needed a friend and someone to look after since he lost his parents when he was a kid.' Zoro mentally thought.
Before Zoro could say anything, they notice that Luffy was carrying a crate full of cannonballs which it was pretty heavy when he takes them upstairs slowly.
"What is he doing with the crate full of cannons?" Ventus questions.
"Let's find out." Zoro suggested as the two then followed where Luffy was at.
The rubber captain then placed them down to the floor, causing Nami and Usopp startled.
"This sucker is heavy." Luffy grumbled.
"What the hell is that?" Nami questions.
"Found it in the storeroom." Luffy said with a big grin.
"It's a crate full of cannonballs." Nami said surprisingly.
"What do need those for?" Zoro questions seriously, raise his eyebrow.
"I figured since we have our own cannon now, we can get in some target practice." Luffy stated, pointed the cannon.
"Just leave the cannoning to me." Usopp said with a confident smile as he then come up with a story which it's obviously a lie. "I arcing back at the time I was three years old and jumped on a passing cannonball, riding it halfway around the world-"
"How do you work this thing?" Luffy questions himself, scratching his head.
"Hey Listen!?" Usopp shouts when he turned his head to him.
"Zoro, do you know how to shoot this?" Luffy asks.
"Do I look like I know how to shoot a cannon?" Zoro counters with annoyance.
"What about you? Do you know how to shoot this?" Luffy questions when he turned to Ventus.
"I'm a Dragoon, not a cannoneer." Ventus retorts with annoyance.
"You guys are no fun." Luffy pouts.
"You know, just to the south of here there's a reef that would make for some excellent target practice." Nami told him, reading the map.
"Let's go." Luffy said with excitement.
With that, Zoro and Ventus then sighed since Luffy would try something stupid as the two then leave them alone. Nami noticed that they were walking away since they don't want any part of it as she then follows them. When she saw them sitting on the wooden floor, Nami was leaning against the wall so she won't get caught while listening to their conversation.
"Knowing Luffy, he would more likely fooling around with that cannon and waste the entire cannonballs." Ventus clarifies.
"Yeah, you're probably right." Zoro agrees with a sigh. "I bet Luffy never learn how to shoot a cannon."
"With the way that he was looking at it, it sure looks like it." Ventus nodded as he then change the subject. "Zoro, how was it that you're able to have that goal?"
Zoro was surprised that Ventus ask that question which he didn't say much about his goal as he then spoke.
"I made a promise to someone long ago." Zoro told him. "A promise that I would become 'The Greatest Swordsman'."
Zoro then showed him his white katana.
"This sword once belong to a friend of mine." Zoro said as he then began to tell him about his past.
Shimotsuki Village, 10 years ago
10 years ago at the Shimotsuki Village, a boy named Zoro who came at the hill to see to view of the village with a smirk on his face. He wore his tattered clothes and he was holding a grass on his mouth. He then heads down towards the village to find a dojo and challenge the teacher of the dojo.
At the dojo, the students were practicing swinging their bamboo swords while the teacher watches them.
The male students wore dark green martial arts gi with two crossed swords on the left side.
The martial arts teacher has black hair tied back in a long ponytail and wore glasses with circular frames. He wore a grey martial arts gi with two crossed swords on his left side.
"Hey!?" Zoro yelled, earned his attention. "Anybody who want to come out? I'm here to challenge your dojo. Send someone out here! I'm ready to fight!"
That got his attention when he heard a laugh as he turned his head to the martial arts teacher.
"A dojo challenge is quite a rarity these days, young one." The martial arts teacher said with a smile.
"Don't count me out just because I'm a kid." Zoro stated with a confident smirk. "In the next village over, I'm a rival."
"Very well then, I accept your challenge." The martial arts teacher accepts.
"And if I win, then I get your dojo." Zoro wagered.
"And if you lose?" The martial arts teacher inquired.
"I'll, uh, then I'll join this place. How about that?" Zoro suggests, causing the martial arts teacher laugh.
"Sounds very fair." The martial arts teacher accepts as he then turned his head. "Kuina."
The martials arts students were moving aside when Kuina revealed herself.
Kuina had short dark blue hair and large dark eyes. She wore a white sleeveless shirt and cropped green pants.
"Yes, what is it father?" Kuina questions.
"Hold on!? You mean you're not gonna fight me yourself old man!?" Zoro exclaims when Kuina walk towards her father.
"Kuina maybe just a girl, but she's than any adult among us. Even as her father, I can tell this without prejudice." The martial arts teacher told him.
"Fine, okay!?" Zoro reluctantly accepts.
"Please come inside then and prepare." The martial arts teacher said.
With that, Zoro have entered the dojo to get ready for a match when he look at the barrel full of bamboo sword.
"Can I use this many as I want?" Zoro asks curiously.
"Of course you can." The martial arts teacher answered.
Zoro then spit the grass piece out of his mouth with a smirk on his face as he then grab hold of three for each hand and three on his mouth. The martial arts students were thinking that Zoro was crazy to face Kuina since no one was able to beat her, not even the adults.
"Alright, let us begin." The martial arts teacher said.
"Kay, I'm ready." Zoro said with his mouth full of bamboo swords.
"Bow before the gods." The martial arts teacher said as the three bow to the gods, causing Zoro to drop the bamboo sword from his mouth.
"And now, to each other." The martial arts teacher said as the two then bow to each other, causing Zoro to drop the other bamboo sword from his mouth.
"Begin."
Both Zoro and Kuina then readied their fighting stance. Kuina then made her first-strike when she use overhead technique which Zoro was able to block, but she vertically strike him, knocking him out and causing him to drop all of the bamboo swords. However, Zoro didn't give up that easy when he grab two of the bamboo swords, leaving both Kuina and the martial arts teacher shocked as he then pose a two-sword stance.
"So, have you studied two-sword style technique before?" Kuina questions with a scowl.
"No way! This is the first time I even held a bamboo sword!" Zoro answered seriously.
"Really, is that so?" The martial arts teacher asks with a smile.
'Dammit! I'm strong, I know it! And I'm gonna get stronger, I refuse, I refuse to lose this girl!?' Zoro mentally shouts when he then charges after her, but Kuina smacked him with her overhead strike in between the eye, resulting him knocked out and lost the match. The martial arts students couldn't help but wince with pain when they saw Zoro got smacked.
"Has he ever heard of dodging?"
"This match is over." The martial arts teacher said.
"He's like a boar." Kuina comment rudely when she placed her bamboo sword right next to Zoro.
"Come now, Kuina." The martial arts teacher said to his daughter.
"He's an amateur and he's 10 years too early to even attempt to using the two-sword style." Kuina stated when Zoro grabbed the bamboo sword.
"What?" Zoro groaned.
"You bitter?" Kuina counters. "Because we can go another round if you want to."
"A loss is a loss okay." Zoro retorts.
"It is wise to accept defeat gracefully, then you were-"
"Now I'll be a student here, gotta problem with that?" Zoro interrupts rudely with a question.
"Not at all." The martial arts teacher answered.
Kuina was about to walk away when Zoro spoke.
"Hey." Zoro said, earned her attention. "I want you to know, I'm gonna train day after day, all the time, and then, I'm gonna beat you. Remember that."
"That day will never come." Kuina said seriously.
Day after day, Zoro have began his training with swordsmanship non-stop to exhaustion on a daily basis, regardless of it being hazy hot or chilling cold. Zoro have been practicing swinging his bamboo sword on a hot day, smacking a training post, lifting a boulder with a piece of rope from his mouth, smacking a training post with his two bamboo swords, running while carrying a martial arts student on his shoulders while running past them by evening, smacking a training post some more, lifting a boulder with a piece of rope from his mouth, and running while carrying a martial arts student on his shoulders while running past them which he couldn't forget of his defeat as he then roared.
At the martial arts dojo, Zoro was then given his opponent a flurry of smacks when the martial arts student was block which he's not giving him a moment to breath when he continued to give him a flurry of smacks with ferocity. The martial arts teachers were amazed of how much Zoro have progressed while the martial arts students were scared of how strong and scary he was. Kuina wasn't even fazed when she saw of how strong or fierce he is which she knew that she can beat him.
She wore a different outfit when she wears a light pink short-sleeved with a three-buttoned placket that she left unbuttoned, dark maroon shorts, and brown shoes.
When Zoro have won his match against him, he then began another match when he charges after her, but Kuina smacked him with an overhead strike, resulting him knocked out.
"Match over! And the winner: Kuina with 2000 total wins an 0 losses." The martial arts grandmaster announced, raise his arms.
"Dammit!" Zoro cursed.
"You're weak Zoro. Nothing ever changes." Kuina mocks with a smirk, earned his attention. "You know for a boy, you're pathetic."
That got Zoro really angry of her comments, but the martial arts students didn't agree of her words.
"But, Zoro wasn't weak at all."
"He's one of the strongest out of all the guys."
"He's even beaten grown ups."
"But." Kuina said, earned their attention. "He's nowhere as strong as me. Even with two swords, a weakling is still a weakling. You losers would do good to remember that and keep quite, your howling makes you even look more pitiful than you already are."
With that, Kuina have left the martial arts dojo without looking at the martial arts students which they felt very offended from her comments. Zoro then stood up as he dust his martial arts gi while the martial arts teacher approaches him.
"You've grown so strong, Zoro." The martial arts teacher praised him. "And yet, you continue to lose every match against Kuina."
"Sensei! Are you giving her special training!?"
That got his attention he saw his students approaching him with angry looks on their faces.
"She might be your daughter, but that's not fair!"
"You shouldn't cheat!?"
"Calm down, I've done nothing of the sort." The martial arts teacher assured them, waving his hands. "You see, Zoro has grown stronger, but Kuina has continued to grow stronger as well."
Zoro then walked away from the dojo as he then wash his face, but he was still angry about losing to her ever since he's been getting stronger and he still loses to her.
"Dammit! Why can't I beat Kuina!? Why? Why? Why? I'm going to be the 'Strongest Swordsman in the World'." Zoro said with his scowl on his face. Unknown to him, Kuina have overheard him. "So why can't I beat her? That's it! Tonight, I'll fight her again."
Later that night, both of the martial arts teachers were having a private discussions about Zoro's training since he's been in the martial arts dojo for training.
"It's been only a year since Zoro became a pupil and the boy's progress is nothing short of spectacular." The martial arts grandmaster told him. "He train so much more than the other pupils, it incomparable. That must be what a tribute's to a progress, but it seems that the boy is still no match for Kuina."
"Female swordsman are faced with immense walls." The martial arts teacher said, making him confused. "As she is now, I cannot trust the inheritance of this dojo."
Kuina have overheard of their conversation which she didn't like of what he told him and got her angered as she then breaks in.
"Father!?" Kuina called her father.
"Kuina!?"
"It's not polite to eavesdrop, my dear." The martial arts criticize his daughter.
"I'll show you I can do it. I will become the World's Greatest Swordsman." Kuina declared.
However, the martial arts teacher disapprove of her resolve as he then spoke.
"Kuina, as a girl, you can never become the Greatest Swordsman." The martial arts teacher replies with his calm tone, leaving her shocked as she then stormed away.
Meanwhile, Zoro was running towards the dojo to challenge Kuina with his two black katanas, but stopped when he saw her sitting by the road, crying. She then look at him as she spoke.
"Zoro?" Kuina said with confusion.
"It's late out. What are you doing?" Zoro questions.
"Funny, I was gonna ask you the same question." Kuina retorts, wiping the tears off of her face. "What are you doing out so late?"
"I've come here to challenge you to your 2001st fight. And it's gonna be the last fight you and me will ever have." Zoro told her when he walk towards her, placing the black katana on the ground. "This ends tonight. Fight me with the real sword. You do have one, don't you?"
That got Kuina shocked, thinking that he's crazy when he challenged her with real swords as she then spoke.
"Real swords?" Kuina repeats seriously, turned into a smirk. "You're on."
Kuina then head towards the family shrine and retrieves the white katana for a duel, unsheathe the sword while looking at the sword.
"The Wado Ichimonji." Kuina said as she then sheathed it while rushed out of the family shrine to meet up Zoro.
When Zoro and Kuina meet up at the meadow, they readied their fighting stance as they stare each other for a few seconds when the burst of wind blows, causing Zoro to make his first move as he then charges after her as he was about to slash her, but she manage to block as Zoro used his other sword to slash her, manage to cut some of her hair. Kuina then began to horizontally slash at Zoro, causing him to block her attack as they then began to push a few steps back. They then began to charge each other while parrying, blocking, and counter each others attacks which they've been at it for a while.
Few minutes later, Zoro was breathing heavily while Kuina hasn't since she kept her defense while Zoro have kept his offense with his ferocity and versatility.
"Two real swords are heavier than you thought, huh?" Kuina comments with a smirk. "See, you still lack strength."
"Shut up!?" Zoro retorts with a shout.
Kuina then charge after him, disarm both of his weapons in a single upward swing, causing him to sent flying. Zoro was helpless when Kuina was about to go for the killing blow, but she intentionally plunge her katana into the ground an inch from his cheek, resulted the duel was over and Zoro have lost the match.
"Win number 2001." Kuina said with a proud smirk when the two katanas plunge down to the ground as she stood up.
"Dammit!?" Zoro cursed, earned her attention. "This sucks! I...I hate it!"
Kuina knew that Zoro was growing frustration since he lost to her constantly which it was sad as she spoke.
"I'm the one who should be crying out of frustration, not you." Kuina said sadly, earned his attention. "When girls grow up, it's natural for us to develop into physically weaker beings than men."
That got Zoro confused of what she meant as she continues.
"Even you will catch up to me soon enough." Kuina said. "I've always heard you say to me, you're gonna be the 'World's Greatest Swordsman'. I told my father the same thing, he said I can never be that. And I know, I know that, but it's just so frustrating. You're lucky Zoro, being born as a man."
Zoro then stood up as she continues to spoke.
"All I ever wanted was to be the 'World's Greatest Swordsman'." Kuina said as she then placed her hand on her breast, causing Zoro to blush. "My breasts are even started to grow up now. If I only...If I'd just been born a man."
"Don't foil off with the mouth whining like that after you beat me?!" Zoro yelled, earned her attention. "Because it's not fair! You're my goal, you know how this makes me feel? Boy this, girl that, are you gonna keep up that same kinda talk after I beat you someday? Like skill is irrelevant, that's just an insult to all of the training I've been pouring on every day. So don't say that crap, would ya!?"
Kuina was shocked of hearing Zoro's disagreement as he then walk towards her.
"Now promise me! Promise me that someday one of us will be the 'World's Greatest Swordsman'." Zoro said with his serious expression, leaving her shocked. "We'll compete and see who gets there."
They both stare at each other for a few seconds. Even though, Kuina was shocked that Zoro didn't give up so easily which she was surprised that he has strong will and determination. She then smiled as she spoke.
"Dummy, you're so weak." Kuina said as Zoro then extends his hand. She then grab his hand.
"It's a promise."
The next day at the martial arts dojo, Kuina was fighting against the martial arts grandmaster since she continued her training enthusiastically. The martial arts students were completely stunned and shocked when they noticed that Kuina have gotten stronger. Even the martial arts teacher was surprised that his daughter was getting stronger, but it didn't take long for him to figure out who got her even more confident.
In the forest, Zoro was training on his own where he holds the dumbbell in his mouth while pulling down a pair of ropes slung over a tree branch to life a pair of boulders to increase his strength and his stamina.
'Gotta get stronger! So I can hold lots of swords! Two's not enough, I'll use three.' Zoro mentally thought.
But stopped when he saw the martial arts students in the forest as he spoke.
"What do you guys want?" Zoro questions, but noticed that something was wrong about them.
"Kuina...Kuina is dead, Zoro."
It got Zoro completely shocked when they told him about Kuina's death which he was really upset that their promise was broken. He then attended to the funeral with the others when then he heard that Kuina died from falling down the storage room stairs when she was trying to find a sharpening stone for the Wado Ichimonji.
After the funeral was over, Zoro then rush towards the martial arts dojo while carrying two bamboo swords as he then opens the wooden slide, ready to fight but notice that nobody was here.
The next day, Zoro then began to fight against one of the adult martial arts student as he gave him a flurry of slashes which he's not given his opponent a breather since he kept his defense until Zoro knocked him out, resulting a win. The martial arts teachers knew of how Zoro angry really is ever since Kuina's death and the promise was broken.
At the forest, Zoro was smacking the training post with his two bamboo swords and a dumbbell in his mouth, lifting the boulder, but lost his focus when he saw something from behind, causing him to drop the boulder. However, he saw nothing which it got him frustrated as he then roared with anger. He then began to smack the multiple training posts with his two bamboo swords, but he's starting to grew more frustrating as he then give them a final smack, breaking the training posts. He panted heavily as he then turned to his head when he saw the martial arts teacher carrying the Wado Ichimonji, causing him to drop the dumbell when he saw the white katana.
When Zoro and the martial arts teacher were at the martial arts dojo, Zoro was looking down at the wooden floor while the martial arts teacher was looking at the wooden shrine from the wall as he then spoke.
"It may appear otherwise to the blind eye, but people are quite fragile things." The martial arts teacher said. "Kuina, she was a competitive girl. From the time she was old enough to make a decision for herself. She practiced in this dojo, achieving strength that surpassed many adults. It was fruition of power that caused her to become conceited and then you appeared, Zoro. And I thank you for this because as you grew ever stronger, Kuina felt compelled to practice even more, so as not lose to you, so as not to lose a boy. Through this, she had begun to chip away at the walls of female swordsmanship. Despite any of which I speak, I am above all other things, an ordinary parent. And as any human, I am bound my emotions as well as my blood. When I look at you now Zoro, I feel only pain."
Zoro then began to shed a tear, knowing that he was in pain for losing Kuina, his only rival and a friend. Though, they don't get along only because of Kuina's arrogance and her talent of swordsmanship while Zoro have to work hard for his own swordsmanship and his two sword style. Also, he lost to her constantly during the matches but he never give up since he has will and determination. Zoro then spoke.
"Sensei." Zoro called him, earned his attention. "I ask that you lend me have that sword."
The martial arts teacher then look at the Wado Ichimonji as he spoke.
"Kuina's sword?" The martial arts teacher asks.
"I'll get stronger! Stronger than she ever was, you here me!?" Zoro yelled with determination. "Strong enough that my name reaches up to the heavens! I am going to be the 'World's Greatest Swordsman'! I promised her! I promised! I did!"
He then smiled at his pupil when Zoro told him about the promise that it was made before his daughter's death.
"Yes, the sword is yours." The martial arts teacher told him, leaving him surprised as he look at him while the martial arts teacher turned to him, offering the Wado Ichimonji to him. "I leave her spirit and her dreams in your hands."
Zoro then began to cry out his tears since the martial arts teacher have pass the Wado Ichimonji to him.
8 long years have past since Zoro have been in training, he went into the forest one last time as he then readied his fighting stance, slicing the rock. He then went towards the cemetery to pay respects to Kuina.
"It's been 8 years, Zoro." The martial arts teacher said with a smile. "You're finally going to sat out on your own?"
"Yes, Sensei." Zoro said, stood up as he then turned to him with a smile. "To fulfill a promise."
Zoro then bow to his teacher and leave.
"Zoro." The martial arts teacher called him, earned his attention. "Take care."
Present day, somewhere at the sea
When Zoro have finished his story, Ventus reacts with shock and awe. He was also sad to hear about Kuina's death.
"I set out a journey to become the 'World's Greatest Swordsman'. After that, I've became a bounty hunter just to earn some money for repairing my swords and to have food." Zoro finished.
"Zoro, I'm sorry about your friend." Ventus apologize.
"It's fine, you didn't know." Zoro assured him. "Even though, I didn't get along with her ever since we were young. But as time went on, we made a promise that one us will become the 'World's Greatest Swordsman.'"
"But the promise was broken." Ventus stated.
"True, but I did promise that I'll get stronger." Zoro clarifies. "And I carry her spirit and her dreams since he pass this sword to me."
"It must be nice." Ventus said, earned his attention. "To have a friend that is. I envy you and Luffy since you two have friends and form a strong bond, even though you didn't know that."
Zoro was surprised of what he told him which he was right, but had a feeling that the young Dragoon didn't have any friends only because of him being a half-breed between a human and a dragon.
Before Zoro could say anything, they heard a cannon-fire as they rush towards behind the deck when they saw only a spire of water shooting up before crashing back down next to a small island structure jutting up from the water which Luffy have missed the target.
"That was way off the mark." Luffy said.
"Hey, what's so loud over there?" Zoro asks with annoyance.
"Cannon firing practice." Luffy said with a smile, placing his hand under his chin. "But it's not going very well."
"Like I said, let the expert handle the thing." Usopp declared with his confident smirk.
Usopp then reload the cannon while changing the aim of the cannon.
"Judging from the flying distance of the last one, this should do it." Usopp said as he then readied the gunpowder. "Fire!"
When Usopp fired the cannon, it then hit the reef that was the intended target. They were surprised that Usopp have shot the target on his first try.
"Awesome! You hit that thing on the first try!" Luffy said with excitement as he watched the rock structure crumble down to the ocean.
"Wow, I did." Usopp muttered with shock as he then regain his composure. "What you think? I'm pretty magnificent when it comes to aiming? So are you impressed yet?"
"Yeah, you better believe it." Luffy nods.
'Usopp really needs some more confidence.' Ventus mentally thought with a sweat drop.
"So it's all settled, you'll be our sniper." Luffy declared.
"Wait! I don't get to be captain?" Usopp exclaims.
"No, I'm still the captain." Luffy told him.
"Why you don't you guys go on ahead? I'm gonna have some private talk with Ventus." Nami suggested.
Luffy and Usopp were a little confused at first, but Zoro knows that Nami wanted to have some discussion with him so they head inside, leaving Nami and Ventus alone.
"Something wrong?" Ventus questions.
"No, but I've heard you and Zoro have a conversation." Nami said. "I've heard about his goal and Kuina."
Ventus was shocked when Nami have overheard of their conversation about Zoro's past.
"How much did you heard?" Ventus asks.
"Everything, basically." Nami answered. "Ventus, it's not a bad thing that you're having a conversation with Zoro. But, didn't you have any friends from Ishgard?"
"No I don't." Ventus shook his head. "I don't have any friends, I never have one only because of my dragon heritage."
Nami was shocked about him not having any friends which it made her sad.
"Nami." Ventus called her, earned her attention. "Was there a reason why you're asking me?"
"Zoro told me about you being treated like crap long ago." Nami told him sadly. "Which I guess it explains why you got angry easily."
"He told you?" Ventus asks.
"He did." Nami nodded. "Ventus, I'm sorry for the way they've treated you."
"You didn't know, Nami." Ventus reassured her. "But, it'll be harder for me to talk about it."
"I understand." Nami said with a smile. "Listen, you'll have to tell them about it soon, but not just now. It's just whenever you're ready."
Ventus gave her a nod with an understanding as she then spoke.
"Come on, let's go join with the others." Nami suggests, earned a nod from him.
When both Nami and Ventus were inside, they notice that Luffy and Usopp were talking about the Captain's position and how Usopp would take over if Luffy would try something cowardly. Zoro then noticed that Nami and Ventus were finished talking as he spoke.
"What did you two talk about?" Zoro questions.
"I'll tell you later, Zoro." Nami answered as she sat at the opposite side while going over the map.
"I was thinking, there's one other position that we have to fill before we can head out for the Grand Line." Luffy said to his crew.
"You're right, the kitchen is really nice on this ship." Nami agrees. "Just pay me and I'll do it."
"I suppose it is vital for long trips." Zoro said as he turned to Ventus. "You know how to cook, kid?"
"I'm only self-taught of cooking." Ventus told him. "I mostly pay attention on reading books, but I didn't learn from a cook."
"Well, when we get to the next island, we'll find someone who can teach you how to cook." Nami told him, earned a nod from him.
"No decent pirate ship should be without one." Luffy said with a grin. "A musician."
"Ugh, are you an idiot?" Zoro questions with annoyance.
"What do you think we're doing out here?" Nami added.
"Just when I thought you were gonna say something smart." Usopp berates him.
"But we're pirates and pirates sing a lot, didn't you know?" Luffy complains with a pout.
However, their conversation was interrupted with the crashing sound that was coming from the outside.
"Get out here you damn pirates!" A shout echoed after the crash bring everyone's attention. Luffy then rushed for the door from where he had been seated, crashing it with a glare.
The swordsman is an average-sized man with somewhat tanned skin with a short black hair, wore a pair of sunglasses, and had a tattoo on his left cheek that reads 'sea'. He wore a blue hooded jacket with purple undershirt, tan pants, black boots, and a watch on his left wrist. He also carries a sword.
"Hey what the hell!?" Luffy shouts when he saw the destroyed barrels. "Who are you!?"
"Shut up! Who I am means nothing!" The swordsman retorts. "You stinkin' pirate!"
He then began to slash at him, but Luffy manage to jump out of the way which it cause some wooden rails destroyed.
"I had a feeling that raising a pirate flag would attract there attention sooner or later." Ventus mumbled with a sigh.
"Hey guys, how many are there?" Zoro asks.
"Uh...one." Nami told him.
"Then just let him handle it." Zoro shrugged.
"Over the years, I've lost count of all the pirate heads we've taken." The swordsman said with a scowl. "And now you guys think you can kill my partner!?"
He then began to slash when Luffy manage to jump away, breaking some of the wooden floor while Zoro then recognize that voice.
"What do you mean by 'partner'? Look, I don't what this is, but just stop wrecking my ship!?" Luffy shouts when he grabbed his head as he threw him back towards the cabin wall, leaving him knocked out.
"Lost by a hair." The swordsman muttered.
"Who is this guy?" Luffy questions.
"Johnny, tell me that isn't you?" Zoro questioned, standing on the balcony while looking down at him.
"Huh? Who's saying my name like they think they know me or something?" Johnny counters with a question when he saw Zoro, leaving him shocked. "Big Bro Zoro!?"
"Johnny, it is you." Zoro said.
"What are you doing here, Big Bro?" Johnny questions.
"Where's Yosaku?" Zoro questions. "Isn't he with you?"
"What's going on?" Luffy asks with confusion.
That's it for the 16th chapter.