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They were met with silent awe upon their arrival in the capital of the foreign kingdom.
Even the noble and supposedly rich that filled the halls of the old castle looked haggard and cold. Zoro didn't want to know what the common people fared like. He was glad that Luffy decided to help them.
Prince Vaayu introduced them to his family and the members of his court. The people gazed at the Pirate King with curiosity, muttering amongst themselves with disbelief. Despite everything, people still underestimated him. Folks were often amazed with how well his appearance still matched all his wanted posters. Luffy had lost the baby fat of his teenage years, exposing a square jaw and jutting cheek bones. His shoulders had broadened some. Otherwise, he remained much the same. The rubbery texture of his skin was flexible and resistant against sun damage. Not one wrinkle or mole marred his ever youthful face.
As the members of the royal court droned on, Zoro zoned out, switching his focus to the ancient swords hanging from the walls. The blades were so wide and clunky, he wondered what it'd feel like to swing them. They didn't seem practical to fight with, but they would make a nice addition to his diverse collection.
The old man sitting at the head of the table coughed. He was the king of this kingdom, Vaayu's father.
"State your conditions," the king said. "Anything you want, as long as you can help us, you can have it." Zoro doubted that the raided kingdom had much to offer anymore.
"Zoro," Luffy said.
He turned, meeting Luffy's familiar smile. His friend stood next to him, gazing upon the swords hanging from the wall. "Which one would you like?"
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They left for the sea that same night. The light houses had sent their signals; the Red Raiders were attacking once again. It was a cold and black night. The fog had settled onto the ocean like a thick storm cloud. Nami expertly navigated them through the emptiness. How she could even see where they were sailing towards, Zoro had no idea.
The sea was agitated, rocking the Thousand Sunny back and forth. At this point in his life, he'd spent more time on a ship than on even ground. He'd long found out that the ocean had a life of her own and more personality than the most eccentric of people. She was a fickle and playful force. Today, she was excited. Sailing through the rickety waves was a chore.
"It's like she's challenging my workmanship," Franky muttered under his breath, his words nearly lost in the loud howling of the wind.
Luffy stood stock-still. "Can you see anything, Usopp?"
Usopp leaned over the lookout, ignoring Chopper's cries to be careful, and adjusted his binoculars. He shook his head. "No, nothing. The fog is too thick. At least they won't be able to see us either."
Suddenly, thunder struck, lightening splitting the sky, connecting heaven and ocean for one moment. The few seconds of light were enough to catch a glimpse of the approaching fleet of red ships.
"The Red Raiders," Vaayu croaked. "What will we do?"
Luffy broke out of his stillness. "Frankie, Usopp, Nami, you stay on the Sunny. Work the cannons and soldier dock system."
"I saw ten ships," Usopp said.
"Best we work our way outside in," Jinbei grumbled.
Luffy nodded. "Sanji, Jinbei, Brook, you take the eastern flank. Zoro, Robin, Chopper, you take the west."
"What about you, Captain?" Robin asked.
He grinned, a near deranged expression that made Vaayu blanch. "The wait is driving me insane. I'll meet you there, on the white ship." Then, his rubber arms stretched forward, bridging miles across the water, and he shot forward.
Swiftly, Sanji's group entered their submarine, the Shark Submerge; Zoro's opted for the Mini Merry boat. Although the Merry was sturdily built for such a small boat, she struggled to stay afloat on the rocking waves. Around them, the world had once again become black, the fog so thick he could only just about see Robin and Chopper. Zoro almost wished for another strike of thunder. If not for their many years of experience, they would've come off course long ago.
His fingers itched, wishing he'd held on to Luffy and catapulted off to the fleet together. Yet there was something in the wait that appealed to him, too. Danger lied so clearly in the air, Zoro reveled in it. The building anticipation, the risk of the unknown… It had been some time. Suddenly, he was young again, when he'd seen just enough of the world to realize how vast of an adventure it could really hold. When he'd been just skilled enough not to die, Luffy's infectious luck just enough to keep each of them alive and together.
A loud crack sounded through the howling of the wind. He thought it was thunder, until three synonymous bangs followed.
"They're firing the canons," Chopper murmured, glancing backwards although there was no way to see the Sunny.
The smell of gunpowder filled the air as they finally caught a glimpse of the red ships. Zoro didn't wait, having run out of patience long ago. He jumped forward, swung his blade, and cut the first ship in half.
He landed on the next ship with practiced ease, so light-footed it took a few seconds for the crew to react. Until now, everything had gone as it usually did. Yet, the feeling that something was off persisted.
A man stepped forward. He was clad in leather and metal, his eyes black and empty. "So it was you," he said, his voice lacking any intonation. "I thought it was your ship, but I hadn't believed the King himself would grace us with his presence."
A flash of something human emerged in the features of the blank-faced crew. Fear. When faced with the certain prospect of death, some people turned into wild animals. Others regained a humanity that was once thought to have been lost entirely.
Zoro lifted his blade, the gleaming metal pointing towards his opponent's open throat. "Sorry to disappoint, but the King has only graced your comrades with his presence. You will have to do with his first mate. It'll be the first and last thing you will ever see of the Straw Hats."
A battle cry rang through the air. The men and women drew their weapons and attacked. Zoro cut through the masses in few quick strokes and landed on the mast. He paused and lifted his finger under his nose. Iron.
He took another glance at the ship he'd landed on. Now that he was so close, the darkness revealed nuance. The deck and the masts, they weren't black at all, but the maroon of dried blood. The dark sails, too, hadn't been dyed naturally. The red swirls weren't a choice in style, but a blotchy and stained mixture of blood.
His sense of unease grew, yet he couldn't put his finger on the source of it.
He looked down to where most of the crew lay in various stages towards certain death. The man with the blank eyes was still standing, watching Zoro silently. If he felt upset with the demise of his fellow seamen, he didn't let it show. In fact, there was no sign that he felt anything at all.
"Giving up so soon?" Zoro asked when none came forward.
The man grinned. "Tell me," he drawled. "How well can the World's Greatest Swordsman swim?"
An ear-shattering explosion rang through the air, shaking the wood underneath his feet. Zoro stood firm, ignoring the ringing in his ears. This hadn't been a canon, it had been a bomb. They'd blown up their own ship.
Zoro raised his brows. "There is a first time for everything. Usually I have to sink the ship myself, but it's nice of you to be so forthcoming. Were you hoping to drown me?"
"No, not you."
Then, realization sunk in. It wasn't the blood or the explosion that unnerved him. They were mere window-dressing. No, it was that he couldn't see the rest of the fleet, and even worse, he didn't feel the presence of Robin or Chopper. Everything was shrouded in the dark fog-blanket of the night. Living with his crew for years in close quarters and fighting with them at his side, he'd developed a sense for them. He didn't have to watch them from the corner of his eye or hear their voices in the turmoil of a battle. He knew where they were, could nearly predict their moves through a sixth sense that had developed through years of experience. Now, however, they were gone. He was alone with a band of lunatics who'd decided to sink their own ship.
"If it ends," the man said, "we will take you down with us. If we die, we will kill as many as we can on our way to hell. That is the way of the Raiders."
Zoro shot forward, swords drawn, too fast for the untrained eye to catch, let alone dodge. The man sank to his knees, his blood joining the blood of his crew.
Zoro stood amongst the dead bodies as the ship tipped backwards, resigning to the claim of the sea. He couldn't hear or see anything beyond what was left of the ship. Even the rocking of the waves had dulled down. He pulled out the old vivre card, but it remained static on the centre of his palm.
Luffy had left alone. He could be drowning right at this moment. Zoro couldn't decide whether that notion was ridiculous or fitting, having the sea that brought Luffy so much joy be the entity to kill him. He released a shuddering breath. Why was he thinking of Luffy's death? It had to be this vacuum, this lack of anything and everything.
The silence lingered, the sea so quiet it might as well have been a puddle. It was pulling the ship like quicksand. He could dive into the water and start swimming, but in what direction? Still, he inched closer to the edge. He had to do something.
With a sudden force, a gust of wind emerged. Bewildered, Zoro held on to the railing. The force resembled a storm. The wind became more violent, pushing large waves over the once still sea. Then, through the crying of the wind, a voice called Zoro's name. The fog lifted. He scanned his surroundings, but there was no person in sight.
The remaining fleet emerged, each ship in various stages of sinking. The familiar voices of his crewmates reached through the distance. He dove into the water without another second of hesitation. Robin and Chopper met him half-way on the Mini Merry. They'd each experienced more or less the same thing.
"Well," she said, "this was one of the strangest experiences we've had in recent history. It's good to know that the world still has some mysteries to offer."
"Have you seen Luffy?" Zoro asked.
"No," she admitted, a tinge of nervousness driving her tone to an unusual pitch.
They sailed through the carnage, shouting Luffy's name, but all that answered was the sea.
"Maybe he's returned to the Sunny?" Chopper asked.
Zoro gazed into the darkness, nodding absentmindedly. His vivre card moved towards the ground. He dove back in and found the Straw Hat. For one moment, his heart had thudded, hope sunk its claws into his chest, but there was no other sign of Luffy. He returned to the Mini Merry, his jaw clenched when he presented them his find. They were in denial before, but now the fear showed clearly in their faces.
"Chopper is right. There's a chance he returned to the Sunny."
"Without his hat?" Zoro challenged. "You return to the Sunny," he ordered gruffly. "I will search underwater."
"Zoro, it's too dark to see," Chopper said softly.
"If I can find a tattered hat, I can find the body of my oldest friend."
"You're being unreasonable," Robin said, her lips pursed.
Zoro wasn't listening, he was already underwater. He'd tied the hat with its string around his neck. Robin and Chopper must've left after all, because they returned later on with the Submarine, Sanji and Usopp on board. Zoro emerged, as did the Submarine. Sanji opened the hatch.
"What the hell do you mean you can't find Luffy?! We thought he was with you!"
Zoro wasn't even mad that Sanji took out his fear on him. Zoro wanted to yell at someone, too. He clenched his fist, restraining himself. The last thing they needed now was a fight amongst the crew. Luffy was gone, and Zoro carried a responsibility.
"Did any of you see him after he left the Sunny?"
"No, nothing," Sanji answered, sounding choked.
Zoro entered the submarine and ordered them to explain what happened once they dispersed. Sanji cooperated without backtalk, which was a dreary sign of how much in deep shit they were.
"So you didn't see the white ship either?" Zoro asked.
Usopp frowned. "What white ship?"
"Luffy mentioned it. He said he'd meet us on the white ship."
"Zoro, I was on watch when lightning struck. There was only a fleet of ten dark ships."
Zoro turned to Sanji, Robin, and Chopper. "Did anyone of you see it?"
They shook their heads. Unease grew. They searched the depths of the ocean with the submarine. Of Luffy, no sign. Finally, Zoro gave the order to return to the Sunny.
Clammy silence ruled their once cheery home. Nami's arms were slung around her body as if she was cold. Her eyes lightened for a single moment when the submarine emerged, only to grow dim when she caught Zoro's expression.
He made them tell what had happened once they had separated. They had fired canons for as long as the fleet did, their opponents' projectiles being the only way to pinpoint their location. Then, the fog had lifted, and once they saw the destroyed fleet, they'd assumed their job to be done. Luffy had never returned.
"It isn't over," Vaayu muttered. He hands shook, his teeth chattering against each other. "My God, what have I done?"
"What the hell are you jabbering on about?" Zoro growled.
"The King was abducted!" Vaayu cried. "The Red Raiders have captured him!" He choked, his breathing shallow. "And once he returns, he will kill us all."
"Shut up."
"Don't you remember what I told you about the ones that were taken as prisoners? They were raided, that's what we call those who return from the Raiders, with the same body, but with a changed spirit. The Pirate King will return, and he'll kill us all!"
"That's enough," Zoro said, his sword out, the tip leaning against Vaayu's throat. "Don't presume anything about Luffy."
Along the years, some strange rumors had spread about Zoro. About how he'd sold his soul to a demon in exchange for becoming the best swordsman in the world. For the most part, it was insulting to have people ascribe his effort, training, and discipline to a myth. But to some degree, it was his own fault for not keeping his energy under better check. At this moment, however, there was no controlling the waves of murderous intent that oozed off of him.
Vaayu was trembling, too afraid to move or speak with the threat of the cool blade against his vulnerable skin. He paled further. Then, he keeled over, landing on the deck with a dull thud.
"Did you have to do that?" Nami hissed at him. She crouched next to Vaayu, swatting his cheek repeatedly.
"Is he dead?" Frankie asked after a bout of silence.
Chopper checked his pulse. "No. I think he was suffering from exhaustion before. Zoro was only the straw to break the camel's back."
"Are you sure you didn't activate the Emperor's Haki?" Frankie asked half-jokingly.
Sanji snorted. "No, we would've felt that. This was just the effect of a moss-brained idiot having low self-control."
"I'll show you the full effect of my low self-control," Zoro threatened.
"Enough!" Jinbei shouted. "I know that bickering is a nice distraction, but it doesn't get us any closer to finding Luffy." With that, the mood went from bad to worse. "I don't know about you, but to me there's no chance in hell that Luffy drowned in the sea like some greenie sailor. Maybe Vaayu is right and the Raiders did take him. In that case, they must've brought him to a base of theirs. We have to find out more about them."
Usopp crossed his arms, his forehead wrinkling in contemplation. "Vaayu's father said that they didn't know where the Raiders came from."
"But they do have data," Nami said. Her voice was cold and analytical, void of the fear that had taken her a prisoner not long ago. "If they tell me which coordinates the Raiders appeared at during the last year and couple that with the weather conditions, the speed of the wind…" She was rambling now. In her element, there was no holding her.
"Get to the point!" Usopp urged.
"I know these seas like the back of my hand." She spoke so quickly, it was hard to discern her words. Her mouth couldn't quite keep up with her brain. "I spent weeks drawing each island, each stream of water into my map, but I never bothered researching the details of the smaller islands. It must be one of those that Luffy has been brought to. At this point, I'm considering eleven islands. If we gather more data on the appearance of the Raiders, I could pinpoint it to only a few."
Zoro's chest lightened. This was it. They had a plan, something to work towards. "Let's get to it, then. The Captain's waiting."
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A/N: The motif of the white ship is inspired by Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy, as is the phenomenon of 'raiding', which is called 'forging' in the books. The backstory is made up by me. Please let me know what you thought of this chapter :)
