Wind drowned her ears in static, swallowing the faint whispers of disbelief that dwindled through the air. With eyes wide open she took an unsteady step back. Shock. Pain. Regret. She covered her mouth to contain the dread urging to break free, while the cold struck. Every beat of her heart filled her chest with ice. Wave after wave suffocating, until she felt completely numb.

The fog had faded and revealed what hid beneath. A sight that robbed her breath. She was barely able to look, just couldn't comprehend what was there and what wasn't. She wanted to run, to scream, to punch someone! As ice turned into fire, her fists tightened. Hot and raging it soared through her, leaving a void of fury she didn't know what to do with.

'Who's that?' Luffy had asked. The question wasn't that far-fetched. Nami couldn't blame him for not recognizing their swordsman. The boy who had shown was undoubtedly Zoro - a miniature version of himself. Same green hair, same face, only smaller. Incredibly small. Nevertheless, it was unbearable to think of them as the same person. What Zoro made Zoro wasn't there anymore. She tried to find some similarities. None - no resemblance whatsoever. Apart from their looks they had nothing in common. It felt like his essence was gone, an empty shell remaining on a shore far from home.

Zoro's swords lay mockingly at the child's feet, purposeless and unable to protect their master. With a body as fragile as glass, he was ready to shatter at the slightest threat. An irrational part of her resented him for his weakness, but this wasn't it. Nami's gaze kept coming back to the thick, iron collar. She couldn't take her eyes of the heavy steel that closed relentless around the delicate neck. Absentmindedly she rubbed her own. The sharp contrast of soft skin and harsh metal, as well as the implications in between, pulled at her heartstrings. Stiff and tense he stood there in his own truth. It sickened her. Who could do that to a child… to Zoro?

The screeching of a lighter roared in the eerie silence. The cook's fingers were shaking, his teeth grit. Every new attempt to light his cigarette sounded like nails on a chalkboard. Ultimately, he failed. Angry he shoved the full pack back into his pocket just to break them in the process. Too skinny, was the only thought occupying his mind.

"Urgh, what's with all the bandages?" Franky gasped.

Well yeah, and there was that… They were impossible to miss. Dripped in dirt and blood, one layer followed another. From head to toe, he was wrapped in them, each ounce of skin sealed off. There was barely any visible, except his face maybe. Dressed up like this it was hard to tell if his body was trapped or held together by them. Either way, it was painful to watch.

In the corner, Nami could see Robin frown. Her gaze switched back and forth, from bandages, soaked in a gruesome mix of reds, to the spotless cloth he was wearing - an ill-fitting shirt and a pair of shorts. The gap created was impossible to bridge. Dark blood stains were taunted by an almost clinical white. It painted a horrendous picture.

"Yikes!" Usopp mumbled. Not the most eloquent response, but it had to do. A dense lump of disgust and disbelieve formed in his throat that muted the rest of his vocabulary.

Yikes, indeed. Brook shook his head in misery. Everything about the boy screamed, help me. He didn't know that emptiness could fill a person. His bloodshot eyes were underscored by worrisome bags and suspiciously red-rimmed. The two dead holes stared past him. In a strange way, it was similar to his reflection in a mirror. He is nothing but a walking corpse.

"Zoro…?" Chopper choked unsure. Luffy tilted his head. In his voice was doubt as he vocalized what should have been obvious. The reality hit hard for all of them.

The child didn't react. Something was wrong. He was too pale, too calm, too…

"He's injured."

Careful, not to spook or startle him further, the little reindeer approached. Up close he could see a thin layer of sweat on his face and the tremble of tiny hands. There wasn't any time for him to react as the boy - Zoro, he reminded himself, suddenly went limp and crumbled to the ground.

"Doctor! Somebody call a doctor! We need a do-"

"Chopper!"

"Oh, right."

Thanks to his life-long experience he checked him over quickly. "Infirmary, now!"

Nothing. Nobody was moving. He looked up in confusion. Everyone appeared frozen in fear and overwhelmed by their own emotions. He understood… However, they had no time to waste! Zoro needed medical attention. With building frustration, he raised his chin to call out again. To his relieve it wasn't necessary.

"Here we go, laddie," Franky said gentle, doing the heavy lifting for his friends this once. Instantly Chopper was on his heels as they moved forward.

.

.

.

Slowly the infirmary door cracked open. After some long hours, Chopper finally emerged. He was tired beyond belief. Still in his monster form, his hands reached for the wooden door-frame. He was desperately aching for support. It required every bit of strength he possessed to drag himself back into the light.

Outside the world looked cold. The sun was shining against a harsh blue sky, though there seemed to be no color in anything. A salty breeze whirled through his furry coat. In the distance, he could hear an echo of laughter. It sounded hollow. It felt like being punched into the gut. There was a tightness wandering slowly upwards. He could already taste the bitterness creeping in. His throat closed and he allowed himself to panic. Finally, he hauled himself over the railing to empty his stomach.

The captain narrowed his eyes. In the resurfacing chaos, he had picked up his swordsman's treasure, not letting go since then. He was watching in quiet and the world kept on spinning.

AN:

It's been such a long time, but I haven't forgotten about this fanfiction! Still sorry for the wait. So let's buckle up and leave the realm of canon and into my own angsty version of Zoro's past, cause honestly, the guy deserves a little more backstory ;)

Anyway, thank you so much for your reviews, rebecca taylor, Fairykick, Dragon77, and Guest! Hope you're still liking this chapter. I tried to make it a little longer than the last one. Thanks for the advice ;)