A/N: Hercules slayed the hydra. He also slayed a lion. Zoro has a single sword draw that is "lion's song." Any move related to Helena will have some sort of sun reference. Black before an attack usually = armament haki. And that is how I named his attack in this chapter.
Also, I hope Helena's twitterpation makes you giggle. I giggled uproariously while writing it.
Ch. 24 – Black Sun: Lion of Ilium
A few minutes prior, Circe had galloped through the halls of the palace astride Poor Bruce, who had been turned back into a horse. She still hadn't caught up with Aldolpho, but she was quickly gaining on him as she fired her revolver after him.
"Come back here, you varmint!" she screeched. "I'll mount yer head over my fireplace, you see that I don't! That's my promotion you're running off with, yeh groveling mutt!"
Aldolpho obviously couldn't hear her, what with those blasted duck feathers stuck in his ears. And he couldn't respond to her taunting with his mouth full of gosling
, but he was starting to slow. Those wolf legs of his could only outrun a horse for so long.
He led her to the front of the palace, bounding down the front steps ten at a time. Heedless of the danger to Bruce's ankles, she spurred the terrified marine onward after her prey.
About halfway down Bruce tripped despite all his best efforts, bucking his rider. She flew through the air head over heels, a great meteor of fuzzy red hair, flapping white coat and curses. She landed a few seconds later in an empty topiary pot at the foot of the palace steps.
Thankfully, it was a large pot, and while she broke it, it had been full of rich, fresh soil, which softened the impact.
She pulled herself upright, spitting out compost as she went. In this unattractive state she looked up to see one of the most gorgeous men she'd ever laid eyes on.
"Well, what do you know, mon," he said. "The idiot was right. You are here at the palace. I mean, ehem, there are angels hanging around the palace. Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?"
Circe wasn't one to get flustered around attractive men, she reminded herself. No sir, not her. Anyway, she was a married woman, even if her city-slicker of a husband was a dunderhead.
"You look familiar," she said, scrambling to her feet and dusting herself off. "Have I seen yeh around before?"
The man flashed a gorgeous smile at her. "Maybe we met in a dream somewhere."
Circe blinked at him. "Pardon?"
"I'm sorry. Maybe that was a bit forward of me, mon," the man went on. "You seem like a pretty down to earth kind of woman. Not the type for silly romance, in any case, even if you do come tumbling from the sky."
"Oh, not at all! Every woman dreams, I mean, uh…" Circe babbled girlishly.
"It's all right," the man went on, walking casually toward her. "I find down to earth women refreshing. You always know where you stand with them, mon. But if I may be so bold, you have the most stunning eyes."
If it were a competition of stunning eyes, the man had her beat by a long shot. His cerulean gaze bored into hers for a moment as he took her calloused hand and kissed it.
"Aw, stop it. A young feller like you has got ta have better things ta do than flatter an old timer like me," she exclaimed, flushing.
"You seem distressed," he insisted, "Can I help you with something?"
"That's, uh, awful kind'a yeh, sir, I uh…" Circe shook her head quickly to try and break the spell he seemed to have put on her. "That wolf that just ran off. He pilfered somethin' important'a mine. I hafta get it ba…"
But she never finished the sentence. As she turned to point toward where Aldolpho had gone, Calypso had stabbed her in the back.
Well, that fool is good for something, Zoro thought, noticing that he wasn't the only one to have regained his human form. Helena's army had taken up their posts on the wall, and were helping to repel the invaders. Instead of pouring boiling water or tossing pots and pans and other household items at the enemy, the soldiers brought bows, spears and slings. They had a much better chance of keeping the Navy back now.
Zoro turned his focus back to his own fight. Regent still lay on his back, wriggling side to side like an upside down turtle as he struggled to lift his girth back into a standing position.
A soft groan drew his attention downward, where Helena had finally regained consciousness. "What just happened?" she asked groggily, though it was unclear who she was addressing. She leveled her gaze on Regent. "He's down! Now's my chance!"
She scrambled to her feet only to stumble seconds later. With a sword still clasped in each hand, Zoro caught her carefully as she went down.
"Watch it," he said, "It looks like you've had your bell rung pretty good there."
She let out a little squeak when she realized who had caught her, hiding her face against him.
"What? What's wrong?" he asked in a panic.
"You're not wearing your mask," she mumbled into his chest.
"Oh, shoot, did you see?" he started as she shook her head into him. Then he realized how stupid it all was, given the circumstances. "Seriously, woman!" he snapped, "Is that all you can think of at a time like this!"
She had apparently noticed the mask stuck in his belt, because she made a grab for it. Unfortunately, it caught on the knit of his haramaki. When she went to yank the ceramic mask away, she unraveled and tore the already woebegone bellyband noticeably before slapping the still yarn entangled mask onto his face without looking.
In her rush, she'd stuck it on him upside down, and hit him in his good eye. He flailed, dropping her and his swords.
She let out another little squeak when she hit the ground. "Sorry! Sorry! I'm sorry!" she insisted, trying to help him flip the mask the right way, which only made things worse. "I didn't mean to tear your bellyband! I can make you another one…!"
By the time Zoro had sheathed his swords and had his face back in order, Regent was hissing out a laugh. He'd managed to use some of his heads like arms, pushing himself upright by clawing into the street with his teeth.
"Aw, Zoro, you made me miss my chance!" Helena chided sincerely. "He was down for the count!"
"I made you miss your chance?" Zoro demanded incredulously.
"Well, if you'd just remembered to put on your mask!" Helena insisted. She tried to get to her feet again, only to have to take a knee. She didn't look pleased.
"You're still a bit addled," Zoro observed, then put in under his breath, "…in more ways than one…"
"I heard that," Helena retorted, glaring at him.
Zoro placed a hand on her shoulder, his keen gaze focused on the approaching hydra. "Anyway, you've had your chance to beat him. Now it's my turn…"
"But…!" Helena started, trying again to rise, but he kept his hand firmly on her shoulder.
"I insist," he said in a quiet, stern voice. "When you get your senses back, you need to go back to the wall. With your General down, you've got an army to lead, Your Majesty."
"That's what a Lieutenant General is for," Helena told him. "Achilles has it handled."
"You made Achilles Lieutenant General?" Zoro said with a start, "When he and Hector don't get along?"
"Hector's the one who appointed him," Helena said shrugging, but then she grabbed her head with a wince.
"Alright, fine," Zoro said, frowning at her as he pulled his bandana from its place on his arm. "If I'm not done kicking Regent's scaly butt by the time you're ready to fight again, you can help me beat him. Deal?"
"Fine," Helena grumped, flopping down to sit cross-legged on the cobbles.
"Good," Zoro said, turning back to face Regent as he tied the bandana over his hair. He tossed her the split haramaki, adjusting his swords so that they stayed firmly in his belt, "Now just sit back and watch your man work."
"Now just sit back and watch your man work," Helena muttered to herself in a stupider version of Zoro's voice. Never mind that she had used that exact line on him when he was stuck as a fox earlier. She hadn't realized how condescending it sounded to someone reduced to sitting on the sidelines. "Look at me, I'm Zoro. I'm so manly and tough with my macho, bushido attitude, and my three swords, and my…rippling…muscles…"
She got distracted for a moment, watching him swagger up to Regent with his usual air of confidence. He hadn't needed to change after the party like she had; he'd been smart enough to wear practical clothes, after all. He had ditched his hooded jacket a while back though, and the fitted black t-shirt he had on underneath left little to the imagination. With the haramaki gone, she even caught sight of his washboard abdominals before he turned.
"Hey, Split-brain," Zoro called up at his foe while Helena dealt with a small nosebleed. "Why don't you pick on somebody your own size?"
Regent made a show of looking around for someone bigger. All his heads turned to look right, then left, swiveling far above Zoro.
"Oh…"
"…wait!" two different heads said, while a few more went on:
"General…"
"…Hector…"
"…is ssstill…"
"…down…"
"…for…"
"…the.."
"…count."
More heads spoke together in their delayed echo as together they narrowed their gaze on him: "I I I guessss guessss guessss I'll I'll I'll sssettle sssettle sssettle with with with you you you, little little little frog frog frog!"
A smirk twitched across Zoro's face. "This little frog grew up," he said, narrowing his gaze. "I now know how big the world is."
He pulled out all three of his swords, but instead of putting Wado Ichimonji in his mouth like he usually did, he clamped his teeth down on a new sword, one that Helena didn't recognize. Instead, he spun his wedding blade in his left hand; his stronger arm.
"Yontoryu," he pronounced, letting the blade gain momentum.
Yontoryu? Helena thought, Since when has he done anything in a four-sword style?
"Guiding Light," he continued, "Sword of the Sun Queen!"
The whirling sword moved so fast, it acted as two. The speed of its spin made it glow white as he launched himself into the swaying sea of hydra heads, cutting a clean swath right down the middle.
What was he thinking? Cutting the middle heads meant granting Regent even more powers!
Regent looked shocked, however, at Zoro's bold move. He'd left nothing but blackened neck stumps behind, and both he and Regent seemed confident that that is how they would remain.
"You made a mistake when you showed me that cauterizing your wounds would keep your heads from growing back," Zoro informed him, smirking.
"What on earth are you doing, mon?" Calypso asked Helena, suddenly standing beside her. She had been so intent on the battle she hadn't noticed his approach.
"Shut up!" she insisted, giggling and blushing as she snuggled the threadbare haramaki to her chest. She had gotten to her feet and was wiggling back and forth like a certain reindeer when he was happy. "I'm not flattered one bit that he made up a move for me too!"
"Ugh!" Calypso groaned. "You two are made for each other."
"You think so?" she giggled, still doing her happy dance. Then she seemed to realize what he'd just acknowledged, because she snapped her attention to him. "Hey, you finally admitted it!"
"What? No, mon!" Calypso cried. "I didn't mean…"
"So does this mean you'll finally leave us alone?" Helena asked, grinning. "Or more to the point, that you'll finally leave me alone?"
Calypso looked genuinely angry for a moment at having been caught in his slip up. He soon regained his composure, however. "If you want a man who can fight like you, remember that machete style is a lot closer to fencing than kendo," he pointed out, winking at her.
"I never wanted a man who's the same as me," she reminded him. "I wanted one who's better."
"Then watch one at work," Calypso said, turning toward Regent and taking a step toward the battle with his hand on his swords.
Helena threw out an arm across his chest to stop him. Her discombobulation had passed, but after finally seeing Zoro's artistry on a grand scale once again, she wasn't about to interrupt him, or let Calypso do so.
"I already am," she said, gazing at Zoro with a wistful sigh.
Zoro eyed his enemy for a moment, strategizing his next move. Now that he'd gotten rid of the more troublesome of the heads, he wasn't particularly worried anymore, but how best to proceed?
"Yontoryu," he started again, "Guiding Light: Sword of the Sun Queen!"
It wasn't Zoro's most powerful move, but the heat was helpful with this particular devil fruit user. Unfortunately, Regent got wise, and allowed his powerful armament haki to spread protectively up his necks this time, bouncing Zoro back.
"Isssn't it sssweet…" One head hissed.
"…you claim ssshe…"
"…is your guiding light…"
"But, oh…"
"…you abandoned her here…"
"…didn't you?"
"And and and you'll you'll you'll abandon abandon abandon her her her again again again."
Zoro schooled his expression to remain neutral. It was obvious Regent was trying to throw him off his game. It wasn't about to work.
"You were lucky…"
"…with that move…"
"…the firssst time…"
"…pirate."
"You won't…
"…be ssso lucky…"
"…again."
Zoro's dark expression didn't change as he walked slowly toward Regent. The hydra now sort of resembled a Hawkmo – a reverse Mohawk, what with the way his long necks were now missing down the center. His outside heads circled him persistently, though, snapping at and goading him in turn.
"Do you…"
"…honessstly think…"
"…you can defeat me?"
"You and your crew…"
"…couldn't even make it…"
"…into the New World."
Though Regent kept yapping his jaws near Zoro's face, the vice admiral also kept edging away from the reticent swordsman. He never actually dared to sink his teeth in, which showed he was smarter than he looked.
In this way they circled one another as Regent went on:
"You think…
"…to keep…"
"…your lovely wife…"
"…and your sssweet daughter…"
"…from me?"
"They, who have alwaysss…"
"…rightfully been…"
"…the property…"
"…of dragonsss?" he snarled.
Zoro sheathed all of his swords, preparing himself. He let his hands trail along the hilts one at a time before they settled decisively on Shusui. As appropriate as it would be to use his wedding blade, or even the cursed kitetsu that had once tied he and Helena to a prophetic fate, he needed Shusui's strength.
"What does a Ssstraw Hat…"
"…truly value hisss family, anyway?"
"Your captain…"
"…couldn't even sssave…"
"…hisss brother."
Zoro's face darkened, the weight of Regent's verbal jabs finally showing in the downturn of the the swordsman's brow. The monster had said quite enough.
"Ittoryu; iai," Zoro pronounced calmly. Haki pulsed around his hands, darkening Shusui within its sheath. "Black Sun: Lion of Ilium."
When the hydra sensed what was coming, he covered his entire form with haki again. Strong haki. Helena had struggled so much because on top of solid dragon scales, Regent had the solid spirit of a Vice Admiral.
Zoro used the power of his draw, and performed a technique he rarely touched; a lunge. Single-handed, like a fencer, he thrust his sword forward. But unlike a fencer, he pushed extra momentum and haki into the blade with his free hand, palm jammed to the butt of the hilt.
It happened so fast, a vortex of air and energy spiraled around the blade, whipping back the circle of dragon heads around him. But he wasn't aiming for heads anymore. Zoro struck Regent dead in the center of his chest.
The scales and haki gave him some resistance, and the point of Zoro's blade pushed Regent back toward the sea. The Vice Admiral planted his feet, or tried to, his many disfigured faces snarling his discomfort.
A loud crack resounded as Regent's sternum gave way. Cracks appeared in his haki, the scales in his chest buckled, and at last the sword passed through. The intense vortex of energy finally found release through the end of Zoro's blade, wreaking havoc on Regent's insides and pulsating out into the harbor.
It was so strong it shattered the woven platform of wood and ice, releasing all of the Navy's ships. The water in the bay started to recede, pulling the fleet away from Ilium's shore.
Zoro reined in his haki enough to sheath the blade, allowing Regent to fall backwards into the ebbing ocean with a resounding splash.
"Hey, Baby-Snatcher," he said to the motionless form as it sank. "Shut your damn mouths."