Authors Note: 5 years later, an update? Uh… whoops. I haven't written in years, but figure I might as well finish what I started all those years ago! I'm traveling all next week, but then hope to finish up this story by the end of the year.
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And with a quiet splash, Zoro was gone. The crew watched him make his way to the shore, seeing his dark figure creep up over the sandy beach. He only stopped momentarily to shake the water from his mossy hair. Then he disappeared into the dark forest lining the beach.
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"How did it get so far…" Nami whimpered out, "I never though Zoro would actually… leave. And not like this" Never like this she thought, staring at Chopper huddled around Sanjis pierced leg.
A silence crept over the deck, nobody else had any words. Luffy stared at the spot that Zoro had occupied moments ago, his straw hat darkening his face. Usopp had sunk to the floor, tears spilled over Nami's cheeks, and Chopper frantically dressed Sanji's wound, noting that luckily the sword had not pierced any major tissue.
"He'll probably starve out in those woods" Sanji muttered bitterly with his jaw clenched. His leg throbbed painfully and his chest filled with anger, disappointment, and ultimately what he came to accept as sadness. Years of friendly squabbles – gone. Zoro and him had shouted hundreds of insults at each other and yet they were always just words. There was never actually truth behind any of them. "That bastard can't cook anything."
Minutes ticked by. Nobody acknowledging Sanjis remarks, letting them fade into the air. The waves quietly lapped against the side of the ship. The hush continued, only a few sniffles and mutters voiced. The crew could hear each other's breaths, some heavy, some quick. Time passed slowly for the straw hats.
Where did it go wrong?
What will we do without Zoro?
Holding him back?
Was he always like this?
Could I have done anything?
What now? Will this emptiness haunt our crew forever? How do we move forward? What will Zoro do? Will we see him again?
"This was my fault" a voice finally whispered. Slender fingers gripped the edge of the straw hat and pulled it down further. "I failed him. I failed as a captain. I failed as a friend" Luffy chocked out between tears. King of the Pirates… I can't even keep my crew together, I can't even hold onto my friends.
"Don't you dare say that!" Sanji shouted. "Not for one second should you think that!"
The crew had rarely seen Luffy cry. The young captain held it in the best he could, but steadily his sobs spilled out.
"Zoro has always been an ass. He was our friend yes, but a stubborn, cocky, ass. You saw what he did tonight, what he's done the last few days. None of that is on you Luffy."
"He wasn't always like that." Luffy mumbled. "He was my nakama. Our nakama. Something changed, something I did…"
"No…" Sanji echoed back, "You are the best damn captain out there Luffy. None of us would have followed you this far, this long if you weren't. Don't let any shit-swordsman convince you otherwise."
No matter the kind words the crew responded back to Luffy, his tears quietly continued. He made his way over to the head of the ship, his favorite spot, and sat there. He stayed for hours watching the waves crash as the rest of the crew found their way to a night without any sleep.
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Zoro truly had no idea where he was going. Making his leave off the ship was surprisingly easy. He had his swords, that was all he really needed in this world. He had made it to the beach and disappeared out of sight. Part of him wanted to turn around, for at least one last glance at the ship. But he couldn't do it. The voice in his head pushed him on, forward, forward, forward. It wasn't until he reached a mile into the trees that he finally stopped.
So that happened… That actually happened. He took a few stale breaths, willing his mind to catch up and process the present. The things I said, the things I did… those happened. He vividly remembered looking down the edge of his sword – seeing Nami's confusion, seeing Sanji's leg, seeing Luffys face – Luffys face should have brought pain to Zoro. There was fear there, but so much sadness. A deep hurt was riddled across Luffys face and no matter how strong he tried to sound telling Zoro to leave, his face read it all. Yet, Zoro felt no shame. He did not feel Luffys pain. Years of looking into that face… and it ended with nothing but emptiness for Zoro.
Do I make my own path? Zoro's mind had finally caught up. There was no pressing dread to the future. Suddenly, his dream seemed more obtainable, so much closer.
He wandered aimlessly through the forest. Do I return to bounty hunting? How do I even find a ship on this tiny island? Will I have to wait for the next log pose to set here and board their ship? Logistics were never Zoro's strong suit and that became very clear as he began to think more about his future.
Doflamingo. The man crept back into Zoro's mind. His face was so clear. I just left that crew because I felt dependent, why would I want to join another crew?
But the more he thought about Doflamingo, the more it made sense. There was his ride off the island, to new opportunities. Maybe he would stay with Doflamingo, maybe he wouldn't. Doflamingo already showed he respected Zoro's strength – that should be enough. For now.
Zoro stopped, looking around at his surroundings. How did I get to that clearing where I met Doflamingo earlier… Was it that tree? No, maybe the tree was a bit taller? That area could be familiar.
But every step his brain wanted him to make, his body somehow went the opposite. His thoughts drifted, letting his legs lead the way.
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Doflamingo perched on the edge of his deck, waiting. Gently rubbing his fingers together, as if feeling the dark spore's presence still there - Leading Zoro closer and closer still. His crew bustled behind him, but Doflamingo heard none of them. None of them could compare to the demon swordsman. His eyes were on the tree's in front of his ship, waiting for the moment his new crew member would come to him.
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The next morning on the Thousand Sunny was likely the quietest it had ever had. Sanjii made a flat and flavorless breakfast, having no energy to provide the usual delicacy's the crew normally got. Nobody seemed to notice, or even eat much. Each person was accounted for, slowly picking away at their food. Luffy tried his hardest to smile through the breakfast, but his enthusiasm was painfully fake and he gave up shortly. Zoro's empty seat emphasized the void that now lingered over the ship.
"I looked up to him…" Chopper finally broke the silence. "We can't not talk about this. It's not healthy. I looked up to him!" He repeated with tears wetting his fur.
"Me too…" Usopp agreed, nodding his head solemnly. "I want to be a brave pirate of the sea and that's what he was."
"He saved my life so many times. And I never thanked him." Nami muttered out.
"He is a violent traitor!" Sanjii shouted. "You can reminisce all these things about him but it doesn't change what he did or what he said!" The cook threw his plate on the table and stormed out of the kitchen.
Another hushed silence fell over the ship.
I wonder if the mood will always be this thick from now on. Nami wondered sadly. She scooped up Sanji's plate and took it to the sink.
"I will clean out Zoro's area after this." Robin continued. "It's not much, but I think the sooner we can allow ourselves to move forward from this the better it will be. For all of us." Her eyes lingered over Luffy who gave a single nod. He was no longer swordsman-san, he was Zoro.
"I'll help" chimed in Usopp. "Me too," Followed Chopper.
And so, the three of them turned their dishes in and made their way to Zoro's room. It was probably the smallest on the ship, him not having many possessions or need for space. There was simply a hammock, miscellaneous weights, and a chest.
Immediately upon entering the room it felt thick. As if the trio had walked through a musty corridor. Robin half expected to see fog, but there was nothing. The room had no unusual odor, aside from the lingering sweat smell leftover from Zoro's workouts. But the room felt wrong. Not wrong because Zoro wasn't there – but wrong like a heavy presence sat on their shoulders once they walked through the door way.
"Do you all feel that?" Robin asked quietly, scanning the room.
"Oh my gosh yes, I was worried that was just me." Usopp answered, his hands slightly shaking.
"It feels… murky in here. Almost dark…" Chopper said. "Is Zoro haunting his old room?"
Robin said nothing, leaving the two in the doorway fearing the swordsman's ghost. Robin wandered around the small room, feeling the walls, the corners, opening the chest full of clothes and sword equipment.
"I guess Zoro has quite a few dust bunny's in here." Usopp remarked, running his finger along the edge of the hammock. His finger was coated in a black residue.
Robin turned around. "I don't see any dust, it seems fairly clean."
"Nah, look at this!" Usopp responded, lifting his black finger so Robin could see.
"Don't move Usopp." Robin said slowly, taking slow steps towards Usopp. Usopps heart skipped a beat and he froze in place.
Robin gingerly picked up his hand and lifted the black markings on Usopps finger closer to her eyes. "There is no doubt this is where the dark energy in the room is coming from."
"What – what do you mean?" Usopp said, his finger and body beginning to shake.
Robin continued to twist Usopps finger around, staring at the dust. "I've read of this before. It's from a dark spore."
"A dark spore?" Chopper asked.
"Yes…Here, Usopp. Wipe your finger on this." She said, passing him a small cloth she kept on her. Usopp was all too ready to oblige and rid himself of the mysterious powder.
Robin darted to her room around the corner from Zoro's and began digging in a pile of books. "Ah, this one." She remarked, pulling out a new looking book. She riffled through the pages, her eyes glancing quickly at each one until she stopped, finding what she was looking for. "This explains it… Get the crew together."
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The morning had come and Zoro found himself growing hungry. He cursed himself for not even packing a bag before storming off the ship. He had found no game to hunt either, the woods seemed sparse. But he kept walking, his feet somehow knowing where to lead him.
Eventually, the tree's thinned out and the rocky ground gave way to a soft beach. Emerging from the shade, Zoro found himself staring at Doflamingo's ship. Well isn't that convenient. Zoro thought absently.
"Hello Zoro" a familiar voice called. "Are you ready to leave now?"
Zoro looked up at the curious man sitting on the deck. A large feather boa, a ridiculous outfit, yet no more ridiculous than the outfits Zoro had gotten used to seeing Franky in. Doflamingo's legs were crossed with his body leaning casually over the banister.
"I'm ready."
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"The dark spore," Robin began as the crew settled in around her, "was originally an experiment by the government. It was invented in times of peace to convince the public of the need for the government, of the need for the marines, of the need for somebody to rule. The spore is small, the size of a coin really. The specifics of how it is made are vague, a very classified secret. But this book mentions its effects. The government would insert this spore into the victim and they would become captured by their own darkness."
"Captured by their own darkness?" Nami asked back, confused.
"Their darkest thoughts would now be on the surface on their mind. Jealousy, anger, hatred, pride. The spore could reach into somebody's mind and make these their focus. Every word they heard would trigger them to think in a manner they might not usually. Most normal people that the government experimented on would turn to crime, signaling to the public the importance of having somebody to keep rule and keep these 'bad men' in line."
"How awful… what happened to those experimented on?" Chopper said.
"The book, cruelly, describes them as weak and says that they would die shortly after. But when used with somebody strong of will, they could be manipulated by the spore. With more fights, more frustration, more opportunities for the spore to trigger those emotions, the closer the spore would link to a person. Eventually consuming their mind and leaving no room for anything but that darkness."
Luffy finally broke his silence. "And you think Zoro had this?"
"Yes, I do. Usopp found this odd black dust in his bedroom that gave off a powerful aura. As the spore adjusts to its host, it will occasionally shed out powder until it refines itself to fit perfectly." Robin said.
"Doflamingo… is a Shichibukai" Sanji said quietly.
"Why does that matter?" Nami asked.
"If this is some experiment of the governments, he would have access. That's why he is here on this island. That's why he met with Zoro. This whole time, the spore, the fight, all of it was to get Zoro" Sanji built up, his voice getting more and more animated.
"How do we fix it?" Luffy stared at Robin, afraid to give himself hope. Hope that it wasn't him as a captain. Hope that Zoro could – would- come back.
"I do not know. The book doesn't say much more than that."
"Then I guess we need to go get our swordsman back and figure it out!" Luffy said passionately, standing up and filling the crew with an energy they had not felt in weeks.
"We may be too late…" Usopp said, holding a pair of binoculars to his eyes. "I just saw Doflamingo's ship – and it's sailing away. And I bet Zoro is on it."
"Then after it!" Luffy shouted. "We need to get Zoro back, tell him about this spore-
"We can't leave yet!" Nami interjected. All eyes flashed to her. "The log pose needs another day to set. If we set sail now, we will never get to the next island."
"Then we follow Doflamingo's ship!" Luffy demanded, wrapping his hand around Nami's arm, his eyes pleading with her.
"We can't." Nami struggled out. "We wouldn't make it half a day."
"So, we are just letting that bastard sail away with our shit swordsman?" Sanji snapped out.
Usopp gave a slight coughing noise. "Guys, I can't see their ship anymore."