This chapter is dedicated to NinjaShiek, who has been asking about this chapter since Robin's kidnapping. I hope she enjoys it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Please bear with me on the slow updates. School, anyone? Junior year, anyone? Yeah, thought so. Never go back. NEVAH!
Anyway. On to the story! Read, review, and enjoy. I do not own One Piece nor the Princess Bride.
Chapter 8 – The Pirate
"Catch your breath."
Robin released a small gasp as she sat heavily on a large rock. Her dress was ripped and shredded at the hem, the sequence falling from the fabric. She and the Man in Black stood on the platform of a high cliff, large rocks and boulders protruding from the hard ground. In the distance, the hills of Enies could barely be seen through the foggy sky. A river cut through the landscape below like a blue snake against a desert dune.
"If you'll release me, whatever you ask for ransom you'll get it, I promise you!" Robin cried, nursing her raw wrists. The rope binding her had bitten into her skin and red marks bracleted her hands.
The Man in Black, who had been fingering his swords, crossed his arms and leaned against a huge flat boulder opposite her. He laughed, a deep and chilling sound but yet airy and amused at the same time. Robin despised it. "And what is that worth, the promise of a woman? You're very funny."
"I was giving you a chance," Robin defiantly replied. "It doesn't matter where you take me. There is no greater hunter than Prince Lucci. He could track a falcon on a cloudy day. He will find you!"
His eyes became dark and unreadable. "You think your dearest love will save you?"
"I never said he was my dearest love!" Robin scoffed, horrified at even the suggestion of loving a man such as Lucci. "And yes, he will save me, that I know."
The Man in Black unhitched himself from the rock and approached her, his expression hard and wary. "You admit you do not love your fiancé."
"He knows I don't love him."
"Are not capable of love is what you mean."
Robin blinked, staring up at her new captor curiously. Not capable? She wondered. I certainly was capable many years ago, but not now. Never again shall I love. Still, she was angry that this man could even think of suggesting that something as fragile as a woman's heart could not be capable of something as delicate and heartwarming as love.
She stood, gripping her dress in tight hands. She strode to the Man in Black, thrusting herself right in his face, glaring at him with hard eyes. "I have loved far more than a killer like yourself could ever dream!"
He raised his hand sharply as if to slap her, and she turned her head to lessen the blow, squeezing her eyes together tightly and biting her lip. Still, the blow did not fall, and she slowly opened her eyes to face him again.
"That was a warning," he said, his tone suggesting him as deeply annoyed. "Next time my hand flies, it won't miss. Where I come from there are penalties when a woman lies."
Robin backed away, resuming her spot on the rock. "Where do you come from?"
The man turned away, staring out at the Enies landscape as a sudden wind blew loose ends of his bandanna around his neck. "Nowhere. I don't have a place to return to."
Robin looked to her boots. "I see. Neither do I. It appears we have something in common."
There was silence on the man's end. He kept his arm resting on the hilts of his three swords, a habit of his she presumed. Still, he didn't appear to be a demon on the outside, merely a human like everyone else. However, he had also defeated Kaku, Luffy and Spandam all single handedly. This man was no one to be trifled with.
They did not speak for another minute before the Man in Black finally turned, gripping her arm tightly. "We'll move on," he said, and they once again began running along the high cliff. Robin didn't know where they were going, but she knew Lucci would come for her soon, and this nightmare would be over.
~X~X~X~
Lucci laid a hand against the lavender-haired man's neck. No pulse beat under his fingers, and his skin was cold. His last laugh was an eerie sight on the dead man's face. The Prince looked over, his eyes resting on the small white container resting between the two half-empty wine goblets.
He picked it up gingerly, careful not to touch the substance. He raised it to his nose, taking a whiff. No odor whafted from the container, which could only mean one thing.
"Iocane," he announced, placing the poison back where he had found it for any unfortunate soul. "I'd bet my life on it."
Lucci stood, his expert eyes roving over the site. "And there are the princess's footprints!" he pointed out, and sure enough, impressions in the grass led away from the scene and continuing on toward Enies. "She's alive, or was an hour ago. If she is dead when I find her, I will be very put out."
The prince once again mounted his horse, and he with his royal company galloped after the princess and whomever had captured her.
~X~X~X~
Robin and the Man in Black stopped for another respite alongside a deep gully, several yards below them. On either side stood mighty trees, their leaves already turning color so the land was alight with the aura of autumn. Though the two travelers paid the sight no mind, and they simply caught their breath.
"Rest." Said the Man in Black, setting Robin down on a fallen log. He ignored her then, walking off a few paces. She contemplated running, but the sign that he had moved away proved that he knew she wouldn't escape. Even if she did, Robin wouldn't get far before he recaptured her.
"I know who you are," she said. "Your cruelty reveals everything." He turned to face her, arms crossed. "You're the Dread Pirate Mihawk, aren't you!?"
He grinned, spreading his arms wide in a mock bow. "With pride. What can I do for you?"
"You can die slowly, cut into a thousand pieces." Robin growled. Now that she had finally discovered his identity, anger had begun building inside her. This was the man who five years ago wrenched out her heart and crushed it, the man who murdered Zoro out at sea, the man who killed her love.
"Tch," he muttered. "Hardly complimentary. "Why unleash your venom on me?"
"You killed my love," was all Robin could say, the hatred and resentment building up inside her. But only sadness stopped her from lashing out, sadness at knowing Zoro would not want to her avenge him. He had led a good life and wouldn't want Robin to ruin hers for his sake.
"It's possible," said Mihawk dismissively. "I've killed a lot of people." He began pacing, walking slowly around behind her. "Who was this love of yours? Ugly, rich, a stupid Prince of Retardia?" He sat a crevice between two thick braches on a fallen tree.
"No!" Robin whipped around, the anger slowly draining from her body. "He was a farm boy. Poor." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "Poor and perfect. With eyes like the sea after a storm." Zoro's smiling image came to her, appearing just as he had when he left. His green eyes were alight with a gentle happiness, and she suddenly felt a pressure behind her eyes. She blinked away the tears and continued. "Oh the high seas your ship attacked, and the Dread Pirate Mihawk never takes prisoners and never leaves survivors."
"I can't afford to make exceptions," said Mihawk in an explanatory tone. "I mean once word leaks out that a pirate's gone soft, people begin to disobey you and then it's all work, work, work, all the time. I hate working."
"You mock my pain!" Robin's voice cracked, and a single tear escaped its duct, carving a shining path down her face.
"Life is pain, Highness," Mihawk interrupted. "Anyone who says different is selling something." The pirate rose, once again pacing back around to her front. "I think I remember this farm boy of yours. "This would be, what, five years ago?" Robin said nothing, only staring at a single spot on the horizon and avoiding his gaze. "Does it bother you to hear?"
"Nothing you can say will upset me."
"He died well, if that pleases you." Mihawk continued. His voice had lost its sharp edge, and now assumed a sadder tone. "No bribe attempts or pathetic blubbering. He simply said, 'please. Please, I need to live.'" He turned to face her. "It was the please that caught me. I asked him what was so important for him here. 'A girl,' he replied. And he proceeded to tell of a girl with surpassing beauty and faithfulness. I can only assume he meant you."
Zoro, Robin wept internally, yet kept her face passive. Hearing the tale of his last moments, that he had been thinking of her, warmed her soul. She held a hand to her heart, bowing her head. Yet Mihawk had not completed his tale, and continued.
"You should thank me for destroying him before he found out what you really are."
Robin rose, her back straight and chin high. "What what am I?" she questioned, daring him to reply.
Mihawk dared, his voice regaining its harsh component, and unless she was mistaken, anger. "Faithfulness he spoke of, your enduring faithfulness. Now tell me truly, when you found out he was gone, did you get engaged to your prince at the same hour, or did you wait a whole week out of respect for the dead!?"
"You mocked me once, never do it again!" She yelled. "I died that day!"
A horse's whinny suddenly cut through their conversation, and Mihawk turned. Robin followed his gaze, and she could see ten horses cantering on a hilltop behind them from whence they had come. She immediately recognized Prince Lucci's deep velvet traveling cloak, and Count Jabra's yellow riding tunic.
Mihawk seemed fixated on the oncoming royals, one hand moving to his sword. Robin glared at the back of his head, all her anger once again fueled by his mockery. "And you can die too for all I care!?
She shoved him, and the pirate lost his footing. He fell to the side, tumbling quickly down the hill toward the gulley. He shouted something, and it took Robin a moment to realize what it was. The words were long and drawn out as he tumbled down into the ravine, but still her heart stopped.
"As…. You…. Wish!"
She began to jump after him, but something made her stop. He could of course had forced those words from Zoro's lips before killing him and planned pose as her love to win her trust. But no, she could see it now, just barely. Mihawk's bandanna had fallen, and she could easily see the flash of green where it had detatched.
"Oh, what have I done?" she cried, and wasted no time to jump after him. Her body hit the ground and she let out a pained grunt. Robin twisted in ways she never dreamed possible, tumbling and rolling uncontrollably down the steep hill. Her head pounded and her body ached everywhere. She could hear him grunting and groaning as he also experienced the same.
He finally came to a stop at the bottom of the gully, spread-eagled and eyes closed. Robin tumbled over in a last sumersault before sliding a few more feet and stopping. The world twisted and warped around her, and her head pounded with headache. Robin's entire body felt bruised, and it pained her to move. But…
~X~X~X~
Lucci glared down at the small clearing where he had distinctly seen two people, one in black and the other a dark-haired woman in a bright red dress. Princess Robin had been there, and she had suddenly vanished. "They disappeared," he informed his squadron. "He must have seen us closing in. Which might account for his panicking due to error. Unless I am wrong, and I'm never wrong, they're heading straight into the Fire Swamp."
Jabra let out a bark of laughter. "You think that scrawny cook would be screaming out his pathetic professions right now?"
"Yes, probably," said Lucci distractedly.
"That punk wanted to come along so bad he grabbed my leg and wouldn't let go," the Count continued. "But luckily he has a dartboard right on his face! I worked on my aim, and it's amazing. Kid was screaming."
"Not now, Jabra," interrupted Lucci. He kicked his horse into a gallop, and the group continued forward.
~X~X~X~
Robin looked over, and she could barely make out the dark form of the pirate a few feet away. He, too, looked dazed, but well enough to pull himself up and shift over to her, pulled Robin into a gentle sitting position. Her vision stopped spinning, and she immediately recognized the green hair, high eyebrows and warm eyes, though now they were lined with a cold fury. But still, he was here, and she didn't care.
"Can you move at all?" Zoro whispered, a finger stroking the line of her jaw.
"Move?" Robin gasped. You're alive. If you want, I could fly." She wrapped her arms around him, and the two reunited lovers embraced tightly, never to let go. Robin reveled in the feeling of once again having his warm body pressed against hers, and she finally released all the tears inside her, happy and angry.
Zoro finally pulled away, running his fingers through her long hair. "I told you to believe in me, and I would come," he said. "Why didn't you wait for me?"
"I thought you were dead," Robin cried.
Zoro wiped a tear with his thumb. "Death can't stop me. All it can do is delay me for a while."
Robin stared into his eyes, folding her fingers around the back of his muscular neck. "I will never doubt again."
"There won't ever be a need."
They leaned closer, and Zoro pressed his lips against hers. She ace –
"Aw no."
~X~X~X~
"What is it?" Garp asked, annoyed once again at being interrupted.
"They're kissing again." Ace wrinkled his nose. "Do we have to hear the kissing part?"
"You know, someday maybe you won't mind as much."
Ace took a bite of his peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a gracious lunch made by his mother. "Skip to the Fire Swamp! That sounded awesome."
Grandpa Garp let out an irritated sigh, turning a few pages. "Fine, fine. You're sick, so I'll appease you." He ran his finger down the page. "Ah, here we go."
Zoro and Robin raced along the ravine floor…
Review with a smiley face if you caught the reference to Retardia. Congratulations, you get a cookie!
And if you have questions about Mihawk's story about Zoro's "death" then I shall explain it. The original line is "'True Love,' he replied." I changed it to "a girl" because I have a special plan for that little phrase. Don't you worry about it! Not for a while yet, though.
Anyway, I would really appreciate reviews. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.
Next Time:
Robin and Zoro have finally been reunited, but their reunion will be cut short because Prince Lucci is hot on their trail. Desperate, Zoro and Robin race into the Fire Swamp, where terrors beyond imagining await them. Chapter 9 – The Fire Swamp
