Title:The Adventures of young Roronoa Zoro (Part 3)
Theme:Prince
Claim:Zoro
Words: 2276
Rating: K+
Warnings:Pre-canon Zoro, non-canonical randomness. Spoilers for Chapter ~589, possibly. Third in a series.
Disclaimers:I don't own One Piece.

After the battle

"Oi!" the captain of the Red-Haired Pirates called out as a man clad in a long hooded cloak strode by him. "Stop stomping around and brooding and have something to drink!"

"I wish I could have your sense of irresponsibility," the man replied, "but I have to see to the slaves."

"Doc'll take care of them!" Shanks replied cheerfully. "Besides, the Tenryuubito drink uncommonly good wine. Here."

Reluctantly, the man took the bottle offered. "What will you do with this ship?"

"You can have it, with our compliments. I'll be glad to get rid of you freeloaders," Shanks replied airily. "Besides, it has a dragon for a figurehead. Fitting."

The man inclined his head. "You have our thanks for your valuable contribution to our cause."

"You're more than welcome. What would I do with a ship that big, anyway?"

"True."

There was a pause, before Shanks inquired, "What do you plan to do with your captives?"

"Some of them will doubtless have to be killed," the man said dispassionately. "The Tenryuubito is already dead, which removes one obstacle. There's also the man named Kilnore - the World Government negotiator - whom we'll be interrogating. He probably knows a lot of interesting information. The Marines can choose to be executed or to join us - we need some to man the ship. The slaves, of course, will be given a choice of joining us or being relocated."

"You sound quite bloodthirsty, my friend. But I know you will be fair."

"And what will you do, with your princely charge?" The cloaked head nodded in the direction of Shanks' cabin on the adjacent ship.

"My charge, hmm? I'm surprised you didn't want him."

"I have no love for the royalty or nobility of this world, but his kingdom happens to be one of the few that actually possesses a just king. And from what I have heard, it is clear he has taken after his father."

"Will his kingdom possess a king much longer?"

"Probably not, but that isn't something you or I can do anything about at this moment."

Shanks nodded. "Well! We'll drop him off where he chooses, I suppose. He's too young for a life of piracy. Especially not on the Grand Line."

"Of course. You plan to head there immediately?"

"The Marines will be after our heads once they find out about the Tenryuubito. We'll have to make a run for it. For that matter, what about you and this ship? It's a bit big to hide in East Blue," Shanks waved his hand at the Marine vessel, so many times the size of his own.

"I plan to take it to the one place they won't expect. Goa."

"Goa? Into the dragons' den? Oh, well, since it's you, why not?"

"Why not, indeed? I suspect we will find many more recruits to our cause there."

"This is where we part ways, then."

"Good luck on the Grand Line."

"Good luck in Goa. You'll need it more than me," Shanks laughed. He held out his bottle. "To freedom," he toasted.

A faint smile appeared on the man's tattooed face. "To freedom," he echoed, and drank.

"Cap'n!" The call came from Shanks' own ship.

"Yeah, Yasopp?"

"The boy's awake. Not being very cooperative, but he seems lively enough. I told him a bit about what happened."

"What did he say?"

"He didn't actually say anything. Apparently doesn't like the look of us pirates. But I could tell he was disappointed at not getting a crack at the Tenryuubito himself. Bloodthirsty little devil. But he seemed really glad to know the slaves were all right."

"All right, I'll talk to him. Coming?" Shanks looked towards Dragon.

"I'll be outside."

"Suit yourself. Come on, Benn." Shanks and Benn jumped across, and entered the captain's cabin.

"Hello there," Shanks greeted Zoro cheerily. "My name's Shanks, I'm the captain of the pirate crew that attacked your ship."

When Zoro only pouted in response, Shanks raised an eyebrow. "Hey, the way I heard it, we came in the nick of time to save your hide from a real tanning. Least you could do is be friendly."

"But you're pirates," Zoro said reluctantly.

"So what if we're pirates? Pirates are some of the friendliest people around."

"Pirates are scum. Father says so."

"Why's that?"

"Pirates come and attack our coastline every few months. They steal from our people and hurt them. They're bad guys."

"Ah. Well, there's pirates, and then there's pirates," Shanks said wisely. "And you're lucky these pirates happened to be delayed in East Blue long enough to rescue you from that mess you'd gotten yourself into."

"I guess," Zoro admitted. He glanced at Shanks' sword, his enthusiasm overcoming his reservations. "You're the swordsman, right? The one who sliced through all those cannonballs? You know, you're really strong! Even though...you have only one arm," he noticed, slightly belatedly.

"So I've been told," Shanks chuckled. "And you're one to talk. You almost sawed your own hands off, trying to get out of those handcuffs! Only thing I can't do is use two-handed styles. If you'd persisted, you wouldn't be able to use any sword style at all."

Zoro scowled, but his curiosity was piqued. "There are two-handed sword styles?"

"That's right."

"Wow! Can I learn them?"

Shanks chuckled. "Is that your dream, then? To become a swordsman?"

"Not just any swordsman. The world's greatest swordsman! I'll become so strong, I'll be able to protect my country even from bullies like the Tenryuubito!" Zoro resolved on the spot.

"World's greatest swordsman, eh?" Shanks laughed. "Wonder what Mihawk will make of this one. Eh, Benn?"

Zoro turned to look at the tall, imposing figure of the Red-Haired Pirates' first mate, who had been listening quietly all this while. "I think he would say that's quite an ambition," Benn said. "But you do realise that means never returning home again?"

Zoro's jaw dropped at Benn's pronouncement. "Huh? How come?"

"The world currently thinks young Prince Zoro is dead, killed by pirates. If you suddenly turn up alive, you'll have a lot to answer for everything that's happened," Benn explained. "They may let you off if you give them a good enough story, but you will almost certainly be taken hostage again, and never be trained as a swordsman. The alternative is to take advantage of the situation, let the world continue thinking you're dead, and free yourself to pursue your dream."

Zoro looked down at his injured wrists. "Father gave me a choice once, between my country and my future. I chose my country back then. Maybe I should try going the other way this time...?" He ended off on a tentative note and looked appealingly at the pirates, as if begging for guidance.

They regarded the nine-year-old with sympathy. "It's your life, and your own choice to make. But in all honesty, I cannot say it's a bad one," Benn offered, and Shanks nodded in agreement. Zoro's shoulders slumped in relief.

"Do you...do you think I should let my parents know?"

"That's hard to say. Any communication we send will almost certainly be intercepted," was Benn's opinion. "And will be far more trouble than it's worth."

"If you truly wish to pursue your dream, you will have to leave your entire life behind. The path to becoming world's greatest swordsman is hard enough without the World Government constantly on your tail," Shanks advised.

A look of sadness crossed Zoro's face, but then his expression hardened and he squared his shoulders. "Okay. I understand."

"Good. Now, for what will happen next. We can drop you off at a dojo that happens to be on the way."

"Huh?" Zoro's jaw dropped. "You mean you won't train me yourself?"

"A pirate ship's no place for a kid, kid. Besides, didn't you say you wanted to learn two-handed sword styles?"

"Not to mention the Marines are going to come after us soon, for killing a Tenryuubito. Which means we'll have to head off to the Grand Line, which is even less a place for a kid," Benn added.

"I know the master of this dojo personally," Shanks reassured Zoro, seeing the boy's lost look. "I challenged him myself, but it came to a draw. That was back when I had two arms, too. Besides, Koshiro knows far better than me how to train someone else to be a great swordsman."

"Oh. Okay, I guess," Zoro said, but he still looked slightly forlorn.

"Hey, we're pirate scum, remember?" Shanks said lightly, clapping the boy on the back. "And Koshiro's a good man. He'll take good care of you, if you're willing to work hard."

"Of course I'll work hard!" Zoro looked a bit happier at the reassurance.

"Then you should be fine. Now...we'd better see about getting you a change of clothes. You can't go parading around in those princely robes. And you should choose a different name, too."

"A different name?" Zoro blinked. But he was Zoro. Always had been. Always would be.

"He can probably keep the 'Zoro'. It's a common enough name," Benn said. "D'you have a surname, back home?"

"Surname?" Zoro scratched his head.

"Yes. Like my name, Benn Beckman."

"All anyone's ever called me is 'Zoro'. Or 'Prince Zoro'. 'Your Highness' sometimes." Zoro still looked puzzled.

"'Mr. Prince'? That's quite the name." Shanks guffawed. "Not to mention it would give you away instantly. Maybe you should try a different surname."

"In that case...how about the name of a great swordsman?" Zoro asked eagerly.

"A great swordsman, huh? Let me think about it." Shanks mused for a moment. "What about 'Roronoa', after Roronoa Francesco? He was one of the greatest of all swordsmen."

"Roronoa...Zoro." Zoro rolled it around his tongue as if tasting it. He grinned. "I like it!"

"Good. Well then, Roronoa Zoro, why don't you go to bed? It'll take a few days for us to reach your dojo. If you see Yasopp – the curly-haired sniper dude from before – let him know to make a new set of clothes for you, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks!" Zoro said eagerly. He jumped off the chair and went to the door, then paused. "You know, for pirate scum, you guys are pretty nice!" He flashed them a grin and ran away, his noisy exit contrasting with the noiseless entry of their eavesdropper.

"So, we're headed the same way after all," he commented.

"Looks like it. It is on the way," Shanks shrugged.

"Roronoa Zoro, hmm?" The man's hooded, thoughtful gaze swung towards the door. "You gave him good advice. Koshiro will bring him up well."

The surprised look on Shanks' face was quickly erased. "'Course he will. Like the name?"

"Mm," came a non-committal murmur.

"Think he'll be pissed when he finds out that Roronoa Francesco was a great pirate as well as a great swordsman?" Shanks asked.

"Yep," Benn replied.

A flicker of a smile lit up the face beneath the cloak, and vanished.

.

They landed at the small port town three days later. Shanks and his crew went ashore to restock their supplies for a run to the Grand Line, and bade Zoro farewell at the edge of the village. "Okay, kid, this is as far as we go," Shanks said. "The dojo's just over that hill, an hour away. Think you can find it on your own?"

"Of course I can!" Zoro bristled.

"You have the letter of introduction I gave you?"

Zoro patted his pocket. "Yep."

"Good." Shanks stood back and looked at his erstwhile charge, and burst out laughing.

"What's so funny?" Zoro asked indignantly.

"Nothing, just that in that get-up you look like a real country boy."

Zoro looked down at the simple white shirt and the blue pants held up by little more than a piece of rope. "Yeah, I guess so," he admitted. "I prefer these clothes to those princely ones I used to have to wear, though. Mrrrmmmfff!" He spluttered as Shanks shoved a leafstalk into his mouth. "What's this for?"

"To complete the look," Shanks chortled. "And to shut you up." Zoro frowned questioningly, and Shanks reminded him, "From now on, Zoro, you were never a prince. You never met us, you never saw our ships, you know nothing about the Tenryuubito."

Zoro nodded solemnly. "I understand."

"Okay. Off with you now. Go become the greatest swordsman in the world."

"Thanks for everything!" Zoro waved and ran off, as the rest of the men yelled various goodbyes and encouragements.

Benn caught Zoro before he could go too far in the wrong direction.

"Other way, Zoro. Hill. Up."

"Oh, right." Zoro reversed his course and jogged off.

"You sure he'll ever find it?" Benn asked, brow furrowing.

"A week's delay won't hurt him," Shanks chuckled. "Come on, we're off! To the Grand Line!"

"Yeah!"

.

It did take a lot longer than an hour, but Zoro finally arrived at the dojo - fortunately the only one in Shimotsuki Village - to hear the sounds of sword practice in progress. He took a cautious peek into the dojo and saw thirty boys practising katas, each was holding a bamboo shinai, more sophisticated-looking than the "swords" he and his friends had improvised, but still...that was kind of like stick-fighting, wasn't it?

He balled up the letter of introduction in his pocket, and declared his challenge.

Two minutes later, he found himself on his back, a bright red shinai mark gracing his forehead, and realised two things. One, that he'd just come face-to-face with the next big challenge of his life. Two, that the road to becoming world's greatest swordsman would be a very, very long one indeed.

Author's Note: This was rewritten after Chapter 589 came out, to make it sync up a little better with canon. I hope it makes sense! Bonus points for spotting references to canonical lines and events :-) One more left to go in this "arc", so let me know what you think! Concrit is always welcome.