A special thanks to OriginalDrumy and EmikoBankotsu for their reviews! xo

Amaryllis

Strength and determination. Pride.

Zoro's body hit the water, and it was only Usopp's arms around her waist that kept Terra from unthinkingly jumping in after him.

"Zoro!" she screamed, scrambling against her crew-mate's grip until she saw Johnny and Yosaku pull the swordsman's head above water. "Bring him over here! Swim faster!"

They could hear Luffy shouting for Zoro as well as the trio made their way back to the ship to meet Usopp and Terra's eager hands.

"Hurry up and get him out of the water!" shouted Usopp as he began to help pull Zoro up onto the deck of the ship. They laid him flat on his back, revealing the gruesome 'X' across his chest. Terra inhaled sharply through her teeth.

"I'll take it from here," she quickly volunteered, a first-aid kit already in hand. "I have medicine."

"My name is Dracule Mihawk!" a loud voice cut across the water, stirring Zoro, although Terra didn't look up from Zoro's bleeding chest. "Learn about yourself, and the world! Become strong! No matter how many years it takes, I will hold the title of the Strongest and wait for you. Try to surpass me, Rorona Zoro!"

"Big Bro," whimpered Johnny. "Say something!"

"Anything!" Yosaku added.

Terra scowled and shoved Johnny aside with her foot. "Shut up! He was just unconscious, you idiots!"

"He's alive!" rejoiced Usopp.

Now sitting on his ass, Johnny whined, "If you're alive, then say something!"

Terra watched in stupor as Zoro reached for his remaining sword, and held it high into the air. "Luffy," he yelled, his voice strained and his body shaking. "Can.. can you hear me?"

From across the distance, Luffy called back, "Yeah!"

"Gah," Zoro grunted with pain. "I'm sorry for disappointing you! You need nothing less than the greatest swordsman in the world, right?"

"Don't be an idiot," Terra quietly scolded with her hands pressed against his chest. Her strength wavered as she looked up to see tears streaming down Zoro's tanned cheeks. "Zoro—"

"I will not be defeated again!" he shouted. "Until the day comes when I defeat him and take the title of the Strongest Swordsman! Do you have a problem with that, King of the Pirates?!"

"Shishishi!" came a familiar laugh. "Nope!"

"I guess that was kinda cool, you dumb swordsman." Terra muttered, returning to tending to Zoro's chest with renewed vigour after swiping the tears from his cheeks. Begrudgingly, she could admit that his devotion to their captain was refreshing— he spoke with such a conviction that Terra was sure he would stick to his word.

Zoro's lips only had a moment to crack into a smile before the sound of gunshots and an explosion shook the area, sending their boat rocking. With a series of yelps, they all ducked to avoid flying debris, Terra and Yosaku covering the prone Zoro.

"Terra! Usopp!" they heard Luffy call, prompting Terr to raise her head. Across the waves, Luffy was dangling off the side of the broken Baratie, surrounded by chefs wielding ominously large forks and knives. "You guys go on ahead, I'll leave Nami to you!"

Terra reached up to his Straw Hat resting safely atop her head. "Aye, aye, Captain! Leave it all to us!" she called with a tip of the hat's brim, before pulling it off her head to hand off to Usopp.

"Roger that!" the boy cried, taking the hat from Terra and waving it into the air. "Don't worry about a thing! We'll get Nami right back, and you make sure you get that cook to join our crew! And then, the six of us will set sail—"

Luffy's hat was tossed, circling into the air between them.

"—to the Grand Line!"

A rubber arm stretched out and snatched the hat before snapping back to their Captain. He grinned widely at his retreating crew, Terra already snapping orders at Johnny and Yosaku to get them moving in pursuit of their rogue navigator.

"Yeah!" Luffy cheered. "Let's do it!"