Just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the Reviews, favourites and follows as well as everyone who is reading this!
It really does help me keep the motivation to write when life gets in the way.
I have made a decision that this version of this story will have no romances but on AO3 there is a version with minor romances.
I'm off on a holiday week after next so updates may be delayed, although I have and idea for another story that I may write when abroad as won't have easy access to watch the anime so won't be able to easily update this.
A rope tightened on Luffy's heart as he felt Nami's resolve, it had begun.
He had been feeling his navigators turmoil all day, forcing himself to keep his composure as he tried to remain calm in the face of Krieg's threats to overtake the Baratie, he would not ruin this by acting rashly. Krieg and his crew were weak, Luffy could easily crush his armada in seconds, and watching him abuse his chef he really wanted to, but this fool was an important cog in the events that were taking place and so he reluctantly let the man leave food in hand to recover his army.
He watched on disassociating as Gin retold his story of horror at being attacked in the Grand Line, his focus firmly on his navigator and her pain, was he making a mistake? Allowing her to go back alone, afraid.
He had approached her as friend, never once asking her to join them in the hope she would be able to let him in, but just like before she had felt the need to pretend and run at the first reminder of her shackles.
He forced himself back to his present as he heard Zoro announce his goal to defeat Mihawk and take his title for his own.
Blinking he looked at his right hand man, he had always admired how driven Zoro was, the two sharing a blind certainty they would achieve their ambition. Something Luffy felt he had lost, the thing that had carried him through to the last island, but couldn't get them all to the end.
"Finally, my life's goal will be achieved on the Grandline, my rival he's out there somewhere, and I'm going to find him." Zoro determined, confident that no other outcome was possible, Luffy ached as he remembered how naive his Swordsman was in this time.
"Are you that stupid, it's idiots like you guys who end up dead" Luffy flinched as the chefs' blunt words hit him. He was right, their captain had led them all to their deaths, and here he was once again selfishly setting sail with blind hope for a different outcome.
Luffy felt Zoro's eyes on him, narrowing subtly as he took in his captain's downtrodden face. "That may be true but lay off the name calling. I've devoted my whole life to becoming the world's greatest swordsman, I've made my choice so I'm the only one who gets to call me stupid."
Luffy met Zoro's eyes, could see the determination in them, he was right it was his choice, he understood the risks but they would face them together.
He glanced at Usopp seeing his sniper standing there, even though he was afraid of the stories Zeff had told of the Grandline he had a determined glint in his eye as he smiled at Zoro's words, Luffy remembered how the boy had stood strong against the Black Cat Pirates, how his sniper had stood tall as they declared war on the world government. He deserved to become the version of himself he dreamed of.
He thought of Nami, even now sailing back to her captor, running to the life she had struggled under for so long; single handedly fighting to protect her village, working for her mother's murderer, he remembered how his Navigator shone atop of Merry and later Sunny ruling over the ocean like the queen she was.
He looked to Sanji, so reluctant to follow his dreams. Who had lied and hid for so long thinking he was unimportant, replaceable, never truly believing he deserved to see his dream. He thought of how the blond came so far, finally trusting the crew, willingly showing them his flaws, allowing them to fill the dark holes of his past with so much light that he could finally see his worth. He thought of how the Chef had finally let himself chase what he truly wanted and how he had become stronger for it.
In this moment Luffy realised the weight of Zoro's words, he understood, though they may pay the ultimate price, it was worth it for the chance to chase their dreams.
Luffy grinned wildly at his swordsman, even as his eyes filled with unshed tears. "Yup, stupid we may be, but we are going to make our dreams come true!" He cheered for emphasis.
Usopp joined in agreement.
"What morons." Sanji muttered making both Luffy and Zeff eye him sadly.
"Enough!" Patty interrupted reminding the room of their impending army gathering.
As the restaurant prepared to make their stand against the Krieg pirates Luffy walked to his first mate wrapping his arm around him in a silent thank you for pulling him from the darkness. Zoro grumbled but leaned into the boys touch his lips upturned.
Luffy frowned as he felt the powerful wave of Haki, forcing his own to stifle it would not be good if he was noticed before Zoro had his chance to challenge the worlds greatest swordsman.
Mihawk cut through Kriegs ship like butter leaving gawking pirates and chefs alike in its wake.
Luffy followed as Zoro and Usopp ran from the restaurant concerned about Nami and Merry, focusing on Johnny and Yosaku the captain hauled them from the ocean as they tearily advised Nami had stolen the ship and made her escape with the treasure.
Zoro and Usopp blustered in shock while Luffy nodded his acceptance.
"For real!" Usopp spluttered in panic instantly looking out to sea where Merry had once been docked.
"I need a straight answer, what happened?" Zoro barked at the two pirate hunters who recoiled in fear before telling the tale of how Nami had tricked them."Dammit, she just had to make a bad situation worse."
"The heartless thief, Kaya gave us that ship." Usopp spluttered looking out to sea.
Luffy remained quiet, softly feeling out for Nami as she drifted away from his Haki radius, he could feel her conflicting emotions of guilt and fear. Luffy concentrated sending a jolt of forgiveness and pride to her hoping it would carry her forward through the trials to come.
"Wait, I think I see her!" Usopp declared. "Merry, oh merry there you are, we will get you back from that nasty thief if it's the last thing we do!"
"She's in trouble." Luffy declared looking at his first mate willing him to understand.
"Of course, Merry's in trouble, she's been stolen!" Usopp cried desperately.
"Not Merry, Nami!" Luffy declared firmly, glaring at Usopp, concerned that the sniper was already overly attached to Merry.
Zoro looked at his captain considering. "Trouble you sure? Is she even our problem, she never joined us anyway?"
Luffy met Zoro's eyes a fire burning in his own. "Nami is our friend, and she's the only one I'll accept as our navigator. She needs help, you and Usopp need to protect her."
Zoro looked back at Luffy testing his resolve before nodding, accepting.
Luffy smiled jumping with enthusiasm, before turning to the two pirate hunters and ordering "Now, we need a ship. Johnny, Yusaku go get your boat!"
As the two pirate hunters jumped into action retrieving their ship the Strawhats prepared to split up for the time being, Luffy advising he would follow them as soon as he had finished repaying his debt to old man Zeff and convinced their chef to join them.
Before Usopp and Zoro could set sail they interrupted by a revelation of a figure making itself known from the mist, instantly commanding attention.
"That's the man I've been looking for Hawkeye Mihawk." Zoro stuttered overwhelmed at having his dream within reach.
Luffy bit his lip drawing blood, trying to stop himself from begging Zoro to let it go, to tell him he needed more time before coming up against Mihawk, he couldn't it would only push Zoro away, so he stood in silence listening as Zoro made his stand.
As Mihawk revealed his knife Zoro responding with anger, not yet realising how lofty his goal truly was Luffy gripped his fists, crescent shaped wounds appearing on his hands as crimson blood slowly dripped. He may not be able to suffer as his swordsman would, but he would feel every moment of Zoro's pain.
Static filled Luffy's ears as he watched Zoro's attack get thwarted by the tiny sword. Distantly he could hear the spectators around responding in shock, Luffy wanted to scream.
Zoro determinedly continued to attempt to hit his target, Luffy could feel his frustration as every slash was deflected, so connected to his first mate Luffy felt as realisation sunk in, Zoro had become used to defeating every foe in his path, but this, this was true power, still he would succeed, he had to right?
As he was smacked to the floor by the back of a pitifully small sword Zoro heard a voice from his past, a ghost of the last person to defeat the great pirate hunter. Kuina.
He remembered his promise, one day one of them would become the world's greatest swordsman, that he would become strong enough.
He would not die here.
Stumbling to his feet Zoro made a last effort to achieve his goal, as he fell, he met Mihawks bored gaze.
"What is it then, what weight do you carry upon your shoulders?" The man asked a brow raised. "Speak up weakling."
Luffy grabbed Johnny and Yosaku as they tried to leap into the fray, his grip bruising the two's arms as he shook with barely concealed anger.
"Luffy..." Usopp muttered concerned feeling a dark aura spilling over from the young captain.
"No, I won't lose, I refuse to be defeated." Zoro stood, his tired body standing tall against the pain.
Mihawk regarded the figure ahead of him, as he stood tall preparing his attack. Interesting, he had not seen determination like this since a certain Red-Haired fool had crossed his path. Regardless, the kid needed to be taught not to pick foolish fights.
Lunging forward Mihawk made his move plunging the dagger into the young swordsman's chest, there, that should teach him. A dark power leaked out from behind, a powerful blast of haki that made Mihawks brow raise, and yet as quick as it came it was concealed. The swordsman remained still dagger imbedded in his chest, very interesting.
"You are defeated, yet you won't step back, why not?" He asked.
"I don't know, but I will not run. Even if I retreat a single step, I would be shattering the promises I've made. I can't run. I would lose my honour. You see, without that, there would be nothing left for me here." Zoro remained stoic as he declared his truth, blood dripping from his mouth and nose.
Luffy watched Zoro, his swordsman, the man who would great death with his arms open wide, daring it to try and take him. He imagined Zoro at the end, how he would have stood tall against the insurmountable odds, fighting till the last breath, giving his all to keep the promises he made.
Tears streamed down Luffy's face as he watched the two swordsmen stand face to face a war of wills.
"That's what defeat is." Mihawk determined his eyes like ice.
"Then I won't accept defeat." Zoro chuckled.
"Then you'll die." Mihawk promised, he had broken so many challengers, their wills as weak as their swordsmanship, this was just another boring phony chasing fame.
"I'd rather die than give up!" Zoro grunted using his grit and determination to eject Mihawks blade from his body.
Mihawk calculated the boy in front of him, as if seeing him for the first time. He had a raw talent it was true, given time maybe he would be able to hold his own in a fight, but Mihawk had miscalculated what he had initially seen as a cocksure confidence that he needed to snuff out was a well of ambition, one that was endless and could only be silenced by the cold grip of death, a waste. 'Still' Mihawk thought to himself. 'Let's test that resolve.'
The world's greatest swordsman sheathed his dagger, stepping back he asked for the boy's name.
"I am Roronoa Zoro" The boy determined readying his stance to make one last attack.
"I'll remember it." Mihawk promised "No-one as strong as you has come around in quite some time. So as a swordsman's courtesy I'll use the world's strongest black sword to finish you."
"Thank you. I appreciate it." The odds were insurmountable, but he would face his dream with all his might, never backing down.
Luffy cracked the wood below his hand as he gritted his teeth forcing his roaring haki to remain under his control, it was lucky Johnny and Yosaku were no longer being held by the rubber boy or they may have crumbled under his grip.
Zoro begun to spin his swords around his control impressive as blood oozed from the wound on his shoulder. The fight would go one of two ways he would stand tall having achieved his dreams, his name reaching Kuina's ears where she rested or he would die having failed her and his captain.
The sound of his broken swords shattering to the ground was the first thing Zoro registered, then came the pain. The dull ache across his sternum was nothing to the pain of failure, not for himself but for Kuina, and Luffy. His captain had been relying on him, the King of the pirates needed the worlds greatest swordsman, and yet he couldn't be that, not even for his captain. Somewhere in the back of his mind he realised his death would break Luffy, the boy had such shadows in his past, and now he would be one of them. He hoped Usopp would be able to hold the boy together long enough to rescue Nami from whatever had the captain worried.
No matter the cost Zoro could not back down now.
"I've lost." He finally accepted the cold truth he should have known from the beginning. "Never in my life did I imagine I'd lose." He sheathed his sword, glad the most important one had survived the battle, could live on without him. "So, this is the power of the greatest in the world." Accepting his fate Zoro stood his arms held out at his side, welcoming death like an old friend.
"But why?" Mihawk questioned, the boy had accepted he'd lost, and yet he offered his life, he wasn't begging for mercy, strange.
"Scars on the back are a swordsman's shame." Zoro grinned the taste of iron coating his mouth.
"Fine" Mihawk smiled, this truly had been riveting, he hadn't been this entertained since his rival had lost his arm to a beast. He couldn't wait to see what the future held for this young swordsman, for even as he struck one last true blow, he knew this would not be the end.
"You shouldn't rush these things, young man." He smirked, if this Roronoa continued to grow one day he may achieve his goals and Mihawk couldn't wait to see the day.
As Zoro fell and Sanji shouted for him to give up his ambition to live, Luffy snapped, his tenuous hold on his power breaking. Regardless off intention this man had hurt his Zoro.
He lunged forward his fist connecting with Mihawks cheek as they flew to the ground. Thick conquerors haki keeping the swordsman momentarily in place.
Zeff's eyes narrowed as he recognised the power leaking from the boy, it should be impossible for one so young to hold such control.
Mihawks eyes widened in shock, who the hell were these kids?
"You hurt my swordsman!" Luffy growled.
"That power is a little above your level, wouldn't you think?" Mihawk commented his voice nonchalant as he pushed the rubber boy off him pushing through the powerful haki. Years of fighting Shanks had given him a near perfect ability to ignore the power radiating from the boy.
"YOU HURT MY ZORO!"Luffy screamed anger ripping from him as the drumbeats began their tempo.
"Yet you could have stepped in at any time. I'm impressed at you for not interfering." Mihawk acknowledged calmly, his words bringing the boy back to reality. "There's nothing to be upset about, your friend will live."
"I know, but still you hurt him." Luffy huffed out, his breathing calming as the sound of drums retreated to the recesses of his mind.
"He made his choices, as I'm sure you are aware, the life he has chosen will not be a safe one, but still..." Mihawk raised his voice acknowledging the barely conscious swordsman. "It's still far too early for you to die. My name is Hawk-eye Mihawk! You're strong but there is still much for you to learn. No matter how many years it takes, I will hold this title as the greatest in the world and wait for you! Until that day, you must hone your skills! Then... seek me out, Roronoa Zoro!" Luffy watched as Mihawk publicly and loudly challenged Zoro, the straw-hat watched as the stoic man who had spent his pirate career alone acknowledged his first mate a bond forming for the younger swordsman one that would only blossom in time as the greatest's swordsman's cold heart bonded to Zoro's own.
Luffy grinned his anger placated, he had been right to let the events unfold, Zoro needed this, needed Mihawk, his rival and mentor.
"You, what is your goal?" Mihawk looked to Luffy through the side of his eye.
"To be the King!" Luffy determined, it may not be his main goal any longer but it was still an important piece in ensuring his crew achieved their dreams.
Mihawk raised a brow, not quite believing the boys words, they rang true, but there was something else there regardless. "Is it really? Your ambitions are even loftier than your friend's. That's quite a task."
"With my crew I know we'll make it; I'm going to make sure all our dreams come true." Luffy stood tall his fist gripped in front of him.
Mihawk raised a brow considering the boy in front of him, taking in the wounds on his lips and hand from where he had held himself back from stepping in front of his swordsman's dream. "Just maybe you will."
"He's alive!" Johnny shouted out to the rubber boy joyously as Zoro spluttered.
Luffy instantly launched himself to Zoro's side, grabbing a hold of his swordsman's hand as they locked eyes.
Zoro raised his other hand to the sky his sword held tall.
"Luffy..." He declared. "I'm sorry for disappointing you. I know that you need nothing less than the greatest swordsman in the world. I've let you down. Uh.." Zoro broke off grunting in pain, tears flowing from his eyes.
"Please forgive me." He begged. "I solemnly swear, from this moment forward, that I will never lose again! Until the day comes when I defeat him and take his title... I will never, never be defeated! Is that ok, King of the pirates?!"
Luffy grinned even as his own tears fell from his eyes mingling with Zoro's. "I'm going to hold you to that promise, okay? We will both get stronger until no one can defeat us! I promise you Zoro we will be the best crew there is! We will protect each other and reach our dreams, together."
Mihawk turned from the scene impressed by the resolve between the two rookies, he had only one friend who he had challenged himself to become better for, maybe it was time for a visit?
"You're a good team." Mihawk muttered as he walked away retreating to his ship. "I hope to see you again someday."
The Straw-hats had docked late evening the black sky to dark to allow for safe disembarkation that day, so they had set anchor and rested their tired bodies after weeks of sailing through turbulent seas.
Nami had been unable to rest the seas changing on a whim causing her and Jimbe to constantly be reacting to natures will, trying desperately to keep them alive.
By the time dawn had arrived they were no longer the only ship docked on the Island, Sanji confirmed with his expert observational Haki that not only had two ships arrived on the land, but more ships were quickly approaching. Jumping into action the crew quickly prepared to traverse the hostile landscape, but before they could begin their journey they were interrupted by a powerful presence on the sand below the ship.
"Luffy!" A gruff voice called from below.
Luffy the ever-impulsive ball of energy he was launched himself below straight for the elder pirate who awaited him. Before the strawhats could respond the figure planted the rubber boy into the floor a hand holding his head into the sand.
"Lemme go!" Luffy struggled spluttering as sand entered his mouth.
"Same old Anchor, an emperor in his own right, but still the same kid who had lofty dreams." Benn grinned pressing the boy down further into the sand before releasing him and crossing his arms confident.
Luffy sat up trying to scrape the taste of sand of his tongue. "Bleurgh"
Responding to the scene below Zoro burst into action jumping down to join his captain swords in hands and mouth he stopped short of running the stranger through the tip of Wado pushing against the man's neck.
"Good to know Anchor has a good first mate by his side, Shanks would be happy." Benn stated posture still relaxed even as the green head tensed at the mans captain's name.
News had travelled quickly even at the end of the world, Red Haired Shanks a government plant amongst the pirate world, his crew shamelessly hunting powerful pirate crews and cutting them down. A campaign of terror that had started against Kidd and had claimed the life of most of the worst generation.
"Shanks?" Luffy muttered, his voice unsure broken.
"He misses you anchor, I've come to extend an invite." Benn smiled a hollow smile to the boy, he had been the only one capable of delivering this lie, but even as devoted as he was to his captain the words stung. "You've achieved your goal, and now Shanks wants to see you, he's waiting by the Red Force across the way."
"Captain this could be a trap!" Zoro spat through his sword.
"It is." Luffy said looking into Benns eyes, the older man looking away unable to meet the boy's eyes. "But we'll go anyway, I told Shanks I would see him when I became a great pirate, and I will, because I will fight Shanks and win!"
Benn looked back seeing the fire in Luffy's eyes, he saw as Zoro contemplated his captains words, dropping his stance but keeping his swords at hand he walked beside his captain helping him to his feet.
"We accept Shanks invite, tell him I'll see him soon, kay?" Luffy grinned.
Benn nodded words failing him, he knew if he opened his mouth, he would betray his captain's truth, beg for Luffy to free him from his imagined shackles. No it was too late, they had to see this through.
As Benn walked away the Strawhats gathered around their captain.
It had been decided that Zoro, Sanji and Robin would accompany Luffy to the Red Force, the others staying behind to begin mapping their path through the jungle, ensuring they would have a head start before the other ships arrived.
Usopp had wanted to join, to meet his father face to face, but fear had won out, he had always believed his father to be a fearsome pirate, but to find out his hero had worked under the world government all this time, no, this was not the time for his personal problems they were so close to Luffy's dream, his own worries could wait. He would not be a distraction.
Onwards the group travelled in tense silence, they were about to enter enemy territory, one with a complicated history with their captain. This had been the man who had given Luffy his dream, his hat and his arm.
How could he be the enemy?
Sanji and Zoro exchanged looks they knew this would test their captain, and they had to be prepared to take on an emperors crew.
As they approached the ship, they could hear sounds of a party taking place on the shore. Thejovial noises cut through the quiet of the island with laughter and music.
"If we'd have known it was a party, we would have brought Brook." Sanji grunted taking a puff of his cigarette.
"Don't let your guards down." Zoro muttered hand on his swords looking closely at his captain who nodded.
As they emerged into the clearing taking in the sight of empty discarded bottles of various alcohol and the pirates strewn across the beach.
Robin tactfully made a note of their placement mentally preparing to put a halt to any surprise attacks.
"Anchor!" A jovial voice called out. "You made it, finally, wow look at you so grown up."
The red head stumbled his way over to the younger captain holding his face gingerly in his hand as he looked him over.
"Shanks-san." Luffy muttered his voice wavering as he looked into Shanks eyes. He could see right the man, could see the pain that had been dulled by alcohol, the guilt that glinted under the layers of walls the man had put up. It was true then.
Shanks smiled sadly as Luffy crashed through his walls seeing into the heart of the matter. "So grown up."
"Why?" Luffy muttered his eyes watering under the weight of his once mentor's betrayal.
Shanks laughed taking a swig from the bottle clasped at his waist. "You know I envy you anchor; the world could have ruined you. Marineford almost did from what I heard, and yet here you are, the end of the world, a strong loyal crew at your hand. Still the dreamer you always were, charging ahead regardless of the outcome."Shanks scoffed darkly, the rum sour on his tongue. "Do you even know what became of your hometown, do you care what happened?"
"The government are bad people, they did that!" Luffy snapped his face turning red with anger.
"No, Luffy, you did that." Shanks spat, his eyes clouded. "You declared war on the World Government, you made them a target!"
"Shut up!" Luffy cried throwing his arm out to hit the elder captain.
Shanks grabbed the arm stopping the attack, his hand black he pressed down crushing the boy's wrist. "You think this is a game Luffy? That being a pirate is a game, find a treasure become king? War is coming, you brought it on the world, you can end it!"
Zoro's hand was on his swords ready to dive into the foray at a moment's notice, Sanji's legs itched ready to be released on his captain's word, Robin flexed her wrists, slanted eyes calculating how to capture the most limbs in her trap.
"I didn't start this stupid war Shanks; they took my Robin!" Luffy shouted his haki thick in the air fighting for dominance with Shanks own power.
Shanks suddenly changed tactics, his voice softening, his eyes turning desperate, begging. "Luffy surrender to me now, I can make sure they don't kill you. They want Nika, but if you comply with them, we can stop the war, your friends will live."
"Never, I will be king of the pirates, and you willLet Go!" Shanks was shocked as his hand relaxed releasing the wrist it held allowing it to bounce back to its owner.
"Fuck, I knew you wouldn't come easy, but I hoped you would see reason for your crew. Benn now." Shanks ordered his first mate who revealed a golden Den Den Mushi from inside his coat.
Robin gasped even after all the times she had endured a buster call it still made her pulse race.
"Zoro!" Luffy demanded from the swordsman who was pouncing eagerly at the other first mate.
Benn easily blocked Zoro's attack with the butt of his gun while his other hand completed the call.
Zoro grunted retreating momentarily before diving back into the fold attacking again and again keeping Benn busy, having to block his onslaught unable to provide covering fire.
As Zoro moved so did the rest of the crew Luffy launching himself into battle with Shanks a battle of both will and skill as the two circled each other lashing out with conqueror's haki and physical attacks alike.
Robin took out the weaker of the crew with a Dos Fluer: Clutch, rendering them useless in the fight before turning her attention to the crews Sniper, she could see the resemblance to their own sniper. He seemed oddly hesitant for battle sending concerned glances at his Captain and Luffy's ongoing fight even as the swirling power became harder to look through.
Sanji stepped forward into a fight with the other crews own smiling chef, the man proving to be incredible durable to Sanji's own attacks playing defensive as he bounced around the field.
Grunting Zoro kept up his onslaught as he saw the ship emerging on the horizon, the largest armada of ships he had ever seen all emblazoned with the marines symbol, they were running out of time. Withdrawing his attacks for a moment Zoro aimed a powerful slash of haki out to sea taking out the first wave of approaching ships and buying moments that could prove crucial, unfortunately the time he had given to Benn had not gone unused, a well-aimed bullet tore through the battlefield finding purchase in Luffy's shoulder distracting him momentarily and giving the upper hand to Shanks.
Zoro's power thrummed in anger, this man hurt his captain!
Benns effort left him slow to react as Zoro bore down on him his sword implanting itself in the older man's neck.
"Well fought." Benn muttered as his hand went up to cover the wound.
"You let your guards down." Zoro grunted pulling his sword free with a squelch.
"Anything for my captain." Blood leaked from Benn's mouth as he fell to his knees' eyes glazing over. "Do me a favour, don't let him kill the kid, after this he'll never forgive himself."
Zoro looked down in shock, as Benn let go of his neck allowing the blood to flow freely his life with it.
He glanced over to Luffy and Shanks who were still going at each other, but Luffy was losing, he had lost purchase with the shot to the shoulder and Shanks was taking advantage. Without thought Zoro threw himself into the fray his body trembling at the effort to fight against the powerful Haki flooding the field. He deflected Shanks swords with all three of his own buying time for his captain to catch his breath.
Shank's eyes bugged shocked at the intrusion, if the green haired boy was here then where was Benn? A single glance to where his first mate had been confirmed the sad truth, he was gone, the only person who had ever understood, dead.
Fuck.
Shanks saw red his already powerful Haki bursting the power forcing the field to their knees. The green haired boy in front of him planted a sword into the ground to try and combat the out blast. He did this, Shanks would make him pay. Raising Gryphon Shanks brought it down diagonally across the boy's shoulder aiming to rip the boy apart limb by limb. As he pulled a familiar power shot through the air one he hadn't felt since childhood. Rayleigh.
Zoro feeling Shanks sword halt in its path pulled away blood splattering as he freed himself, regardless of how heavy his limbs felt he raised his swords ready to counterattack.
"Still don't know when to back away do you?" A sneering voice approached from behind, a hand settling on Zoro's uninjured shoulder as the boy shook under him.
Luffy having recovered his strength looked around as the field flooded with pirates from the Cross Guild, the sand kicking up around Lucky Roux blinding his vision of the blond chef who was greedily catching his breath. A mere look from Rayleigh had Yassop raising his hands in surrender, Robin casually nodding at the man before walking to stand by her captain.
"You not found the one piece yet kid?" Rayleigh called out his tone bored. "You've been here all night and yet you're wasting time on this beach? Did I waste my time training you?"
Luffy looked between the older man who had trained him and his former mentor, torn, he wanted to see this through but time was running out, if the marines burnt the island to a crisp before they had a chance to find the treasure it would all be for nothing. Mind made up Luffy nodded turning from the huffing Shanks he walked away back to the Sunny.
"You too Zoro." Mihawk muttered looking at his young protégée.
"I won't turn my back on a fight." Zoro huffed sword held out.
"So, you'll turn your back on your captain's dream instead? A shame I thought you better than that." Mihawk raised a brow.
Zoro looked at his mentor seeing the worry behind the man's eyes as he took in the heavily injured boy. Mihawk knew Zoro, he knew his weakness and his strength, he believed in him, could see the future where Zoro would take his title, and yet here he was asking him to leave this battle, to walk away. The breeze blowing brought the sounds of Marines ships to Zoro's ears, if they didn't leave now, they would lose their shot. Here were a group of powerful pirates willing to put their faith in his captain, to lay down their lives in front of the marines to buy them time.
"Don't die, only I can take your life." Zoro grunted to his mentor before withdrawing and taking his leave.
"It certainly would be a shame to miss that day." Mihawk muttered before stepping forward to face Shanks a sad smile playing on his lips.
Notes:
This was so tough to write, the fight between the straw hats and the Red Hair Pirates was a tough one because I don't want the future story to completely flood over the present day plot but I also didn't want either side to seem weak, I'm still not sure this was achieved as Benn didn't really get to show off much before he died but I'm okay with how it ended up. I also haven't seen much of the Red Hair Pirates where I am in the anime so I was kind of following what I could learn online so if it feels off feel free to feedback.
For anyone curious about my other story I've had brewing it would be a series of one shots starting when Luffy ate the devil fruit and the World Government find out about it so Shanks leaves his spy/pirate life behind to dedicate himself to protecting his adopted son, it would have more of Shanks dealing with the betrayals he put his family through by siding with the Celestial Dragons against Roger and having to pick up the pieces with those he has left while trying to raise Luffy in hiding. Will have Uncle Buggy and Grandfather Rayleigh but the relationship with Shanks will be tense.
Reviews help me to improve, constructive criticism and fiction recs are helpful!