A/N: ZareEraz here! This is one of my favorite episodes in the series because it's one of those where the dynamic of the crew changes a bit. Up until this point, Zoro was mostly a part of Luffy's crew to make his own ambitions come true, but by the end of his fight with Mihawk, that changes: he is now also fighting for Luffy's dream as well as his own. It's really sweet and I hope I did it justice! Enjoy! :3

Update as of March 2022: Longtime readers, if you haven't noticed, I'm editing and updating this story chapter by chapter. For all you new readers, enjoy! For your information, I took a few lines of dialogue from the Episode of East Blue, so if it's not matching up with the anime don't worry! :3

(Updated October 2024)

Chapter 4: Solemn Vow

The world's greatest swordsman, sounds pretty good! The King of the Pirates wouldn't have any less than the best on his crew!

This fight can only end two ways…I'll be the best in the world, or die!

It only took a moment, just a moment to finally realize and understand just how strong one would need to be to become the greatest in the world, to be the World's Greatest Swordsman. A few words, a few steps, and the flash of an oncoming blade. Then it was over.

The swords in Zoro's hands shattered, broken by the black blade in Mihawk's grip, destroyed by his strength and skill. Zoro couldn't even compare to the magnitude of this man; he wasn't even close to being on his level. With that defeat, and the humiliation of having previously been stopped by nothing more than a small knife and then stabbed in the chest with that same knife, the swordsman's dream had ended before it ever really began. His world crumbled, his ambition thoroughly beaten, but still, he hung onto the pieces. He took the Wado Ichimonji out of his mouth and sheathed it with all seriousness, knowing that only the end awaited him now. Blood ran from the corners of his mouth, the wounds in his chest seeping onto his white shirt, the swordsman faced his foe and held his arms out wide. Now that it came to this, he only had to defend his honor and welcome the death blow.

"But why?" the smooth voice of Mihawk asked, it's every word a blade unto itself.

A haughty smile graced Zoro's face as he showed the master swordsman his open chest, determined to make these last moments his proudest. "Scars on the back are a swordsman's shame." Just as he'd refused to step back when the small knife pierced his chest, he refused to step back from the giant sword and the man wielding it. Mihawk smiled back at him, impressed.

"Fine," he replied with a grin, delighted with the man in front of him, the one who demanded his respect through deeds and ambition. His smile was like that of a cat that'd just found a new toy to torment, gleeful at the prospect of something interesting. He shifted, readying to strike with his black blade, and then it was once again over. In just an instant, it was all over.

"ZOOOORRRROOOOO!" That was Luffy, screaming his name. "NOOOOOOOOOO!" Luffy was calling out to him, but all Zoro could think of was the pain – the pain in his chest, the pain slicing across his whole body, and the pain burrowing deep into his heart. He was going to die now, sliced open like an animal, his life snuffed out like a dying candle.

He'd failed Kuina.

He'd failed his captain.

He didn't know which one hurt more.

"You shouldn't rush these things, young man." That smooth voice broke through the fog of torment, amber eyes staring straight through him. Zoro could hear Mihawk and he could feel the pain, but he couldn't sense death creeping over him as he fell into the sea.

"DAMN YOU!" Luffy looked on helplessly as his friend fell into the water, his anger and grief roiling under his skin. He glared at the swordsman who dared take his right-hand man away from him. The famously piercing gaze of Mihawk at that moment was equally rivaled by the rage found in the young pirate's eyes, contrasted by the single tear perched over the scar on his face. What a sight: the rage of fearing for his friend's life and the grief that he might have already lost him existing in that singular moment, breathtaking in its own way. Luffy screamed, throwing back his arm only to shoot it forward again, stretching across to the broken galleon and grabbing onto a tottering railing as Mihawk dodged the limb. Luffy leaped up into the air, rocketing himself over to the man who killed his friend, his excruciating war cry shattering the air, baying for blood. The swordsman stepped aside as the rubber man shot towards him. "Bastard!" Luffy could barely get the word out before he crashed into and through the ruins of Don Krieg's ship.

"Are you that young warrior's comrade?"Mihawk asked as if having a conversation over tea instead of looking at the butt of a teen that'd gotten his head stuck in the side of a boat. Luffy was pushing his hands and feet against the wood of the ship, his neck stretching as he tried to free himself. The whole thing was comical, but Mihawk was at least trying to be gracious. He ignored the wiggling butt and continued. "I'm impressed with you for not interfering." Of course, he'd see Luffy stop Jonny and Yosaku from jumping into the fight, and he'd also seen the worry on the young man's face as Zoro had fought for his life. Luffy tugged a few more times and finally freed himself, his head popping out of the wreckage, the force throwing him onto his back. He was itching for a fight now, but before Luffy could even get to his feet, Mihawk was talking again.

"There's nothing to be upset about," The man was smiling, a little smugly at that, looking at the battered face near his feet. "Your friend will live."

And he was right.

Below the waves, Zoro was in so much pain that he couldn't be dead. The salt of the ocean stung like hell, his chest was on fire, and he could still feel his heart beating. He was still alive. He floated for only a few moments, but it felt like an eternity before two sets of hands were dragging him up to the surface. He gasped, coughing up blood and seawater. Luffy was yelling again, but he couldn't hear it very well. Usopp's voice was far away too, even though it was right next to him, saying something about getting out of the water. He couldn't concentrate very well through his suffering, but he felt himself being lifted out of the ocean and placed on his back on a boat. Usopp came running back, saying something about medicine, but Zoro could barely concentrate, it hurt so much! He did hear Mihawk's shout though, the magnetic voice finally pulling him out of the haze of pain.

"It's still far too early for you to die," the swordsman proclaimed. "Take note: I am Dracule Mihawk! You're strong, but there is much for you to learn. No matter how many years it takes, I will hold this title of 'the greatest in the world' and wait for you. Until that day, you must hone your skills. Then seek me out, Roronoa Zoro!"

Zoro's ambitions and dreams miraculously put themselves back together, reforming themselves in a way that they hadn't before. He was changed by this encounter and he would keep Mihawk's promise until his dying breath.

But there was one other promise he had to make now, one that might be even more important.

Zoro finally opened his eyes and saw Jonny and Yosaku on either side of him. Jonny was holding his sword – Kunia's sword – and he reached for it.

"He's alive!" Usopp shouted. "He was just unconscious!"

"Big Bro!" Jonny and Yosaku cheered.

"If you're alive then say something!" Jonny had tears running down his face as he spoke.

"Zoro!" That voice was Luffy's. It was so far away and so distressed, but he knew that he could reach it. He had to promise; he had to make this failure up to his captain. Each labored breath was agony, but it was proof that he was still alive, and as long as he was alive, he could keep all of his ambitions and promises. Zoro drew his sword, hoping that his voice would reach his captain. He held up the Wado Ichimonji to the sky, hoping that both Luffy and Mihawk could see it.

"Luffy!" he shouted as loud as he could, though it wasn't very loud. His voice was thick with pain and broke part of the way through as he coughed. "Can you hear me?" He slogged through the next breath and the next, his lungs, torn skin, and muscles aching with each flare of pain. But he forced his voice out, no matter the cost.

"Yeah!" came the reply. He knew that Luffy was looking over at the ship, that he could see it in his mind if nothing else.

"I guess I worried you there. I'm sorry for disappointing you. I know that you need nothing less than the greatest swordsman in the world." Zoro admitted his failure, and it was harder than he ever thought it would be. He had so much pride that being defeated so quickly and thoroughly was stinging even more than his wounds. But he had to do this, for his captain and his friend. "I let you down, please forgive me." He panted and coughed, blood flying out of his mouth. The strain of talking with a sliced chest was starting to be too much, but he wasn't done yet.

"Okay! Okay! You can stop saying things!" Yosaku pleaded, tears running down his face too.

"Big Bro!" Jonny cried.

Zoro looked up at the Wado Ichimonji, the steel shining in the sunlight, and sealed another promise on its blade. "I solemnly swear…from this moment forward…" he choked out, squeezing the hilt of his sword with what was left of his strength. Tears were rolling down his cheeks as he faced his new vow. He had something new to believe in, something new to trust in, and he hadn't realized that he felt this way until this moment: he would do anything for Luffy. "I will never lose again until the day comes when I defeat him and take his title!" Zoro couldn't see the faces of his captain and his rival, but if he could've, he would've seen them both smiling. The blade of the Wado Ichimonji glinted again, filled with a new purpose alongside its older purpose. "I will never, never be defeated! Is that okay, King of the Pirates?"

Is that okay, Luffy?

He could hear Luffy's laugh loud and clear, but even more importantly, the swordsman could feel the smile on Luffy's face.

"Yep!" It was that one word that did it all: the one word that validated his existence on the crew, the one word that forgave him for his failure, and the one word that let him know that he was still Luffy's friend. It was all Zoro needed to go on. Zoro knew that Luffy still believed in him and would stand by him and his dreams. The swordsman's vow also promised that he would fulfill his dreams and Luffy's. This failure would turn into a burning fire of ambition and desire and nothing would stop him from taking that title, the title of the Greatest Swordsman in the World. And he'd do it by the side of the King of the Pirates.

Zoro's sword dropped, his arm giving out, his body demanding rest as Usopp started to patch him up as best as he could. Three chest wounds in as many minutes had to be a record, but he was determined to live through it anyway. Luffy told them to go on and get Nami back, and he'd get Sanji to join their crew, that way, the five of them could set sail for the Grand Line. Zoro didn't pay attention to all the details, slipping in and out of consciousness, but with his sword lying at his side, he would do whatever it took to keep both of his promises.

To be Continued...

A/N: There you go! See you later! :3