Title: Final Betrayal
Author: AstroKender
Pairings: nearly gen, but with somewhat irrefutable hints of Luffy/Zoro visa-versa. Other pairings hinted at and/or mentioned.
Warnings: Rated T for swearing, violence, blood, and angst. Alternate Timeline. Contains Spoilers. Additional warnings for me just making shit up, like future crewmembers, fighting abilities and whatnot.
Spoilers: Spoilers span up to and possibly beyond the Thriller Bark arc. Do not read if you care about spoilers and are not up to date.
Notes: I’d like to take a minute here to thank marmaladegirl (Angela, Pirate Ryoko to those of you on ). Not only has she corrected many of my grammatical slip ups, she has veritably supported me throughout this fic, listening to my moans and rants and wild character expositions, and holding writing sessions at her apt, all the while without being much of a One Piece fan. But she’s come to love Luffy and Zoro vicariously through me, and I’m very happy to have had her at my side for the year this thing has taken to complete.

Final Betrayal – Chapter 11

dissent

“Disband?” Sanji’s cigarette dropped unnoticed from his mouth.

Everyone stared at Luffy, their expressions a mix of disbelief, shock and horror.

“Y-you’re joking,” Nami told him, giving a weak laugh.

Luffy stood amongst them, proud and stoic. “I’m not.”

“Look,” Kaya said as she came forward. “You guys don’t have to leave. Everyone here loves you; we’ll find some way to hide all of you!” Even as she said it though, her voice was quivering with fear. Usopp’s stories were quite detailed, after all.

“We can’t do that,” Sanji said gently as he put a hand on the blonde’s arm. “We’ll figure out something, but we can’t put this whole island, and you, at risk like that.”

“This is crazy!” Usopp cried while pulling at his hair in panic. He whirled on Luffy, clutching the other’s shoulders and shaking him. “Wh-what are we going to do?”

Luffy shrugged him off. “I’m going to Shimotsuki,” he repeated.

There was a thud and a clatter as Kidd jumped up on the table. “You’re our captain!” he shouted, his small fists clenched. “You can’t just leave us!”

Luffy’s was cool in the face of the boy’s fury. “It’s just for a little while. It won’t be forever,” he assured.

Kidd’s fists lowered slightly. Luffy turned away, unable to take everyone staring at him with such wounded eyes.

“Look, we can’t just keep running away,” he explained in a low voice. “The Marines are never gonna stop chasing us. So we’ll separate for a while and lay low. After I visit Zoro’s teacher, I’ll draw their attention, and then--” he broke off abruptly.

“And then?” Franky prompted, his gigantic arms crossing.

Luffy remained silent. His shoulders were so straight and stiff that his back could have been forged from steel. The sight of him made the others realize just whom it was standing before them. This wasn’t just their friend; this was the greatest pirate on the seas. Their mouths went dry at the thought. Suddenly, Sanji broke away, stepping unheedingly in that aura of power their captain had unconsciously invoked.

“You want to get caught,” he said slowly, accusingly. His eyes widened with the realization. “You want those Old Stars in front of you, don’t you? To pay them back for Zoro! That’s the real deal, isn’t that right, Captain?”

“And what if it is?” Luffy’s voice was ice. “Do you have a problem with that, Sanji?”

“Hell no!” Sanji growled. He kicked at the nearest chair, sending it shooting across the room. “What I have a problem with is you not taking us with you! Don’t you think we want some of that revenge too?”

Luffy turned, staring at him. His eyes were dark and somber under the shadows of his hat.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve made my decision.”

And nothing they could say or do would change his mind. He didn’t want to break them up so soon, but he had been planning for such a thing long before they landed on Usopp’s home island. Those government bastards were gonna pay for what they did to Zoro. As much as he knew that Zoro would want him to get on with his life, Luffy just couldn’t let that deed go unpunished.

But the last thing he wanted was for the others to get hurt for his selfishness. He refused to lose anyone else, even if that meant he couldn’t be with them. For a while at least.

“Goddamn it Luffy,” Sanji hissed through gritted teeth. “You’re gonna get yourself killed!”

“I won’t die.” Luffy said. His harsh voice suddenly softened. “Zoro would be mad at me if I died,” he added with a tiny grin that plucked at his friends’ heartstrings.

“Luffy….” Brook whispered. Beside him, Chopper began to cry softly.

“And what of the rest of us?” Robin asked as she stared at a stain on the table with her eyebrows drawn together. “What are we to do in your absence?”

Luffy was at her side, a calloused hand on her shoulder, making Robin bite her lip as her chin trembled slightly. Luffy looked around at his friends, his eyes lit with confidence and the warmth of camaraderie.

“Everybody needs to decide for themselves what they’re gonna do.” He told them. “Find somewhere safe to hide out for a while. I won’t forgive any of you if you let the government get you.” His hand pulled away from Robin as he turned to face his shipwright.

“Franky, you’ve got until tomorrow morning to figure out how to get everyone where they need to go. In the meantime, weld some metal to Sunny’s hull. She’ll be staying inside Laboon for a while and we don’t want her to get ate up in his stomach.”

“Right.” The cyborg’s normally brash tone was subdued. “You can count on me.”

Luffy pulled away from the group and headed for the door, his hat pulled low. Sunlight cast his body in silhouette for one brief, shining moment.

“This is for the best guys. You’ll just have to trust me.”

And then he was gone, pulling the door shut behind him, taking the light away with him.

trust

“How long do you think this will be for?” Nami asked heavily, falling into her seat once the overwhelming feeling of helplessness had faded. “This temporary disbanding?” She said the words like a curse.

Robin got up to pour them all some tea. Still shell shocked, Sanji let her. “It’s difficult to say, really,” she said, her hands and voice reassuringly steady as she passed the steaming cups around. Whatever she was feeling from before had been carefully veiled. “If Luffy’s goal is the Elder Stars, they are probably back at the Holy Land by now.”

“That’s on the other side of the Red Line. It took us two years to get that far!” Nami clenched her cup with both hands, her grip threatening to shatter the ceramic.

“Two years?” Chopper’s eyes were large and mournful.

Robin sat, setting her own cup aside to cool. “The marines have their own ways of travel. If Luffy plans this right, it should not take as long as that.”

“But just him?” Franky said, bursting in on their conversation. “Against the Government capital? I don’t care how strong he is, that’s suicide!”

“He’ll beat them,” Sanji muttered from across the table. He refused to meet any of their eyes. “If it’s for Zoro, he won’t lose.”

They others fell silent at that.

“I’m so sorry, everyone.” Kaya stared into her tea in misery. “I’m sorry I had to bring you such terrible news.”

“Don’t worry about it, Kaya.” Usopp flashed his teeth bravely, even though he looked as though he might throw up. “We’ll work things out.”

“Right,” Nami added, smiling for the other girl. “It’s only temporary, after all.”

“Indeed.” said Brook, finally speaking up. “There is little time left for moping. We need to decide what to do. May I suggest we all take a while to think on it, then meet back here at lunch?” The skeleton looked around as everyone nodded in reluctant approval.

“Okay, everyone.” Nami stood, keeping the smile on her face through sheer dogged determination. “I’m going to the ship to pack. Be sure to make good choices.”

One by one, the others rose, heading somewhere to be alone with their thoughts. Kidd alone held back, his head buried in his knees.

“I hate this…” he said, his voice coming out muffled but painfully clear.

Usopp paused at the door. “He said to trust him,” he reminded the other boy.

Everyone else kept moving, unable to look at one another. Because, for the first time ever, they found that to be a nearly impossible thing to do.

gone

The mineral bath was exquisitely painful. Zoro hissed as he settled himself into the nearly scalding water. He was able to walk around some, but the effort of scrubbing himself clean had nearly exhausted him. Titling his head back, he sank down until the water lapped over his shoulders and closed his eyes. He lie there, breathing in the heavy steam as he listened to it condense and drip down from the ceiling. The heat of the bath made him lightheaded, though that being not much of a foreign sensation over the weeks, Zoro ignored it. Instead he focused on the feeling of his aching muscles slowly relaxing in the heat.

He hadn’t seen Ben or Shanks all day. He had to admit he had missed their company. They kept him from dwelling on things. Things he’d rather forget about.

Zoro dunked his head beneath the water. He had to straighten up. He’d been given a second chance, so he needed to move forward, and stop looking to the past and the people in it. He resurfaced, breathing out slowly.

Speaking of second chances, Zoro felt the odd need to apologize to Mihawk, or at least just talk to him. The old witch had told him to ask Hawk Eyes about this new thing going on with his body. Fat chance of that, though. Mihawk hadn’t even deigned to step one foot onto the same altitude as him since their psuedo-argument weeks ago.

Zoro opened his eyes and stared at the wall for a long moment.

A few more days and he’d be up and running around somewhat normally. Doctorine was keeping a sharp eye on him though, insisting he needed at least three weeks’ more rest to be considered even nominally healed. She told him to stay in his room and be happy about it. It was only through Dalton’s intercession that Zoro had been allowed to hobble down the hall to take a much-needed bath.

“Roronoa?” Speaking of larger man, Dalton’s baritone breached the door. “Is everything all right? You have been in there for quite a while.”

“Ah!” Now that it was brought to his attention, Zoro noticed the once steaming water was rapidly turning tepid. He looked at his pruning hands and wondered how long he’d been soaking. “Sorry. I’m coming out, now.”

Goosebumps traveled up bare flesh as Zoro dried himself. He slid into loose tunic and pair of pants, snitched from Ben’s recently laundered clothes. A pair of thick socks and a worn pair of slippers followed. Throwing the towel over his head, Zoro opened the door and joined Dalton in the hall.

“I brought a stew up,” the larger man offered as they walked back to the swordsman’s room. “I heard you haven’t exactly taken to Kureha’s cooking.”

“That’s an understatement,” Zoro grimaced, toweling his hair dry.

“And, well, I tried to sneak you something to drink in but….”

“She caught you.”

“Yeah.” Dalton smiled apologetically.

“She’s probably drinking it right this minute,” Zoro groused. “Anyways, thanks for trying.”

“It’s the least I could do for a hero to this kingdom,” Dalton chuckled lightly.

Zoro stepped into his room, his hands falling to his sides. “That was a long time ago.”

Dalton stared at the younger man in sympathy. The trial at Loguetown had been in all the papers. He had dug up a battered copy for Mr. Beckman just last week. The king couldn’t blame the swordsman for his actions but still, what an awful thing to have had to have done.

“Where’s Shanks anyway?” Zoro muttered suddenly, having sensed the words of comfort wanting to escape from Dalton’s mouth. “That bastard owes me money from our last game at cards.” He sat heavily on the bed and lifted the lid from the stewpot sitting nearby. “Look’s good.”

“They didn’t tell you?” Dalton’s expression turned perturbed.

Zoro looked up sharply. “Tell me what?”

“They plan on leaving today. They’re at the capital right now getting supplies.”

Zoro frowned at this information. “When will they be back?”

Dalton’s eyes showed regret. “They won’t.”

Zoro stared into his stew, saying nothing, but Dalton couldn’t miss the way the muscle jerked in his jaw. He cleared his throat roughly, quietly furious that the Red Hair crew left him to break the news.

“Oh, I’ve forgotten to bring you a spoon,” he noted weakly. “I’ll be back in a moment.” He departed with a small bow, the one that his councilors always nagged him for. Kings do not bow, they said.

They also said never to leave the room when the tensions in it were running high. Dalton would soon kick himself for forgetting this lesson as, when he returned, he found Zoro gone.

aid

Zoro cursed, already wishing that a coat had been among Shanks and Ben’s laundry.

How could they just leave like that? Without saying anything? When Zoro got a hold of those two, they were certainly gonna get an earful. Once he found a way off this bloody mountain, that is.

He stared at the empty cable gloomily. The gondola must be down at the base of the mountain. And in his condition, his weakened muscles would give out before he climbed even halfway down. Zoro rubbed at his face in frustration, his hands already feeling like ice in the frigid climate.

A stir in the snow shook him from his dolor. One of Kureha’s giant rabbits (lapins, his mind supplied belatedly) was snuffling around the walls of the castle in search of food. These creatures were carnivorous, he remembered, so it wasn’t likely to be searching for a nice green sprout of grass. But Zoro also remembered the witch telling him that these big balls of fur and teeth had replaced Chopper in dragging Kureha’s sled down the mountain and to the villages. The witch’s sled was nowhere to be seen, but a rope-walking rabbit was definitely in front of him.

“Hey,” he called out, hoping that this particular lapin had been weaned to not like the taste of humans.

The large white beast turned and looked at Zoro with a decidedly unfriendly eye. It hissed.

“Shit.” Zoro sighed.

The lapin charged.

decisions

“Well,” Nami looked around, her expression a carefully crafted mask of resolve. “Have you all decided what you’re going to do?”

The eight sat around the kitchen table with grim expressions. Sanji had set out cold cuts for lunch, but they went untouched as six of them stared at their hands and the gold bands that rested heavily on their forefingers. (Chopper’s ring encircled one antler, to keep it from breaking when he transformed). The gold bands represented the dreams they had set out to accomplish together. It was a symbol of their bond.

It all seemed unduly cruel. After all, those rings --and the engravings on them-- had been Luffy’s idea in the first place.

“Look!” Luffy pointed out gleefully. “A compass for Nami, ‘cause your gonna draw a map of the world. “And these little wavy lines for Sanji, ‘cause he’s gonna open the very first restaurant on All Blue!”

Luffy hopped around until he was by Chopper. He squatted next to the reindeer with a gigantic grin that nearly swallowed his face. “And this here is the petal of that flower Nami told me you loved, because your Doctor-guy said it could cure anything.” He handed over the gold band with a small sakura petal engraved on it. “I figured that was fitting for the guy who was gonna learn how to fix any sickness.”

“And Usopp!” he crowed, rushing over just as the tears were welling up in Chopper’s eyes. “Here’s yours. I thought that a bullseye would look cool, but you’re already an awesome sniper, so I had them put something that I thought represented a Brave Warrior of the Sea.”

Usopp stared at the miniature skull and crossbones in awe, his lower lip beginning to quiver.

“And Franky, yours is a picture of Sunny’s head because this ship is your dream, and Robin yours is this symbol that the guy said meant ‘history’ but I wasn’t sure, so tell me if it’s not and I’ll go knock that guy on the head. Brook,” Luffy prattled on cheerfully. “Yours was the easiest; I just had them carve in a little whale, heehee.”

“Luffy…” Usopp whispered, having finally found his voice.

“How did you do all this?” Nami asked in awe, slipping her ring onto her finger. “It fits perfectly.”

Their captain laughed, the twinkle in his eyes sparkling like miniature stars. “That’s a secret. But, you all had to have your share of One Piece, right?”

Everyone looked at him, eyes wet. “Right!” Chopper cried out. The others immediately echoed him.

“What about yourself and Zoro?” Robin asked as the voices died down. “You both have accomplished your dreams; what symbol is on your rings?”

“Nothing yet.” Luffy held out two bare rings, while scratching his head. “I thought and thought, but I couldn’t come up with anything.”

Robin smiled her mysterious smile. “I’m sure the two of you will figure it out.”

“Right!” Luffy beamed. He twisted to look behind him. “Hey Zoro!”

“Hmm?” Zoro answered, his voice rough with sleep.

“Wake up! We’ve got to figure out what we’re living for!”

The memory of that day, once a source of such happiness, now brought the Straw Hat crew nothing but pain. Because --even if their Captain had assured them it was just temporary-- they couldn’t help but fear that if they separated now, they’d never see each other again.

Brook was the first to speak. “I will go with Laboon,” he said softly. “He has been missing Crocus lately, so we will head back over Reverse Mountain. As large as he is, I doubt the Marines will bother us.”

“Straw Hat wants the Sunny in Laboon,” Franky shrugged. “And I ain’t leaving my ship.” He cast nonchalant eyes over to the woman next to him. “Robin?”

Robin’s face was stolid as she replied. “There is much about Gold Roger that I’d like to hear from Dr. Crocus.” Her eyes met the cyborg’s, her lips twitching into a tiny smile. “I will join you.”

Franky looked relieved.

“I’m sticking with Kaya,” Chopper said while swinging his feet, his furry face looking forlorn but determined. “There are still lots I can teach her.”

“Well,” Nami sighed. “I think I’ll go to Kokoyashi and see Nojiko. After that, well…” she ran a hand through her hair and tried to smile.

“We’ll figure something out,” Usopp assure her.

Nami looked at him in surprise. “But—”

“Hey, I told you didn’t I?” he slid his hand across the table, brushing his knuckles against hers. “I’ve made my choice.”

“Right.” Nami smiled, earnestly this time. “Thanks.”

“You better take care of her, Longnose,” Sanji muttered around the stub of his cigarette. He breathed out a thick cloud of smoke. “I guess I’ll go visit the shitty old man.” He sighed. “I need to tell him about All Blue anyway.”

Silence fell. They all turned to look at their youngest member, who had been sullenly silent through it all.

“Kidd?”

The boy --the only one without a ring, since he had joined after One Piece had been found-- seared them all with a glare before shooting to his feet. Without a word, he stomped out of the house, slamming the door in his wake. The sound made everyone wince.

white

“Thanks for the lift,” Zoro said, as he patted the lapin gratefully. It wasn’t a bad sort really, once he knocked it upside the head to show it he wasn’t dinner. The white beast had taken him across the cable and down the mountain in half the time it would have taken the gondola.

The lapin snuffed Zoro for a moment, then hopped about to climb up the thick rope once more. Zoro looked around him. He was sure during their descent that he saw chimney-smoke rising from the direction of the village, but now it was masked by a swirling flurry of snow. As Zoro looked around at his options he rubbed his hands together and stomped his feet, trying to get circulation back to his extremities. With the sun hidden, the bite to the air had turned brutal.

With nothing else to go by, Zoro finally chose the course with least resistance. A rolling valley spread out between walls of forest on every other side. It was a pure white blanket of snow that looked almost inviting. The slope inclined back up towards the mountains, but Zoro was pretty sure he’d find the village on the other side of the rise.

Shoving his feet more firmly into his frozen slippers, Zoro proceeded to head in the complete opposite direction of where he wanted to go.

Above him, a hundred yards up the Gondola cable, the young lapin watched. That human had smelled off somehow. The rabbit could still feel the heat from the man where he had clung to his back. And, after all that hassle about wanting to get down, the guy was making his way back into the mountains again.

Its ears laid back, the white monster hurried up the rope, all the while pondering the general strangeness of humans.

hunt

Dalton’s face was dark as he reported his findings. “I checked the roof; he’s not there.”

Doctorine cursed softly.

“He’s nowhere in this castle.” The larger man added.

Kureha took a healthy chug of wine (appropriated from Dalton) before chucking the bottle into the fireplace where it exploded in a whoosh of flame. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve. “What were you talking about before he left?”

“Well, we talked about my stew, and the liquor I tried to sneak him…” He noticed the witch’s glare, and hurried on to the real facts. “…And the fact that the Red-Hair crew were departing today. It seems they didn’t tell him for some reason.”

“The fools…” Kureha cursed again. She moved about the room, gathering up her things.

“Ready the sled,” she ordered.

horizons

Sanji was sitting alone in the aquarium bar on the Sunny. He was slumped on the couch listlessly, one hand draped over the back and holding an unlit cigarette. He’d lain there all afternoon, watching the light filter down through the upper deck to shoot its beams into the blue waters surrounding him. It seemed unreal that, in a few days or less, he would no longer be calling this ship his home.

He wanted to lash out at the unfairness of it, but the whole affair had just sucked the life out of him. All he could do was lie there and feel the hourglass empty, dragging him down with it.

“Sanji?” A lilting voice called from the doorway. The blond struggled into a sitting position to find Kaya staring at him uncertainly.

“I was told I could find you here.” Clasping her hands in front of her, she stepped into the room. Her russet eyes widened as she got her first look around. “Oh my! It’s beautiful!” She gasped, staring at the transparent walls filled with sparkling water and sea life of all types and sizes.

“What a strange assortment of fish,” she said with awe, placing her hand against the glass. She stared into the tank, enthralled by its contents. Sanji stood and walked over to join her.

“They’re from All Blue,” he said, watching the fish with a glow in his one visible eye.

“How magnificent! I had heard tales, but to know they’re actually true…” her eyes danced with wonder.

“It was like no ocean I’d ever seen,” Sanji agreed, putting his hand on the glass next to hers. “Even now it feels like a dream.” His ring caught the diffused light and glowed golden. He shook himself, and let his hand slip away. “I’m sorry, did you need something?”

“Err, yes. I had a question, actually…” Now that he was focused on her, Kaya didn’t seem to know what to say. “I was wondering if, maybe… If it were all right with you, then could I…?” Her features scrunched up in a show of frustration that Sanji found adorable. She stopped, sighing. “Wait. I’m not saying this right.” Kaya rubbed her face, then turned up and stared at chef with steady eyes. She took a deep breath.

“I want to go with you.”

Sanji --who had been about to light his cigarette-- suddenly dropped it. “Huh?”

Kaya turned away and began nervously pacing around the center bar. “I know it sounds crazy. We haven’t known each other for long, after all. But, listening to you talk about Mr. Zeff and all the others…it really sounds wonderful,” she ended with a wistful sigh.

Sanji cocked his head to the side, certain he hadn’t heard right. “It does?”

“Yes, of course!” Kaya smiled, clearly imagining crotchety, old, grandfather types bouncing children on their knees. Maybe his stories of the Baratie weren’t clear enough. He didn’t have Usopp’s gift of story-telling, after all.

“A floating restaurant,” she continued. “I can almost picture it in my mind.” Crossing her arms, she seemed to suddenly remember that she was building a case for herself. She whirled on Sanji, her eyes bright and determined. “A ship like that: it’s bound to need a doctor, right?”

“Well…there’s a lot of blood that gets shed, that’s for certain,” Sanji answered weakly.

“See? And I already talked it out with Chopper; he seemed more than happy about the idea. Besides…” Kaya’s expression turned wan for a moment. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “It’s time I expanded my horizons.”

“Kaya….” Sanji didn’t know what to say. He stared at her, seeing everything he wanted offered up to him on a silver platter.

“Please, Sanji. Let me come with you,” she pleaded. “Don’t let the only adventures I know be the ones told to me.”

Sanji ducked his head to hide his expression. “As if I could refuse such a lovely lady,” he answered, his voice husky.

“Really?” Kaya stepped closer. He could smell her shampoo again. It was rapidly becoming his favorite scent. “You’ll take me?”

Sanji gave her a rakish grin and nodded once.

“Oh, Sanji! Thank you!” Kaya squealed, attaching herself to the other in an impromptu embrace that left hearts floating in Sanji’s eyes.

“I already have my things packed. All that’s left is convincing poor Merry.” She bit at a fingernail. “He seems absolutely beside himself.”

Sanji could commiserate. Right now he couldn’t imagine being without the glow of this lady’s smile. With her light shining on him, the future suddenly seemed a little less bleak.

bighorn

Ben and Shanks were loading the last of the supplies on the train of sleds that would head over the mountains and back to where their ship was docked. With luck and weather on their side, they would reach it before nightfall. But snow was falling heavier by the moment, limiting visibility and causing the sled drivers to mumble amongst themselves, their faces upturned to stare disapprovingly at the skies. If they didn’t leave soon, the hired help would mutiny and the Red Hair Pirates would remain stranded on the island until the weather cleared.

Ben was just about to hop into the back of the last sled when a plume of white appeared down the road, growing rapidly larger as it neared. It resolved into a large rabbit, a scar standing out prominently above its left eye. It was pulling a sled behind him at such a speed that a wave of snow was shooting out behind it. Driving that sled was the weathered Doctorine, with Dalton’s massive form in tow behind her.

The rabbit dug its claws in suddenly, sending it and the sled skidding along the street to slide to a halt mere centimeters from the end of the caravan. Ben rose to his feet and faced them, a frown pulling at his lips. He cast a narrow-eyed glance over at his captain, silently promising Shanks that if things had gone to hell for this little stunt, he was certainly going to receive a tongue-lashing for it.

“Where is he?” Kureha demanded, looking around. “Is he here?”

“Who?” Shanks asked, as if trying to hold on to ignorance for as long as possible.

Dalton looked back towards the mountains, his face as hard and craggy as stone. “If he got lost out there,” he spoke in a deep voice that seemed to hit their guts like a sledgehammer. “He’s a dead man.”

“He’s a dead man anyway, once I get a hold of him,” Kureha promised darkly.

Shanks took a step forward, his eyebrows drawing together. “Are you talking about Zoro?”

The look the doctor shot him could have leveled mountains. “Who else would go through all of this just to catch you fools before you left?”

Shanks scowled, getting the unwanted proof that his plan had just spectacularly blown up in his face. “Of all the blooming, bloody idiots!” He cursed.

“What did you expect?” Kureha sneered. She pulled on the reins, turning her lapin and sled about. “I’m going to backtrack, see if I can find the brat.”

“I’ll head towards Gyasta,” Dalton offered, transforming into his bison form. “Maybe he took the wrong line down the mountain and is headed there.”

“If I were you…” Doctorine addressed Shanks and Ben without looking at them. She trailed off, her wrinkled face creased with anger. “Do what you want,” she bit out finally. Flicking the reins, she urged her rabbit forward once more.

A commotion up ahead forced her to stop. A small crowd of villagers had formed on the road, with all of them looking down the road where a white giant was making its way towards them. The group, as one, all bowed suddenly.

“A Hiking Bear?” Kureha muttered, the light glinting off her glasses. She hopped off her sled and stalked forwards, pushing her way past the mob.

“What’s one of them doing off the mountains?” Someone asked.

“Hey, there’s something under his arm.” Said another.

“It’s a person!”

The bear stopped and released its burden into the hands of the front line of villagers. Bowing, it swiveled around to walk back the way it came, heading up into the mountains once more.

The men held the limp form as the doctor approached. Frozen green hair was stark against the snow. Kureha bent down next to him.

“Is he alive?” Ben asked, he and Dalton (back in human form) having followed close behind the witch.

“Ask him yourself.” Kureha said, her voice slightly less hostile than it was moments before.

Zoro pulled himself upright, puffing and panting and shivering. His face was red and chapped; ice clumped his lashes together. His arms wrapped tightly across his chest, seeming frozen in position. Ben recognized his own clothes, too worn and thin for the elements. He wasn’t even wearing shoes, having either lost them or lacking them in the onset. In seconds, Ben’s coat was off and draped around the younger man, his mind fervently whispering apologies.

Zoro eyes were fever-bright but lucid as he stared through the forest of legs to home in on Shanks, who had remained at the back of the group.

“Wh—wh—why?” he huffed out the word between fiercely chattering teeth.

Shanks stared back at him, his face blank but his eyes dark with guilt.

“Take him inside.” Kureha told Dalton. “Get him warmed up.” She stood.

“You two.” Turning, she addressed the pirates. “You aren’t going anywhere till this man gets his explanation.”

Ben didn’t even need to be told; he was already following Dalton into his modest house. He cast a pointed look back at his captain, telling with him to do the right thing.

“Fine,” Shanks agreed softly. He walked to the house.

explanations

“You’re leaving.” Zoro stated with a steadier voice, once both his insides and outside were warmed with piles of blankets and mug after mug of hot broth. His skin was flushed as his internal temperature continued to spike. Once the rest of him had warmed sufficiently, Kureha told them, she would have to place some icepacks on him to combat his fever.

He and the two Red Hair pirates sat around Dalton’s fireplace, staring at each other. Kureha was in the kitchen, using the stove to cook up a concoction of medicines to help repair any damage Zoro might have done to himself with his little escapade, particularly to his heart. As she worked she proceeded to eavesdrop on the boys’ conversation. What she learned made the doctor worry even more for her patient’s heart, though this time for entirely different reasons.

Zoro sat, eyes drooping, but refusing to rest. Not until he heard what Shanks had to say.

“Aye,” Shanks replied, a smirk tilting one corner of his mouth upwards. “My sea legs are getting stiff; it’s high time to move on and give ‘em good stretch.”

Zoro frowned at the redhead’s trite response. “It doesn’t seem like an Emperor to skulk away like a stray cat,” he said.

Shank’s smile turned apologetic as he tousled his own hair. “I’m more like one than you think.”

“Why’d you try to leave without telling me?” Zoro asked bluntly.

Shanks’ smile vanished. “Because, my obligation to you is finished.”

Silence fell as Zoro digested that. He stared into the crackling fire, his face carefully blank.

“I thought we were friends,” he stated without looking at the other.

“We are!” Shanks laughed. “You’re a fine chap, and I’d sit down for a drink with ya anytime. It’s just…time to move on.”

Zoro’s head turned, his eyes boring into the older man with frightening intensity. “Take me with you.”

For a moment Shanks was genuinely speechless. He stared mutely as Zoro looked away again, this time fiddling with a frayed thread on his blanket.

“It’s been too long since I’ve been alone,” he explained reluctantly. “I’ve gotten spoiled by always having friends around.” His eyes, soft and dark and as near to pleading as they probably got, found Shanks’ again. “Take me with you.”

Shanks felt torn by the admission from the proud swordsman but in the end he shook his head. After all, what would Luffy think if he got here only to find out his mentor had absconded with his precious comrade? “I think not,” he replied, not without empathy.

Zoro watched him, his eyes narrowing in sudden thought. “Why?”

Zoro was beginning to look suspicious. Shanks cursed the younger man’s unnaturally sharp instincts. If he didn’t think quickly, the jig with Luffy would be up and it would be Zoro running off like a frightened alley cat. Thinking rapidly, Shanks reached into his coat, clenching his hand around a roll of papers before pulling them out into view. He hated having to do this, but…

“Take you with us?” Shanks eyes were mere slits behind a curtain of crimson bangs. “The World’s Greatest Swordsman and the Pirate King to boot?” he sneered as he held aloft the old newspaper, its headline baldly calling Luffy a fraud. “I’d never get the government off my coattails.” He stood swiftly, as if unable to bear the presence of the younger man any longer.

Zoro’s eyes widened slightly in shock before an angry protest ripped past his throat. “You know that--”

Shanks cut him off sharply. “What I know is that you made your bed, Roronoa!” He threw the paper down in front of the other. “Now in it you must lie!”

“Now, listen here--!” Zoro shot to his feet, swaying slightly at the sudden change in altitude.

“No; you listen.” Shanks poked his forefinger at the swordsman, his voice laced with artificial anger. “The deed was yours; it’s over and done and now you have to own up to it. Otherwise…” He turned away. “Well, you can hole yourself up in this castle forever, or run somewhere else and hide, living in your denials. I don’t care either way because the one thing you’re not doing is getting back on my ship!”

Zoro’s face was red from anger and sickness. “I’m not denying what I did, damn it!”

“But you sure as hell haven’t supplied the why’s now have you?” the redhead shot back.

“Shanks!” Ben barked out, jumping to stand with the rest of them. His First’s glare told him he had gone too far. Jaw clenched, Zoro was staring at the floor, swallowing furiously.

Taking a deep breath, Shanks lowered himself back into his seat. His voice was softer, but still biting when he again spoke.

“Explain it to me,” he demanded. “Surely you know that what you did was crueler to that boy than anything death the government could have given him?”

Zoro’s face crumpled, his body quickly joining it as he fell back into his chair. “Damn it, Shanks! I know!” he choked, bending over to take his face in his hands. “I know…”

Though it pulled at his heart to see the boy like this, Shanks persisted. He had to get the boy off the trail. And, he had to know that he had done the right thing. “Then why?”

Zoro was silent for a long while. So silent that Ben shot him a worried glance, fearing the boy’s exertions had caused him to pass out. Finally, however, Zoro lifted his head. His voice, when he spoke, rumbled and croaked as though squeezing past a painful lump in his throat.

“I was fool,” he murmured. “A goddamn selfish fool. I told myself that the others still needed him. That there was still plenty he had to do in this world. But, in the end, it wasn’t about them or Luffy; it was about me. I didn’t want to see him die-- not like that.” He stared at Shanks, willing him to understand. “It’s not that he wasn’t prepared to die; I just… wasn’t prepared to lose him.” His head bowed once more, the last coming out as a pained whisper. “Far better for me to die than have to witness that.”

Shanks regarded him quietly for a moment, his fingers tapping against his chin. “You know what?” His voice sounded bemused and easy-going once more. “That’s all right, I think.”

“What?” Zoro turned to stare at him incredulously. “Haven’t you been listening? I went and destroyed the dream of the person that I respect and love-- more than any other!” His voice cracked; his hands clenched. “When we met, I told him that he better not get in the way of my dream,” Zoro said, his eyes looking far away. “I never imagined I’d be getting in the way of his.”

Shanks rose to his feet once more, going over to Zoro and perching on the arm of the his chair. “And a terrible thing, that.” He slung his only arm over the younger man’s shoulders. “But, what’s all right —more than all right-- to my eyes, is the fact that you loved another so much that you’d tear down everything to save them. You threw away all of it to save your captain.”

Zoro stared at the floor, ignorant of the look that passed between the two Red Hair pirates.

Shanks continued, his voice warm and smooth, like mulled wine. “Pride, honor, friendship: very important things, all of them. But love, well, that’s the only true thing to fight for. A love like that can achieve terrible things; things that would make a man go mad merely to think of them. But it is also the type of love that overthrows gods and governments, stops time and tears down the stars.”

“And how is any of that ‘all right’?” Zoro asked tiredly.

“Don’t you know, boy?” Shanks gave the other a squeeze. “Luffy’s alive because of the actions you took. And you’re alive too, which means you can make up for them! Nothing can be undone, but almost everything can be forgiven.”

Zoro nudged the man lightly in gratitude, looking comforted by his words. But his face, what could be seen in profile, still held a wealth of sadness. “I can’t,” he muttered, rubbing his face in exhaustion. “I’ve gone up against gods and men and beasts more frightening than can be imagined. But I just can’t face him. Not yet.”

“One day, then.” Shanks gave the other a final pat.

Zoro eyes were suddenly boring into his. “You can’t tell him. If you run into Luffy, promise you won’t.”

Shanks gave him a crooked grin. “I swear to you I won’t so much as mention your name. Besides,” he rose, stretching and popping his back. “I think we’ll stay here for a few more weeks. The cold air is doing my men good.” He stood before the fireplace, his expression hidden in shadows and flames. “And, in any event, we can’t be taking you with us as you are. You look a right sore sight, my lad, if I you don’t mind me saying.”

Zoro stared up at him in surprise. A tiny grin snuck up on his face, revealing his pleasure.

Shanks headed towards the door, ruffling the shag of green hair as he passed. “Rest up, you bum! The quicker you’re healed up the quicker I can stop babysitting you and go back to respectable pirating.”

“Aye-aye, sir.” Zoro gave him a weak salute, before settling back and falling immediately into an exhausted slumber.

Shanks left the room, Ben hot on his heels.

“What the hell was that about?” he hissed. “Were you trying to break the boy?”

“I do feel a bit rotten, right now,” Shanks admitted, his eyes showing remorse.

Ben sighed heavily and scratched his head. “Yeah well, you should.”

“I’ll apologize later, if things don’t work out.” Shanks stared at the abandoned caravan, its drivers all gone home to have dinners with their families. The snow wasn’t letting up either, meaning their cargo wasn’t moving any time soon.

“About that,” his first mate muttered around lighting a cigarette. “First you say you’ve told Luffy about Zoro --via an extremely rare message bottle that we’ll have a hell of a time replacing-- and now you’re promising to take him with us.”

“Heaven knows the last thing he’ll want to do is sail under me, once he learns how I’ve muddled in things,” Shanks mused aloud.

“Well?” Ben blew out a stream of smoke that was nearly masked in the cold by the cloud of his breath. “Which is it going to be, Captain? Are we really taking Zoro with us?”

“Is that a note of hope I detect, Mr. Beckman?”

Ben gave him a look and Shanks smiled slightly, chuckling and sighing all at once. “Well,” he said. “That’s up to Luffy. Zoro too, of course.” he stared up at the heavily falling snow, his voice turning serious. “Our little Anchor has a hard fight on his hands. They’re both stubborn mules, to right. It’ll be a fierce battle, and I fear they’ll be injuries to both sides before it’s done.

“Who do you think will win?”

Shanks gave a rueful shake of his head. “Ben, I believe you’ve come across the one bet I’m not prepared to take.”

truth

Morning came too soon for the pirates in Syrup Village. Tossing and turning most of the night, not a one of them could’ve claimed to have gotten much sleep. Chief among those was their captain, who wasted a few precious moments in his futon, staring at the sunlight steaming in and wishing that the day didn’t have to happen.

In the end, time couldn’t be put off, and Luffy hefted himself out of bed, slipping his token hat over his head. The house was empty, not even holding the remains of one last breakfast before it returned to abandonment once more.

The weather was mild, the heat of summer finally breaking, letting the east wind blow in once more. The sky was almost painfully blue, with radiant white clouds floating leisurely across it.

The first person Luffy found when he stepped outside was Usopp, who was standing by a rounded stone near the back of the house. As Luffy neared, he recognized it as a gravestone. His feet came to a halt as he heard his sharpshooter address it.

“He was everything you said he was, Ma.” Usopp was smiling slightly. “He said he was sorry he didn’t make it back for you, but said that you’d probably understood. This is his, you know,” Usopp pulled a pistol from his sash. “I bet he’d like for you to have it.” He placed the empty weapon on the weatherworn stone.

Usopp looked up, acknowledging Luffy’s presence before turning back to the grave and clearing his throat. “I’m more like him than I thought. I belong out there, on the ocean. I’m not sure when I’ll be back, or even if I will—it’s a dangerous place after all. But this place will be with me, wherever I go.” He wiped his nose, scuffing his foot across the grass. “I just wanted you to know that.”

“You’re different from when we first met,” Luffy said, once Usopp had stepped away to join him.

Usopp snorted lightly and jammed his hands into his pockets. “Yeah? Same to you, you know.”

“Yeah,” Luffy agreed. Together, they silently made their way towards the coastline where Sunny was docked. They stood on the top of the rise, staring down at the beach and the figures moving around on it. Neither wanted to take that next step: that step that would start the many of which that would separate them, for an undeterminable amount of time. Maybe even forever.

“We’ve grown up, don’t you think?” Usopp wondered aloud.

Luffy thought about this. “We’ve grown. I think.”

“Are we better this way?”

Luffy thought back to the days when the whole world was one big adventure, back when nothing was taken seriously except for their dreams. Kids playing at pirates, Zoro had said once.

“I don’t know,” Luffy admitted. He turned to his friend with a smile. “But I wouldn’t trade any of it.”

Usopp bravely fought back the tears rising behind his eyes. “Really?”

“Well,” Luffy pressed his hat on more firmly, shading his face from the morning sun. “Maybe one thing….”

Usopp’s hand came out, gripping Luffy’s arm right where the black strip of cloth tied around it. “Me too.” He squeezed.

Luffy’s own hand rose to rest on the sniper’s. “Take care of yourself. Nami too.”

“I will.” Usopp grinned, the tightening of his face causing an errant tear to squeeze out. “We’ll be waiting for you, you know. So you’d better be sure to come back for us.”

Luffy nodded, and began walking down the slope.

The plan was to take everyone but Luffy on the Sunny, who was newly fortified to withstand the powerful stomach acids of Laboon’s stomach. Sanji, Chopper, and Kaya were going to be dropped off at the Baratie, then Nami and Usopp were going on to Conomi Island via the waver. The rest would return with Laboon to Reverse Mountain. They had offered to drop Luffy off at his destination as well, but the rubber-man refused, choosing instead to travel in the one-sail boat that Franky had built for him.

At least, that was the plan. But one member of the Straw Hats clearly had different ideas.

Kidd stared up at Luffy, angry at the other’s repeated prevention from him climbing into the smaller ship. The scar on his neck stood out strikingly against his flushed skin, as he once again tried to toss his meager bag of belonging in with Luffy’s, only for it to be stopped by his captain’s hand.

“I told you I’m going alone,” Luffy told him, frowning. The others gathered around quietly to watch.

“You promised!” Kidd shouted, looking ready to hit the other. “If I stuck with you, there’d be nothing I couldn’t do. It was a promise among men!”

“You heard what I said. Stay here if you don’t want to go with the others. Those boys didn’t seem to want you to leave, and there’s plenty of nice people that would probably be happy to take you in.”

“I don’t want adopted, I’m a fricken pirate! A Straw Hat: you said so at Loguetown!”

Kidd saw the look on Luffy’s face, and fell back a step, his eyes bruised by the apparent betrayal. “Liar!” he cried, his eyes tearing up against his will. “Liar! You drag me all the way here and then you abandon me? Is this what your friendship means, Captain?”

Luffy put a hand on his hat. “I’m sorry.” He took a step back towards the boat. The foamy surf flowed over his feet, sending a chill up his spine.

Kidd stared down at the wet sand, his curly brown hair glowing with highlights. “Is it because it’s my fault?” he demanded in a tiny voice that grew louder as his rant went on. “You all got captured to save me! And because of that, Zoro died! It’s all my fault and you hate me for it!”

“Don’t say such trash!” Luffy ordered, his words like a slap to the young boy’s face. Kidd looked up to see his captain shaking with anger. “It was no one’s fault! We made the choice to save you; Zoro made his choice to save me. It was his decision. Don’t dirty his memory by spouting—!”

Luffy stopped short. Talking about Zoro’s memory suddenly brought to mind the finished statue waiting for him in the next town. Zoro’s statue.

“Shit. I forgot it,” he cursed. The others stared at him, confusion reigning over their faces. Luffy stood next to his little boat, torn about whether or not to go back for it. He was distracted from his mental debate by the constant feeling of something hard knocking against his ankle. He looked down in irritation, noticing that the waves had carried in a glass bottle, shining pink in the sun. There was the shadow of something in it. Watching it for a moment, Luffy finally bent down.

“What is it?” Kidd asked, his anger giving way to curiosity.

“Dunno.” Luffy answered, turning the bottle over in his hands. He heard something clink around inside.

Brows drawn in bewilderment, he set his teeth against the cork, pulling it out with a pop. He upended the bottle and out spilled a rolled piece of parchment, bound tightly by a glittering band. Luffy caught it up instinctively, saving it from falling into the surf. Getting a closer look at it, his eyes widened. The bottle dropped from suddenly numb fingers. Luffy ripped the paper free, his hand closing protectively over the small, shining object. He held it so tightly that he could feel it making a circular impression in his palm. He imagined he could almost feel every scratchy symbol that was etched upon its surface.

Feeling suddenly short of breath, Luffy unfolded the parchment. His hands trembled so much that it ripped slightly. He closed his eyes for a moment, collecting himself all the while the others looked on, here and there exchanging shrugs and looks of confusion.

It was a letter. Against all logic, it was addressed to him. Luffy’s eyes shakily skimmed over it.

Salutations to the good and venerable Pirate King!

So glad to be able to assist you with your daring escape, though as I understand it, you lost something precious on the way. I send you this correspondence to let you know that, even after One Piece, there is still treasure to be had in the Grand Line. An object most valuable lies in the Sakura Kingdom. You have two weeks to claim it before we move on to parts untold. Don’t be late, or you’ll regret it.

Obligingly, Shanks
Captain of the Red Hair Pirates,
One of the Four Emperors

Luffy scanned the scrawling words then froze. His eyes swiftly reread the document, certain that it had to be some sort of hoax. A cruel joke designed to do…who knew what. It couldn’t be legit, in any event. There was just no way. He had seen the truth with his own eyes.

But the signature, the handwriting, the tempo of the language—when all of that matched up, when it all proved real… it was then that Luffy’s legs gave out on him. He fell to his knees, stunned and overcome and staring at the words that were suddenly dancing in front of his eyes.

“Luffy? What is it?” Nami came forward, dread written all over her face.

Chopper rubbed his hooves together nervously, looking at him with wide eyes. “What does it say, Luffy?”

“Luffy!” Kidd snapped, impatience and fear clouding his voice.

Large, fat tears squeezed past Luffy’s tightly clenched eyes, rolling in rivers down his face. Clutching the letter to his chest, he bent over it, like it was a dying child. His mind was buzzing with thoughts that sizzled like lightning, eventually accumulating into two shining words that repeated themselves over and over in his head.

He’s alive. He’s alive. He’s alive.

“He’s alive…” he croaked out through a mouth that had forgotten how to speak. He looked up, his eyes glittering and wet and glowing with a light that the others thought had been forever extinguished. “Guys, he’s alive. He’s really alive!” he repeated, rocking back and forth, laughing and crying at the same time.

Franky’s glasses dropped from his face. “You can’t mean—!”

Chopper’s lower lip trembled. “Zoro?”

Luffy nodded frantically, too overwhelmed to speak.

The letter was snatched from his hands and passed around, one by one transforming the faces that read it into expressions of moist-eyed awe. Nami’s hand rose to cover her mouth. Chopper began bawling uncontrollably and Usopp fell onto his rear in disbelief, his face so pale it was like he’d been struck dead on the spot.

Sanji passed the note back, his hands shaking every bit as much as his captain’s. He started to speak, stopped, and rubbed his face. He took a deep breath, then started again.

“How can you be sure?” he asked finally, his voice a breaking mixture of doubt and uncontrolled hope.

In answer, Luffy held out his hand, in which glittered a large gold ring. A ring that matched the eight in their own possession: a ring made from One Piece, engraved with the letters R, R, O, W.

“That god-damned marimo bastard—!” Sanji choked, covering his eyes.

Luffy’s laugh was like birdsong, flying into the air on glittering wings of absolute joy.

reasons

“A reason to live for, huh?” Zoro stared at his partner bemusedly as the clouds cast shadows that moved slowly over them.

Brimming with happiness, the rest of the crew had broken away to do other things, leaving Luffy and Zoro alone on the grass. Luffy hung from the tire swing like a wet towel. It swayed to and fro as he turned large eyes on his first mate.

“Yeah,” he said, holding out their new rings. “I mean, our dreams are finished: What is there to keep us going?”

Zoro slipped his hands behind his head, looking less troubled than Luffy had figured at this question. “The others, for one.” He shrugged.

“Well, of course.” Luffy rolled his eyes. “But they’re not a goal, they’re our friends.” He pushed with his feet, sending the swing up a bit before gravity pulled it back down. “We need a purpose! Something to work for.”

Zoro opened one eye. “I thought you prefer to just drift along wherever the current takes you?”

Luffy sighed in exasperation. Honestly, Zoro could be so dense at times! “I do, but…” He frowned and halted his swinging. His elbows propped on the tire and he leaned forward to stare solemnly at the other. “Zoro, we could die today and it’d be without any regrets. Doesn’t that take some of the fun out of everything?” he asked, his voice boyishly earnest.

The swordsman looked back at him for a moment, before holding out his hand. “Give me those.”

“The rings?” Luffy passed them over. Zoro rose to his feet and Luffy scrabbled out of the tire’s embrace. “Do you have an idea?” he asked as his head popped free.

“Ask me after dinner,” Zoro said, and walked away.

Luffy had gulped down his food without tasting it, curiosity and impatience overcoming his usual hunger. He excused himself after only three extra serving, pulling his swordsman away before he had even finished his drink. Sanji cleared away their plates while shaking his head in disbelief.

The moon was full as they stood back outside, this time walking to the rear deck for an added bit of privacy. They had barely come to a stop before the rubber-boy pounced on his first mate.

“Well?” Luffy demanded, vibrating with excitement.

Zoro seemed to hesitate a moment before reluctantly handing the rings over.

Once smooth, the two bands now had crudely scrawled letters carved across their surfaces. Luffy stared at them, his head turning this way and that.

“R-row? Tom-o? I don’t get it.” He looked to Zoro for explanation.

“You’ve got them backwards for one,” Zoro sighed as he switched the rings around in Luffy’s hands. “Here, put them together. It was too big for one ring, so I wrote it across both.”

Luffy looked at the word quietly.

“Is it okay?” Zoro asked gruffly as he looked away, scratching at his head.

“It’s perfect,” Luffy whispered, a tiny smile tickling his lips. He looked up, his eyes glowing. “This is it. This is what we’ll live for.”

He grabbed Zoro’s hand and pushed the larger ring onto his finger. “It’s a promise, right?” He looked up at the other seriously. Zoro smirked and took the other ring, shoving it onto Luffy’s forefinger.

“Yeah.” He squeezed the hand once before releasing it. “It’s a promise.”

Luffy grinned broadly, raising his hand to the sky while urging Zoro to do the same.

“This is what we live for…fight for. This is our new dream. Something that’s just ours.”

“It’ll be an oath between us,” Zoro agreed, his grin flashing in the low light like a comet.

Together they stared at their hands reaching out. For the stars. For the moon.

For tomorrow.

tbc