Ding-a-Ling~

Chimed the bells strapped to the front entrance of a cute little bar hidden deep within a forest of trees and bubbles that glistened like a rainbow. A man in green stepped within the bar with a satisfied smirk, his arm rested upon the swords strapped to his hip. An older gentleman peered up from the day's newspaper, adjusting his full moon specs with a grand smile.

"Oh, well look at that," Rayleigh chuckled setting his newspaper down within his lap. "Didn't expect you to show up first."

"He did have some help," you poked your head out from behind Zoro's back. Rayleigh smiled even larger than before, unfolding his legs and picking himself up from the sofa.

"I see you've been living under the roof of a warlord Zoro," Rayleigh proudly announces, taking your hand gently within his own and placing a kiss upon your hand. "I believe it's been about ten years since the last time I saw you (Y/n), you've grown into a beautiful young woman."

"Twelve," You correct with a shy giggle not letting the compliment slip your mind. "What about you, you haven't changed a bit," besides maybe Rayleigh's hair turning from blonde to a dusty color of freshly fallen snow, he still looked great for a man of 78 years.

"I'll take that as a complement," Rayleigh chuckled reaching behind himself looking for something behind the counter of the bar. You heard the sloshing of liquid, and looky looky, Rayleigh pulled out a bottle of booze to be poured within a row of shot glasses and offered you and Zoro one glass each as well as himself. You both gladly accepted the little gift. One little shot glass won't suffice Zoro's tank of a stomach, you thought with a shy snicker. "Why not celebrate this reunion?" Rayleigh offered all the while holding out his glass.

"You two know each other?" Zoro finally bothered to ask. You actually facepalmed yourself, the question was greatly delayed I guess you could say.

You put yourself back in order, taking a seat upon a nearby stool. "Now Zoro you'd think we knew each other if I gave you a nickname after Rayleigh. Right?" You asked.

"Old man, yeah don't remind me," Zoro grumbled smirling the contents of his glass with a settle movement of his hand.

"Awe what happened," you puffed out your lip. "I thought you liked that nickname."

"Only coming from you," the swordsman turned his head the other way unable to look at you head on. You grinned at this response since it was music to your ears then rested one leg over the other.

"Okay then," you tut. "So Zoro, When I was younger and lived with Shanks for a while, he went on risky business quite often and so Rayleigh would watch me instead."

"So a babysitter," Zoro spoke with a snicker on his end.

"If you want the correct term," Rayleigh shrugged as he didn't seem to mind the nickname. "Drink up kids," Rayleigh threw his head back and drunk his shot glass. You and Zoro were soon to follow. You say your glass upon the bar and took another glance around before getting to your feet.

"Well Zoro," you pat his arm. "Until the rest of your crew arrives, I'll be around," you proceeded to leave Shakky's co owned bar when Zoro grabbed you by the arm bringing your advance to a dead stop.

"So you're telling me you'll be messing around for an entire week until my crew arrives?" Zoro quickly asked of you like some over protective parent.

"Well yeah," you pry yourself from Zoro's hold. "I have no idea when the next time we'll meet with you traveling the Grand Line with your Captain and all, so I'll stay here until you leave for good... Is that a problem?" Rayleigh chuckled hearing how hostile you soon became. Zoro said the wrong thing at the wrong time that's for sure.

"No," Zoro huffed. "I've figured you'd stick around until I left, I meant what's your plans after I leave for Fishman Island?" Zoro spoke much nicer than before keeping you in mind. Thankfully you eased up pursing your lips.

"Probably stick around with Rayleigh for a while... Travel with Shanks again... I'm not sure at the moment cause I still have my duty as my father's sword so I haven't gave the future much thought," upon explaining you took a look out of the nearby window and giggled as you saw the bubbles inflate from the grass and float to the sky above. You were still a child at heart.

"You really like traveling don't you?" Zoro smiled softly.

"Who doesn't?" You snickered. "Now come on, let's enjoy our last few days together," you grabbed Zoro gently by the wrist. Your features scrunched together as he pried your hand from his wrist, it made you think Zoro didn't like your affection forcing a frown to occupy your lips, but eased up once Zoro held your hand instead.

"Doesn't mean it'll be the last time I see you."

One week later...

Did that ship just sink... With Zoro on it? You thought with eyes bugging out of your head as you stood on your hands and knees within the grass while peering into the sea. You couldn't see anything past the surface besides your own reflection. Zoro just had to take a nap on a ship that wasn't his and now the ship was floating towards Fishman Island.

You peered over to your right as a flash had caught your attention. A man with blonde hair had joined you in this sight. "What're you watching pretty lady?" You heard him ask you while he kept eye contact with you through the reflection, and so you shifted moving your entire head in order to face said man dressed in a sharp black suit, he held a hand to his nose with lovestruck eyes the second you met his gaze in reality.

Your gears grinded for a second. "You must be the Shitty Cook," you pulled from memory to insult the man and got to your feet. Sanji stood there alarmed, his eyes of sapphire blazed with fury and his nosebleed diminished.

"And who might you be?" Sanji asked now with disinterest in the beauty standing before him.

You couldn't help but glare at the man, no wonder why Zoro hates him. "My name is (Y/n)... I came here with your fellow crewmate Roronoa Zoro," Sanji now couldn't help but stare at you again much like before, you let out a noise of disgust. "Keep staring at me and I'll cut out your eyes.

"Your eyes... I-I've seen them before," Sanji stuttered after hearing your threat.

"I'm Mihawk's daughter... " You stated very simply that way even a toddler would understand.

"Wow," Sanji couldn't peel his eyes off of your gold. "Doesn't it creep you out that you have your father's eyes?"

"Nah not really," you kneeled down once again to peer down into the sea but still no luck. "It's just genetics."

"Okay then..." Sanji didn't expect such a reply. "But What're you doing here in Sabaody with Zoro of all people?"

"We're lovers," you state without hesitation. "I came to see him off."

"That lucky bastard!" Sanji cursed under his breath taking you all by surprise. "He got to spend the last two years with a woman who has the beauty of a goddess," your cheeks flared up to Sanji's monologue. Even Zoro hasn't complimented on you the way the Love Cook has. Then again, Zoro was more of a person to talk through actions rather than words in which it put your blazing cheeks to a standstill that slowly regained their original color.

"I'm flattered," you admit with a sigh. "But keep comments such as that to yourself in my presence," Sanji's jaw dropped, you were unbelievable.

"That lucky bastard," he cursed again while slumping to his knees.

"Thanks," Zoro popped in out of nowhere, drenched head to toe in the salty water of the sea, smacking a hand square into his rival's back, it knocked the cook forwards into a stumble meanwhile you flinched knowing it must've hurt. "Quit flirting with my girl or you're dead," Sanji threw a kick at Zoro in response in which he dodged easily pulling out his swords and a playful fight enacted.

You giggled putting a hand to your mouth. "Now I'm his property, that's a new one," looking behind the rivals, there lied the remains of a ship. The ship Zoro was napping on... Well that's how Zoro got back to the shore so easily

"Knock it off!" Sanji growled kicking Zoro off to the side. "I went shopping but I was also entitled with the task of bringing you back to the Sunny Zoro," Sanji seethed with anger but soon calmed down after lighting himself a cigarette. "Everyone has gathered, everyone but Luffy that is... But we're setting off."

"We're not leaving without Luffy," Zoro growled. You had to agree. You can't have a Pirate Crew without a Captain.

"We know," Sanji glared at Zoro. "We know where he is... We just got to go pick him up... He-He got lost like the idiot he is," now you really wondered how much of an idiot Luffy was. You've heard of some crazy stories of Luffy from your beloved Mosshead and god father over the last two years, who would want to blindly take orders from an immature nineteen year old?

"Fine," Zoro grumbled with irritation.

"Sanji, Zoro!" You heard a cutesy voice from afar. You turned your head to the call, the rivals did as well, to a large bird flying towards you all with a brown raccoon-dog all dressed up like a child stood dancing upon the beak of the bird without fail. If that were you, you'd be clinging onto the bird for dear life hoping you don't fall off.

"What the hell?" You asked rather calmly. More calm than the boys had expected. A talking reindeer dancing upon a bird must not surprise you all that much.

"That's Chopper, our doctor," Sanji informed you.

"Oh!" You gasped spinning around flailing your arms about before your boyfriend like a crazed fangirl. "Is that the cute reindeer that you love so much Zoro!?" Zoro jolted with a slight growl. That was supposed to be more on the down low. Sanji laughed at the swordsman's reaction holding his stomach with one hand while the other held his cigarette.

"Get on my friend Sanji and Zoro!" Chopper the Doctor commanded the rivals as the large colorful bird landed on the ground, stretching out its wing to rest upon the ground at an angle allow them to board the beast. "Marines found us and are attacking, we gotta get Luffy and go!" Chopper growled within a frenzy seeing as to how the boys hadn't made an attempt to board the bird. Unfortunately, your heart sank to such a demand...

Your entire body felt heavy out of nowhere, heartbeat ringing within your ears with eyes that stung. You've been fearing the day Zoro had to leave, it wasn't until he walked into your life that you wanted to pick up the sword again, make your own decisions, break out of your nearly impenetrable shell and walk into the world as a human... Not a weapon where your existence was zero. "That means... This is where we depart," you slowly turned to Zoro, but your eyes remained fixed on the bird. The one thing keeping Zoro here with you. "I thought we'd have some more time but I guess not..."

Zoro was moved by how suddenly your mood had derailed from joyous and carefree to crying waterfalls. And so the man stepped forward, grabbed you by the collar and his lips clashed with yours. Eyes of gold remained large, completely stunned by his actions even more than your first kiss. Zoro pulled you back, releasing your collar. The kiss was never returned. "This isn't the last of me (Y/n), think of my absence just like when you disappeared with Shanks for an entire year, we'll see each other again," before you could even reply, Zoro hand ran around you and boarded the bird with two other members of his crew.

And like that, he was gone...

Sanji, Chopper, and Zoro did obtain Luffy from a mess he accidentally created with a fake bunch of Straw Hats and returned to their home on the Thousand Sunny where everyone was happy to be reunited with their friends and family once again after an eventful two years of separation. What stood out the most however was the fact that everyone felt as if they were missing something vital as Zoro held great disinterest in the reunion. For he continued to look out onto a battlefield of marine soldiers fighting friends and allies the crew had made over the last two years as a farewell to the Straw Hats making their way for Fishman Island in the New World.

Cybernetic Zoo Animals

Gigantic Insects

Weather Wizards

Men in Drag

Gigantic Birds

Female Amazonian Warriors

Ghosts

And the Daughter of a Warlord.

"What's wrong Zoro?" Robin hummed.

"Yeah what's wrong?" Luffy tilted his head.

"Nothing," Zoro lied. Robin followed Zoro's gaze, He couldn't take his eyes off of you as you fought the soldiers with ease, you wielded one sword in collaboration with your impressive skills with haki. The soldiers fell one by one like flies and you were the swatter.

"Who's that woman?" Robin hummed. "A friend of yours I'll assume."

"Sure," Zoro had begun to regret his decision of leaving in such a rash manner earlier. He should have bid you a better farewell, a farewell that didn't feel forced as you couldn't bid farewell in return. It was a miracle you were even still here in Sabaody fighting on his behalf.

"She's his girlfriend," Chopper announced with a sigh.

"Oh," Luffy awed staring at you. "Well not anymore-"

"Luffy!" Robin snapped.

"What?" Luffy griped. "Zoro won't see his girl for a long time!"

"You don't need to rub it in his face," Robin huffed.

"But Ace told me that long distance rarely works," Luffy informed Robin and Zoro with a childish whine. "Zoro why can't she just join us? You won't have to be all depressed-Plus it she's kicking some serious ass!" Zoro was surprised beyond belief that Luffy gave permission for you to join their crew all so suddenly without him even asking.

"Luffy... Really?" Zoro still was having a hard time believing it.

"Yes, but you better be quick... I think we're going under the water," Luffy pointed out that the Sunny was submerging itself under the sea, it was time to go to Fishman Island, that meant Zoro had a very small time frame to get you aboard. Zoro shoved Luffy out of his way, leaning over the railing of the Sunny.

"(Y/N)!!!" You heard your name like a siren over the clashing of swords and guns that let off an ear splintering boom, glancing up from your opponent following the call to find Zoro aboard his ship staring at no one other but you. "COME ON!!!" He motioned you towards his ship with a wave of his arm. Two simple words. Come on. It made your heart sing and eyes water with tears of complete and utter happiness.

It's finally happening... I can travel the world, and with Zoro too. He asked ME to join him-I never thought this day would happen...

You squeezed through the sea of soldiers, attacking as you went as you made way for the Sunny. The ship was sinking quickly, your adrenaline propelled you forward while anxiety ate at you for the fear of missing this opportunity was highly on the rise. Just feet from the shore, Zoro had began to go below the sea along with the rest of the ship until all you saw was his hand and the sails of the Sunny. That's when you jumped, reaching out for dear life hoping to make it by the skin of your teeth and into Zoro's arms. Instead, life stole the opportunity from you for your entire body went as light as a feather out of the blue. From your feet to the top of your head, your entire body faded into nothing but pure light, shifting into weapon form completely against your own will. No matter how much you fought the transformation you became a ball of shrunken light. As a ball you zipped forwards with whish and found yourself in Zoro's hands just one second later. Just in time too as the ship had sunken below the sea for another journey.

With everything smooth sailing, the rainbow bubble coating of the Sunny remained intact, everyone gathered around Zoro drawn in like prey to an anglerfish as he held you as a ball of light, a light that shifted in form until there was a silhouette of a sword that soon faded to color and earning a weight. There sat in Zoro's hands was a katana with a slick black blade, golden hilt, and a handle wrapped in a green ribbon that loosely hung off the end of the handle. An energy coursed throughout Zoro's body like an electrical current that was strongest where his hand came into contact with the sword. It was a feeling much much like the day Zoro learned you were Mihawk's beloved sword back at the mansion on Gloomy Island, the same day the baboons attacked and you became a sword for Zoro to wield since no other weapons were at hand.

You both were connected as one.

What happened? How are our souls connected? It's... It feels so much different than Mihawk's.

You asked and Zoro heard it nice and clear like a voice within his head. Everyone too gasped as they heard your voice. "What're you saying?" Zoro smirked, running a finger over the blade to find no imperfections. "You look different (Y/n)... A lot different. You're not in the shape of a cross anymore."

WHAT!? OMG You better not be screwing around with me you Old Man!

"I'm not," Zoro couldn't help but laugh. "You're a katana (Y/n)."

I've finally broken the bond with my dad!

You cheered and with another flash of light, you soon became a human with tears in your eyes. "I'm your weapon Zoro! We're-we're- Partners!!!" You lashed out and knocked Zoro off of his feet to crash upon the deck as you hugged him all so tightly. Zoro returned the hug gladly, he made your one wish come true just like you had written in that note from 18 months back.

To break the bond between me and Mihawk as a weapon... I'm tired of being used and living a life behind the walls of this mansion. I want to travel with someone I know enjoys my company. Shanks, is it wrong that I'd love to be Zoro's sword and travel the world with him?

The end.

Now don't get all upset, I have a Sequel in the works. Read the next part to learn more about the published Sequel