Greetings fellow lovers of One Piece. This isn't my first fic but it is my first time posting here, so any reviews and/or constructive criticism you can dish out with be very well appreciated.

Zoro has always been my favorite character in One Piece, but I also hold his ultimate rival Hawkeye MiHawk in very high regards. And Robin. Well, she just plain rocks.

These are the three main characters, enough said. I don't want to spoil the future plot so please read, read and review!

The Past and Peppermints

CH 1: Pilot

"Hmm…" the rustic book snapped shut, accompanied close with an indifferent groan. Robin stood from the lounge chair stretching her full height, relaxing out the cramped muscles of her arms and thighs.

The ship, motionless and serene. Luffy, Ussop and Chopper were huddled before the kitchen entrance, planning yet another unsuccessful scheme to steal a bit of dinner before the serving hours. And Sanji, well aware of the usual routine prepared with a set of well heated frying pan just beyond the door. Franky, in the lower decks adjusting the loading gages of the newly installed canons. Nami, locked in enclosed quarters drawing out the latest ocean current and island structure the new ship had ventured between the few days.

Robin gently placed the leather bound book onto the lounge table. An almost empty cup of coffee, a plate of various finger delicacy composed of fresh cut fruits and cookies arranged in an loving manner--courtesy of the ever attentive cook, of course. Next to the bright display of carefully constructed snack platter the small brown bag tied with a loose string seemed small and insignificant. Long, slender fingers undid the loose tie, extracting from within two small penny sized candy. She took one of the red and white stripped candy and placed it slowly into her mouth. She let the thin minty flavor dissolve over the heat of her tongue.

Robin closed her eyes in the small moment of broken reminisce, savoring the sweet taste as it spread into a watery syrup before disappearing completely past her throat. She stood and stepped out leaving her peaceful setting from the rear of Thousand Sunny. The dark haired archeologist stepped into the main deck of the large ship in hopes of observing the coming sea before residing into the clamor that was sure to occur within the kitchen in short moments.

"2995... 2996... 2997..."

In addition to the excellent view of the horizon was the ever dedicated green haired swordsman carrying out his faithful routine weight train exercise of swinging the metal rings on the steel rod. She silently stood, observing the swordsman continue his training. A thin layer of sweat was spread evenly across the bare skin. The dimming light of dusk rested easily over his scar ridden chest.

"2999...3000."

Zoro lowered the weights, resting it lightly onto the deck. The metal rings slide rushed to gather at the base, causing a thick echo through the otherwise tranquil deck.

"How long were you planning to stand there spying on others in training?" he wiped the dripping sweat from his brows and looked up to the motionless figure posed on the foot of the stairs. Robin smiled at the comment and continued her walk pass the swordsman. She leaned onto the rail looking over the calm seas, an unusually chilled breeze flowed through her hair fluttering the silky strands.

It was just one of the many reason he couldn't trust her… The unidentified certainty in her every step. The unseen reality hidden in her cryptic smile. The unknown confidence in her every action. He had come to observe it all and take careful notice of her every move. After the destructive scramble at the Enties Lobby, the crew had come to love and accept Robin as a trusted nakama. He had also come to see her as…a type of nakama, but always kept a safe distance. The very distance that allowed him to view and stay alert to her every move. A women who had manipulated numerous fleets of pirates in the past was not a candidate the esteemed swordsman was so ready to drop his guards from.

"The wind seems a bit sharp, considering that we're in the vicinity of the summer island." she looked over, an easy smile resting over her lips.

"Nami, mentioned the weather could be erratic on the Grand Line… Especially since we've entered the New World we should be ready for any kind of danger." he muttered, picking up the three katanas laying on the side; his glaze kept even on her enigmatic smile as he rose with his belongings.

Ignoring the burning gaze, Robin eyed the massive scar that dug across his otherwise untouched chest. "If I may ask, who was the one that had the audacity to leave such a mark on the notorious pirate hunter, Roronoa Zoro?"

He stood quiet as slender fingers traced the length of the crimson scar.

Peppermint. The gentle scent of sweet mint lingered about the air as she stood near, peppermint.

It was very unusual. If Nami or any other female were to touch his bare skin in such way he would have pulled away or dismissed their touch rather rudely. However, this women possessed something that kept him from discontinuing the contact. After a brief moment he pulled away from her reach, donning on the usual white shirt.

"It's no concern to you. That man, he is my ultimate goal. The one I will cut down and retrieve the title of the world's best from…" Zoro turned and started to walk down the stairs onto the kitchen floor.

"I didn't mean to pry into your personal affair." he glimpsed over the shoulder noting her usual practiced smile as he continued his way.

She was always like this. Even from the start. It was as if she knew he would be the hardest of the crew to break through to. The light conversation she always initiated when the two were in position. No matter how rudely he had exited or ignored her on her latest attempt, the woman always followed the next chance with a line of dialogue as if oblivious to the silent abuse from before. And always taking the unnecessary care to cover him in his sleep. A complete unnecessary act. Even after the rather harsh dismissal of her first attempt. She merely smile at his sharp words and replaced the jacket onto her own shoulders.

"Oi, Luffy! I saw that! You took my meat! I know it!" Ussop jumped over the table in attempt to retrieve the lost meat as the morsel disappeared into the captains mouth. "Ahh! You jerk!" They scrambled, falling onto the floor. The two rolled in dust as they carried out the usual dinner rumble.

"Hey you guys. I'm going to need everyone on deck." The orange haired navigator entered the dining room. Rubbing the chill from her arms, she continued, "The air doesn't feel right. I think something's coming. Something big--"

"WAHHHH!"

The ship rocked violently to the side, knocking the crew onto the floor. "Shit! It's here faster than I thought! Ussop, go to the navigation room and lock the steer! We don't want the ship knocking over! Franky, reinforce the base of ship! Everyone else outside!"

The crew retracted from the floor, scrambling to follow Nami's orders. Once outside the cutting wind slashed their bodies as the sub-zero downpour froze their skins.

"Zoro, secure the canons on deck before they break loose! Luffy, Chopper, tie down the barrels in the storage room! Sanji, Robin, retract and secure the sails before they gather more wind!" Nami shouted between chattering teeth as she hastily wrapped a rope around a rogue canon.

The mugiwara's jumped to their given task as the tier three storm raged the sea. The thick cloud and heavy rain combined with crashing waves blinded as the members struggled to their duties. Zoro rushed and slide across the slippery deck, tying down the rattling metal canons. Crashes and grunts were echoed from the storage room where Luffy and Chopper wrestled with the tossing barrels as they bumped wildly off the walls. Several barrels jumped loose from Chopper's grip, crashing through the door before tumbling out into the sea.

Zoro squinted against the pounding downpour, making out two figures straddling and clutching the swaying mast as they pulled the heavy wet sails.

Sanji bent down over the wooden post and wrapped the ropes around the scrunched sail. Robin sat on the other side gathering the white mass of sheets as the water pounded against her back.

Shit! She shouldn't be up there! His hands continued the given task of securing the canon as Zoro struggled to keep the watch on Robin high above.

"Sanji, Robin, get down!" Nami screamed. A fifty foot wave crashed down, beginning its debut on the main mast where the two figures sat.

"Robin-chan, get down!" Sanji shouted hoarsely jumping across just in time to cover her thin back as the murderous force slammed down. Sanji covered Robin as the two bent to hug the wooden mast as the vicious weight pounded upon their backs. Caught between the pounding force and the solid mast, Robin felt her ribs fracture. A soundly crack and the feel of sharp twist against her sides informed her of the protective cooks broken arms as he grunted the pain from behind.

"Cook-san!" Robin gasped out, as the blondes broken arm gave.

"Ooo--hooo!--" Nami screamed desperately from below. The howling wind distorted the message, ravaging the words and its meaning until it was too late.

"ONE MORE!" a second scream. Another monstrous wave descended onto the broken pair. The blonde cook used the last ounce of energy shielding over Robin as the second impact hit. Even with the protection the amount of fractured bones increased in her rib cage as the bombardment continued.

"Sorry Robin-chan, I can't hold on anymore--" a regretful smile tugged his lips as the heavy wave jerked his body off the mast and towards the raging sea.

"NOOO!!"

Robin let go of her grip on the mast pulling up her hands in the cross position, "CIEN FLEUR!" Immediately a series of linked arms were born from the deck, reaching, grabbing the unconscious cook. Robin started a sigh of relief until her eyes fell on the panicked swordsman below. He was shouting something… She turned just in time to face the third fifty footer as it slammed her off the mast and onto the black churning sea.

It seemed to happen in slow motion. The idiot-love cook was pulled back onto the ship by Robin's power. Even as Nami scurried over to Sanji's broken body Zoro didn't take his eyes off the women still upon the high mast. Then, he saw the black wall of sea gathered behind the unknowing figure. He began shouting-- it didn't matter what warning was given. The angry wall of water had already dragged the unarmed women into the endless sea. She reached out her hand in his direction before the waves completely claimed her. The lost, terrified look on her face broke something inside him. Immediately, he jumped off the deck ignoring the navigators shouts and cry of disapproval.

She a devils fruit user!! I need to get her now!

"ROBIN!! ROBIN!!" his strong arms guided through the churning sea as heavy waves crashed against his sides. "ROBIN!!" he shouted hoarsely, continuing the desperate search. He push back the sick, heart wrenching feeling as he plowed against the hopeless ocean. He lost count of how many dives he plunged into the pitiless sea. His throat, raw and coarse from the straining shouts of her name over the roaring storm. His heart desperate to bargain anything of his person in exchange for just a sign of the lost nakama.

Suddenly, he felt a series of thick bondage wrap around, binding his movement. He fought against the entangled ropes as it tightened around the body. The ropes dragged him out of the coiling sea. Zoro gripped the net with both hands, it took just a second for his trained arms to begin ripping apart the nets roped together. Thick raindrops poured heavily onto his broad shoulder as the net dropped him onto the deck of Thousand Sunny.

His rage released as he punched away Franky and rushed once more to the edge preparing to dive. Luffy crashed into his side pinning the two against the wall of the rail.

"Franky! Chain him!! NOW!" the captain shouted. Chopper was crying in the background.

"WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?! ROBIN'S STILL OUT THERE! I NEED TO GET HER!" Zoro shouted hoarsely throwing Luffy over his shoulder, sending the rubber boy crashing across. Not missing the chance, Franky grabbed Zoro's arms from behind momentarily freezing the movement. He felt the gears grind and burn as the swordsman's monstrous strength worked against the cyborgs hold.

"Chopper! Do it now!" Nami screamed through her tears.

"Zoro--!" endless tears streaked down the child doctor face as he held the syringe to Zoro's neck. He felt the cold needle inject into the side of his collar, the cold liquid flooded his vein as his mind and vision blurred. The arms didn't let up on his captor even as the serum distorted his concentration. He heard a snap and spark as the arms holding him back came loose. Franky silently hung his arms limply to the side, the gears had burned and broken at both elbows.

Zoro dropped to his knees, struggling to keep conscious, he reached the rails and attempted to pull his body onto the sea once more.

"What….the fuck…Robin's…still out…there…" he gasped gripping the rail, willing the rest of his idle body to follow. He felt a warm grip over his arm it attempted to loosen his grasp on the edge. His mind was slipping fast. He needed to get back into the water and find her before it was too late. Why couldn't they understand this? He tried to raise the other arm to push off Luffy's hand. It was no good, he couldn't even raise his shoulder, that whole side has become inactive in response to the injection. It was then when he noticed the slight tremor ringing from the hand gripping his wrist. He looked up to see Luffy's face half covered from his hat. The storm had ebbed and soft rain had begun to fall in it's place. Zoro struggled to keep awake as the drops continuously fell onto his wrist and shoulder. These drops felt too warm compared to the rain that soaked the rest of his body.

"Zoro…we thought we lost you too--"

Chopper? Why are you crying? No… no… don't…don't.

"You…you! You were swimming and diving in that storm for almost an hour!"

Ussop? What are you talking about? No… we still have time…

"We lost sight of you! And we thought we lost you too!" Nami screamed thought her tears.

Lost…too..?

"NOOOOO!!"

Zoro went berserk. He gasped out, pulling up against the rail once more. The world spun as he felt another cold needle inject into his neck. Chopper cried and cried as he delivered the second shot. The captain's hand continued to shake on Zoro's wrist. Hot tears continuously fell onto his chest and shoulder confirming the denial that echoed in his fading conscious.

Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.Xx.

A/N: Hello, I hoped you guys enjoy the pilot chapter. Please take two seconds to review, it'll make me oh-so-happy.