Zoro followed Luffy out of the Colosseum just as Sanji suggested he should, there was this mystery man with the young Captain who lead the way out. A tall lean blonde man with gentle blue eyes and a burn scar covering almost the entirety of the left side of his face. How Zoro knew it was a burn scar was because the scarred tissue was dark and patchy, not lighter in coloring, bubbly and unique like a slash from a knife or weapon much like Zoro carried on his left eye. The blonde's clothing choice consisted of blues, whites, and black. A dark blue top hat, a white dress shirt, vivid blue vest, and a black top coat on top. A frilled white ruff to top it all off and a rusted steel pipe strapped to his backside. Zoro hasn't really ever seen men let alone pirates dress this nicely besides Sanji or maybe even Crocodile. Zoro followed them both without question, holding you close, although he's beginning to wonder if you're even aware that he were doing such a thing. Were you even conscious within the sword? Despite this, Zoro didn't have the the courage or overall heart to completely ditch one of his previous swords just to carry you on his hip. His hands were good enough, that way he knows you're there. Besides, carrying you by hand was the only way he could feel your energy at all. It pained his heart, yet it brought it back to life knowing you were there with him.

How to bring you back back was another problem Zoro couldn't get off the mind.

"Wow that sword is dirty," Luffy awed the green sword in Zoro's hands. Zoro wretched with disgust realizing just how stupid or oblivious Luffy could get. Luffy stepped up before Zoro, with large childish eyes of wonder, "did you steal this off someone?" Luffy manually took the sword, shivering at the touch. "(Y/n)," he breathed. "Even my haki couldn't pick up on her... Is she okay?"

"I hope..." Zoro sighed.

"Why are you referring to a sword as a person?" The blonde man couldn't help but to ask of Zoro and Luffy realizing just how important said weapon meant to them both.

"This sword is Zoro's girlfriend!" Luffy cheered waving you around. Zoro facepalmed realizing just how crazy he must sound. "Doflamingo kidnapped her! And now... I don't know what to call this," Luffy frowned, holding out the sword.

"I'm still very lost... Unless you really are intimate with a sword," the man snickered.

"(Y/n) is a weapon shifter, probably the last of her kind," Zoro began his explanation. "Her species has this set of rules where only one person can use her in her weapon form. But now anybody can use her... Which is off-"

"May I?" The man held out his gloves hands.

"Why should I trust you?" Zoro growled, clenching onto you protectively.

"He's my other brother Zoro," Luffy whined.

"Other brother?" Zoro cocked a brow.

"I'm Sabo," the blonde introduced himself. "I was shot down by a Celestial Dragon in my youth and until today Luffy had assumed I were dead. He probably doesn't talk about me because of it."

"Yup!" Luffy chuckled. "Too bad Ace can't see you now," and the boy grew upset once again.

"I'm sure he's watching over us smiling as we speak," Sabo pats Luffy on the back. Zoro were touched despite his dampened attitude. He's Luffy's older brother, and just bringing up his name brought back some distant memories of the older bounty posters Zoro used to collect back when he were a bounty hunter. Sabo was one pirate with one of the largest bounties he's ever seen with a title that belonged to the Revolutionary Army. Sabo was on their side.

"Here," Zoro forfeits you into Sabo's care. Although hesitant, Sabo took you into his gloved embrace, bringing you up to his eyes where he examined the damaged blade closely.

"I know a great amount about the weapon shifters," Sabo began, running a finger down your dulled blade. "I've met a handful of them, rather nice fellows."

"Oh really?" Zoro smirked.

"I know you're skeptical about me meeting them. Anyone would be," Sabo huffed, digging through his pockets for something in particular. "But what one person may say is a cursed sword is actually a weapon shifter," Sabo's comment drew Zoro's greater interest. The blonde had just found a small eyeglass within his coat pockets and held it up to your blade for better magnification. "Dragon collects weapon shifters who have went into their weapon form indefinitely, sort of like hibernation. Depending on if the Shifter chose to go into hibernation or not determines if they're aware of their surroundings. Dragon has appealed to at least three Shifters that I know of, and they came out of hibernation on their own. They're Revolutionaries now, they also haven't used their weapon forms once since their return unfortunately," such an abundance of information. Zoro grew aware of many many things thanks to him.

"Are you saying (Y/n) didn't choose to go into hibernation?" Zoro jumped on Sabo the quickest he could.

"She's in hibernation, that much I know," Sabo sighed. "You claim she isn't reacting to you, and her power is faint correct?" Zoro and Luffy nod in unison. "Then, your girl was more than likely forced into this state of sleep."

"How do I get her out of it?" That one question was all Zoro needs.

"If she was forced into this state, she probably can't be taken out of it," Sabo regrets to admit.

"Why?" Zoro growled.

"A weapon shifter must undergo great amounts of physical and mental distress to be thrown into this state unwillingly. It's the shifter's body last mode of defense in life or death situations," Sabo informed the swordsman some more. "I've only been able to bring back Shifters who went into hibernation willingly. With your girl being forced into it, she's more than likely dying in a comatose state. Her wounds run deep," Sabo emphasized, handing you back over to Zoro gently. "I can always ask the Shifters back at base if they know how to reverse her coma. Until then, you may want to get her to a blacksmith as soon as possible. If you can't fix her physical wounds in human form, fix them like you would a weapon before you can't feel her presence any longer. If you can't, then you're too late," Zoro tensed up, you were treading between life and death no thanks to that flamingo bastard. But where the hell is a blacksmith in this town? Let alone one who can fix a greatly damaged sword without having to rip it apart and start over again.

"Where's Franky?" Zoro ran back towards the battlefield but Luffy was quick to reel him back in.

"He left ahead of us!" Luffy told him. That was all Zoro needed to know, he were gone. He dodged person after person in the streets, even shoving some unintentionally. He didn't stop until he arrived at the Sunny, unfortunately under attack, but indeed Franky were there and fighting alongside Brook against some sort of weird female or male or whatever that was, dressed in loud clothing dancing around turning everything into living artwork. Brook looked more like a ghost than a skeleton now with smooth features and a long open mouth. The crew who stayed back on the Sunny look like they're coming into problems.

Zoro charged in, shoving you into Franky's robotic grasp. "Whoa you got her!" Franky exclaimed. "You won the Tournament Bro!"

"Far from it," Zoro glared and withdrew his swords, ready to assist Brook with the invader.

"Then how did you get her?" Franky cocked a brow.

"I don't know ask the Shitty Cook!"

"No need to get so grumpy," Franky looked you over, his jaw nearly hitting the floor astonished by the injuries done to your blade. "Holy crap what happened!?"

"I don't know just fix her! I'll take care of everything else."

"Bro I don't have the materials handy in order to fix her!" Franky grew concerned immediately. Black steel was a hard material to come by, not to forget that steel in particular needs to be heated to a temperature so high it is hard to maintain even for an inventor and cyborg such as him. On top of this, Franky with his former occupation as a dismantler, knows when an object has met the end of it's cycle. Your blade so damaged, a regular swordsmith would have melted down the blade or put it to rest. The damages so great, just using it would risk breaking it in pieces. He'll do what he can though, you are a person after all, an enchanted sword with endless capabilities.

For a week straight, Franky had holed himself up within his workshop. The conflict in Dressrosa within this timespan were long situated. Law unfortunately lost one arm fighting his arch nemesis Doflamingo, but with the aid of his devil fruit mended himself and now has all his limbs once again. Two years back at the War of the Best in Marineford, awakened Luffy greatly following the death of his brother Ace, vowing he'd become stronger and take down the World Government in time. It were nothing like when Zoro held you within your battered sword form, Luffy hasn't lost a member of his crew yet, and he doesn't want to see the day. Luffy took over Law's battle with Doflamingo, vowing he won't let anyone else he cares about to be brutally injured or even killed. A vow to save his ally Law, but also vengeance for how Doflamingo mistreated you. Zoro watched the entire fight with a deeply pleasured smirk on his face, watching Doflamingo's downfall. Luffy wouldn't allow Zoro to kill him, that was expected.

With Doflamingo's downfall also came the freedom to the city. He made himself the king a long while back and now the princesses have returned to their throne; Rebecca and Violet. The toys in Dressrosa were actually humans, they were turned back into humans becoming extremely thankful for such.

Bad news also reached people who were but also weren't in the New World. Because Doflamingo announced his Tournament to the world in order to win the Flame-Flame Fruit but also you, Shanks went out of his way and sent a messenger to Zoro with a letter handwritten by the red haired pirate. The penmanship were atrocious. Barely legible that's for sure. Robin had to read the note, informing Zoro that Shanks needs to know if you're alright and that you aren't in the hands of another pirate. Lies were told, Zoro was risking his own life saying that you weren't harmed at all and in safe hands. Safe hands yes, harmed well... Let's hope you come out of your coma soon enough.

Franky came out of his workshop, exhausted, it were noticeable within the way he swayed while he walked, he growling stomach, and overbearing yawns. Sanji were quick and made it an extra effort to make Franky a meal fit for kings. Zoro stepped up before Franky, awaiting the news to follow.

"Wasn't easy with (Y/n) being a special sword and all," Franky yawned mid speech, holding you within his grasp within a sheath Doflamingo had crafted for you within this form. Zoro could finally feel your presence again without the need to hold you. "I wore down three grinding stones just to get the heavy damages fixed, and broke two hammers with her imperfections. The ribbon on the handle well... I replaced that literally five minutes ago," Franky finally held you out for Zoro to take. Zoro took you back in his possession, admiring just how great of a job Franky had done. The ribbon wasn't the same emerald green as before, an off shade that could easily pass off as the same color if you aren't familiar with it. Free of dirt and wolven tightly to the handle without rips or frayed threads. Upon removal of the black sheath, the jade and black steel blade were free of imperfections, better than when you first gained this new form months back. You were good as new!

"You did it Franky," Zoro ran his fingers along your blade, his fingertips never caught as it glided across with ease. "Thank you," he bowed his head.

"Anything for my crew," Franky howled. "Now tell me I did a super job!"

"You're super!!!" Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp cheered.

"Hell yeah I'm super!!!" Franky striked a pose, only to yawn again. "Man I need to take a nap for the next few... Years."

"You deserve it," Zoro couldn't wipe the smile from his face. Until he didn't need to manually remove it, it left on its own. If Franky could hold you, that meant you aren't back. If you were truly back, Zoro would be the only one can hold you within his hands, your energy would be bursting in the atmosphere like fireworks, but most importantly... Zoro would see a beautiful swordswoman with sharp glossy golden eyes, everything he loves in one person. The one person who's right out of reach.

"(Y/n)... Tell me you're here," Zoro called out to you. Nothing came of the sword. "C'mon, wake up," he pushed on. "Quit pretending and come back to us," just like the day Zoro had gotten you back from a previous kidnapping, you didn't reply, your presence or heartbeat didn't spike let alone react. Sabo said fixing you up should've done the trick, why didn't it? Why aren't you here?

The crew could visually see Zoro trembling, an inner fight breaking out within his head. Never had they seen Zoro become so emotionally moved by such a situation. Of all things that has happened hasn't once broken the brute. Such as when Usopp and Robin left the crew in Water 7, death staring him right in the face, or the death of the Going Merry, Zoro never reacted. Your presence is still here, but your inability to react felt the same as a personal loss. You strike him in the heart like a knife.

Being your Master, your boyfriend, put you in a permanent place in his heart.

Zoro suddenly snapped out of it, like a switch had been flipped. He slowly resheathed your blade, strapped it to his hip, and went his own way as if nothing happened at all. In all technicality, nothing did happen. Luffy began tearing up, having to remove himself from the scene where Chopper and Usopp followed to support their captain. Sanji, Franky, Robin, Brook, & Nami found themselves falling victim to the sudden depression to hit the crew as well, a weight had settled in everyone's hearts. How can they just suddenly accept the fact that a member of their crew were more than likely gone forever, lost in the void?

The next and last chapter will be uploaded by the end of the week. Hope you all look forward to it!