A Little Piece of Kripton (One Piece x Superman)

Two days had passed since Zoro and Royal first met. Each morning, just as the sun began to rise, the two would head to the training ground to spar. Their sessions were intense and focused, yet surprisingly silent.

Neither Zoro nor Royal spoke much during their time together. They exchanged only the necessary words—a critique here, a suggestion there—but no real conversation ever developed. Each seemed content with the quiet, letting their actions speak louder than any words could.

From a distance, Rayleigh watched the pair, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed. He let out a long sigh, his expression a mix of amusement and frustration.

"So much for my hopes," he muttered to himself. "I thought this would finally push that brat of mine to make a real friend."

His gaze flicked between Royal, who maintained his usual calm and distant demeanor, and Zoro, whose focus on training was almost obsessive. Though they worked well together, Rayleigh couldn't help but notice the lack of camaraderie.

"They're like two boulders sitting side by side," Rayleigh grumbled. "Stubborn and unmoving."

He rubbed the back of his neck, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Still... I suppose they're not trying to kill each other. I still calling it a win."

Turning away from the training ground, he headed back toward Shakky's bar, muttering under his breath. "Maybe I should've just locked them in a room until they started talking like normal people."

Though he faintly caught snippets of his father's mutterings, Royal remained unmoving in his position, which resembled someone deep in meditation. His closed eyes and steady breathing masked the process happening within him—every cell in his body subtly absorbing the sunlight that reached the earth.

The tranquility of the moment stretched on, the only sounds being the faint rustle of leaves and the distant hum of the island's life.

Until it was broken.

"Zoro," Royal said, his voice calm yet carrying an edge of certainty, "your friend—Franky, was it?—seems to have arrived. He's chatting with my father now."

Zoro, who had been sharpening one of his swords nearby, looked up sharply. His grip tightened on the blade as he processed the information. "Franky's finally here?"

Royal noded, he opened one eye, glancing at Zoro with a faint, almost unreadable expression. "I don't know the details, but their conversation sounds... animated."

Without waiting for further explanation, Zoro sheathed his sword and stood, brushing dirt off his clothes. "Guess it's time to see what that idiot's been up to," he muttered before turning to leave.

Royal stayed behind, returning to his meditative state as though nothing had happened. Moments later, he could faintly hear Zoro's gruff voice and Franky's boisterous laughter echoing through the air.

"Well," Royal muttered to himself, a faint smirk appearing on his face. "I forgot to mention to Zoro that he's headed in the wrong direction."

He didn't bother to move, instead returning to his meditative stance, perfectly content to let the swordsman figure it out on his own.

From a distance, he could already hear Zoro's voice fading as the man unknowingly wandered further away from where Franky and Rayleigh were talking.

"Typical," Royal mused, shaking his head slightly. "Let's see how long it takes him to realize."

Not long after, Royal's peaceful meditation was shattered by a loud, frustrated shout in the distance.

"Damn it! Where the hell is Franky hiding?!"

Royal groaned, his concentration thoroughly disrupted. He opened his eyes, rubbing his temple in exasperation. "Of course," he muttered under his breath. "Can't even sit in peace without hear something."

Standing up, he stretched lazily before glancing in the direction of Zoro's voice. "Guess I'd better save him before he ends up lost for hours," he said to himself, his tone dripping with mock reluctance.

With an unhurried pace, Royal began walking toward the sound of the swordsman's grumbling, already picturing the expression of utter confusion Zoro was likely wearing.

When Royal finally caught up, he found Zoro standing face-to-face with a tall, burly man whose moss-green hair mirrored Zoro's own.

The scene almost made Royal burst out laughing, but he managed to keep his composure.

"Who are you?" Zoro asked, glaring up at the man due to their height difference.

The large man puffed out his chest and smirked confidently. "I'm Zoro," he declared proudly, "from the Straw Hat Pirates."

Royal blinked, his expression deadpan. "Well, this just got interesting," he muttered to himself, crossing his arms as he leaned casually against a nearby tree to watch the spectacle unfold.

Zoro's face twisted into a mix of confusion and irritation. "What the hell are you talking about? I'm Zoro from the Straw Hat Pirates!"

The large man tilted his head mockingly. "Oh really? I don't see it. You sure you're not some cheap imposter?"

Royal let out a low chuckle, unable to hold back any longer. "This is almost too good," he said, amusement dancing in his eyes. "I think I'll let this play out a bit longer before stepping in."

"An imposter, you say?!" Zoro growled, his irritation flaring. "How about we fight to settle this?"

"Who's afraid, fake Zoro?" the fake Zoro shot back, puffing out his chest with an air of unearned confidence.

Without hesitation, Zoro lunged forward, fists clenched. In a blur of movement, he struck the fake Zoro with precision and overwhelming strength. The fight lasted mere seconds, with Zoro not even drawing his swords.

The fake Zoro collapsed to the ground, groaning in pain and utterly defeated.

Zoro straightened, glancing at his still-clenched fist. A rare look of contemplation crossed his face. "So this is what it feels like to be Royal," he muttered, flexing his hand as if marveling at its strength.

Behind him, Royal finally stepped forward with a bemused expression. "Not bad, swordsman," he said, smirking. "I almost couldn't believe you were the real Zoro because of how similar you two are."

Zoro grunted, brushing off Royal's comment. "Tch. That guy was a joke."

Royal shrugged, his smirk widening. "Sure, a joke that catches your interest and reaction."

The swordsman shot him a glare but didn't reply, too annoyed to argue further.

"Follow me," Royal said, his tone calm but firm.

Zoro grumbled under his breath but complied, trailing behind Royal as they made their way back to the bar. The short walk was relatively quiet, save for the occasional mutter from Zoro, still annoyed by the earlier encounter.

As they arrived, the sound of boisterous laughter greeted them. Inside, Rayleigh and Franky were seated at the bar, both engrossed in what appeared to be a drinking contest.

Rayleigh leaned back with a confident smirk, swirling his drink in one hand. "Come on, big guy. Is that all you've got?"

Franky slammed his empty mug down on the counter, a wide grin plastered across his face. "You're looking at the super drinker of the Thousand Sunny! I'm just getting started!"

Royal let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose as he watched the scene. "Of course, they're betting on drinks," he muttered, glancing at Zoro. "Is this how all of you spend your downtime?"

Zoro's face broke into a small smile. "Franky's just warming up. You should see him on the ship."

Rayleigh noticed them then, raising his glass in greeting. "Ah, there you are! I was beginning to think Zoro got lost again."

"I am not." Zoro snapped, his irritation flaring up once more as Franky burst into hearty laughter.

Royal simply shook his head.

"Hey, Zoro! Long time no see!" Franky exclaimed, his grin as wide as ever. Without warning, he pulled Zoro into a bone-crushing hug, his mechanical arms clanking slightly as they wrapped around the swordsman.

"Oi, Franky! Let go!" Zoro grunted, struggling against the cyborg's superhuman strength. "You're gonna break something!"

Franky finally released him with a hearty laugh, clapping Zoro on the back hard enough to make him stumble slightly. "It's super good to see you, bro! You've been keeping busy, huh?"

Zoro rolled his shoulders, grumbling. "Yeah, something like that. What about you?"

Franky struck a dramatic pose, his grin widening. "Oh, you know! Just making some super upgrades to the Sunny and keeping things running smooth! But more importantly, I've been waiting for the crew to get back together. Gotta say, seeing you here first is super!"

Royal, standing off to the side, watched the exchange with mild amusement. "I see the chaos is contagious," he muttered to himself.

Rayleigh, still sipping his drink, chuckled. "Get used to it, kid. That's the Straw Hats for you."

"Who are you?" Franky asked, eyeing Royal curiously as he stepped into the conversation.

"Royal. Bartender at this bar," Royal replied, his tone casual as he nodded toward Franky before making his way over to Shakky, who was clearly ready for the shift change.

Shakky raised an eyebrow, giving Royal a pointed look. "Took you long enough," she said, clearly impatient but also amused by the antics of the crew members.

Royal gave her a half-smile, acknowledging her impatience with a slight nod. "Sorry, had to make sure Zoro get here first."

Shakky chuckled softly, pushing a drink toward him. "You should've just let him be. Anyway, you're on shift now. I'm off to do some... 'important' things."

Royal sighed and grabbed the drink, ready to take over for the moment. As he settled behind the bar, he couldn't help but glance back at Franky and Zoro, who were now chatting animatedly.

Royal watched the interaction between Zoro and Franky with a quiet sense of contemplation. It was subtle, but he could see the shift in Zoro's demeanor when he was around his crew—more relaxed, less guarded. Though Zoro rarely smiled, the one he had now seemed more genuine, more at ease.

The conversation between the two quickly turned into a ridiculous exchange of stories, even one about Franky's pants changing color for some bizarre reason. Royal couldn't help but watch them, his thoughts drifting.

Is this what it's like to have friends? To share not just victories, but... embarrassing moments too? Royal mused silently, his gaze distant. Maybe it's not so bad after all. Having people around to share things with... even the foolish things.

He stood behind the long bar counter, feeling a strange pang of longing for the camaraderie they shared. Royal had never been one for close connections, preferring to keep to himself, always moving from one place to the next. But seeing Zoro and Franky now, laughing and teasing each other, made him wonder.

"Maybe there's something to this friendship thing after all..." Royal muttered under his breath, though he wasn't sure if he could ever bring himself to embrace it fully. He had spent so long being alone, it felt almost unnatural to even consider it. Still, watching the crew, there was something undeniably appealing about it.

At first, it was because he was Rayleigh's son. Who in the world would dare to approach the child of the legendary figure without thinking twice?

People stayed at a distance, not wanting to get involved with the son of a man whose reputation was built on power, wisdom, and a history that made even the bravest tremble.

But as Royal's own strength began to manifest, Rayleigh had quietly told him, with a mixture of pride and caution, that he was truly special. That's why he had to be careful not to attract unwanted attention.

As Royal grew older and turned into his teenage years, a terrible secret about his true nature began to unravel.

He was not human.

The truth, hidden deep within his own bloodline, was something Rayleigh had warned him about, something that should never see the light of day. The knowledge of his origin felt like a heavy burden—something Royal couldn't even fully understand. Perhaps it was around that time, when the whispers of his existence and his strange abilities grew louder, that Royal began to build walls around himself, higher than any fortress.

It wasn't just a matter of hiding his secret from others—it was about protecting himself from the confusion and fear that the truth might bring. His isolation wasn't just a result of others' judgment, but also his own choice to keep his humanity buried. Royal made sure to never let anyone get too close, locking away his true self in a place where even he hesitated to look.

Until a message came to him six years ago from his uncle. Then he started his journey into stars. He felt disappointed because it turned out that Kryptonians were not the blood of galaxy heroes, but the blood of conquerors driven by greed for their power.

As he stood behind the bar, watching Zoro and Franky, a small part of him wondered if that was what he was truly missing—the trust, the closeness, the willingness to let someone in. But the walls he had built over the years were high and strong, and breaking them down seemed impossible.

"You have the power, Kal-El," that voice echoed in Royal's mind, bringing back memories he could never forget. "The power to choose between us, your own people, or those who beg for your mercy. This, what we are doing is for New Kripton! Our glory once again will come into our grasp."

Royal's gaze shifted towards the dying world, the waters tinged with red, the sky filled with dark clouds, as though reflecting the devastation that had unfolded—devastation that had begun the moment he chose to separate himself from the destiny laid before him.

"Give me the Kryptonian codex, Kal-El!" The words echoed in his mind, accompanied by the face of his uncle, Dru-Zod, looking at him with a mixture of hope and contempt that buries his madness. Uncle Dru-Zod, who sought the full power within Royal, wanted him to return to his roots, to the Kryptonian people who had perished.

It was a past he desperately didn't want to remember, yet the memories always returned, striking him when he tried to forget.

The glass in Royal's hand nearly shattered, his grip tightening, but he forced himself to calm down. "Don't let those memories control you," he whispered to himself, trying to push away the words of Dru-Zod that now filled his thoughts.

Now, in a world growing ever more chaotic, he knew that choice still existed and his time is limited. Who know when Zod and his army once again will looking for him?

He could no longer avoid the truth—the power he possessed, the blood that contain the Kriptonian codex ran through his veins, and the future that awaited him.

For now, it seemed that Royal had to focus on finding people he could truly trust. And as he journeyed the seas as a pirate, he would learn who among them truly deserved his protection.