If it had happened to anyone else, Zoro would’ve laughed. But as it was, he was the unlucky victim to fall prey to someone’s elaborate trap.
It all started when they docked at an island uninhabited by people and Luffy had caught sight of the local fauna. He had started drooling. Sanji smirked Zoro’s way and then boasted how he would catch the largest one. Zoro, never one to back down from a challenge from the idiot cook, said, “As if. It’ll be me who catches the largest.”
A laugh interrupted their proclamations, though, and Usopp emerged between them, stroking his chin. “Funny. You both seem to be forgetting the real challenge here: defeating me!”
Zoro and Sanji snickered. Usopp whacked them both over their heads. “I’ll have you know, I once caught an animal ten times the size of those dinosaurs we saw on Little Garden!” he said, with animated gestures.
“Really?” Chopper said, eyes gleaming with admiration.
Usopp nodded. “Of course!”
Zoro rolled his eyes. “Well, you better hurry up. Luffy’s already started,” he said and gestured to where Luffy could be seen running over to a herd of elephant-rhino looking creatures. Zoro grinned and feeling his swords by his hip, launched himself off the ship and onto the island.
Everything had been going well and he was trailing a hefty creature behind him, assured of his victory, when suddenly the ground beneath his feet felt a bit soft and the next moment he was falling down a very deep hole in the ground. At the last minute he swerved out of the way of the creature falling above him, lest he be crushed, and managed to land in a crouch position, the creature landing a few metres away.
“What the hell,” Zoro said to no one. It was so deep that even the sunlight struggled to reach him. How did such a deep hole even exist? He sighed. He would have to climb his way out. He contemplated climbing with the creature — it would make great training — but he figured he would be quicker to just find another. He felt along the wall of the hole for footholds and started his ascent.
As he neared the top he could hear two familiar voices speaking. “Ah, just as planned, Chopper. Here’s Zoro now,” Usopp said, as he and Chopper watched Zoro pull himself up out of the hole and onto the ground next to them.
Zoro stood and brushed his hands on his pants. “Just as planned?” Zoro asked, eyebrow raised.
“Yep!” Usopp took hold of his Kuro Kabuto, aiming it down the hole. “Thanks for getting the biggest creature for me!”
Zoro frowned, confused, but before he could respond Usopp shot a pop green into the hole and after a few moments, the creature Zoro had left behind was launched up out of the hole.
Usopp grinned as the creature landed metres away from them. “My prize!”Zoro’s jaw dropped. “That was my catch!”
“You snooze you lose,” Usopp said, shrugging.
Zoro snorted. “Fine. Good luck getting it back to the ship.”
“It’s fine. Chopper said he would help.”
Zoro’s head snapped to Chopper. “Seriously?”
Chopper looked between them both, torn. Zoro just sighed. “Whatever. Do what you want. Like I care,” he said and walked off without looking back.
The night sky was looming and Zoro’s desire for a drink and nap outweighed his desire to win the stupid competition. He had looked for more creatures, but none had come close to the size of the one he had caught that Usopp had taken. He headed back to the ship and tried not to get lost, but most assuredly got lost in that process.
When he arrived back Luffy grinned and jumped on him. “Zoro! You should see the size of the beast Usopp brought back. It’s even bigger than Sanji’s!” he said.
Zoro grinned. “Really now?”
Luffy nodded and grabbed his hand, leading him to the other side of the ship where everyone was gathered and the bodies of two large creatures laid, one obviously bigger than the other.
Sanji raised an eyebrow at Zoro, smirking. “The game on this island too strong for you, huh, Marimo?” he said, taking a puff of his cigarette.
Zoro just shrugged. “Looks like Usopp outdid us both.”
“At least I brought something back.”
“Actually, Sanji…” Chopper started, but Zoro saw the betrayed look on Usopp’s face and just held a hand up to stop Chopper from continuing.
Sanji turned to Chopper. “Yes?”
“Nothing. Usopp wins!” Chopper squealed, jumping in the air. Usopp grinned and jumped with him.
Luffy rubbed his stomach.. “Can we eat yet? I’m so hungry.”
Sanji rolled his eyes and rolled up his sleeves. “Yeah, yeah. I won’t keep you waiting much longer. We know how you get when you’re hangry.”
Luffy just laughed.
Later that night, Usopp sneaked Zoro an extra bottle of sake. Zoro savoured the taste. Not all victories were won the obvious way.