Chapter Text
In the middle of a wide beautiful ocean, where many different islands and kingdoms were often fighting to become more and more powerful, there was a peaceful country, known for its stunning blue buildings and streets and for its amazing typical cuisine.
The royal family members were all experts when it came to different and special cooking styles. In particular, King Zeff knew many great secrets that made the cooking of the All Blue Kingdom the best in the world and its royal restaurant the greatest of all. And he has been teaching them one by one to his only son, Prince Sanji, since he was a little kid, like his ancestors have always done in the history. Now, Prince Sanji was 19 years old and has learnt almost everything about cooking. He loved cooking. He usually spent most of his time in the large, huge kitchens of the royal palace. His hair was blond like the sunshine and his eyes reflected the most wonderful shade of blue of the sea that surrounded the kingdom.
However, now that he was not a child anymore, he also had to start dealing with serious political matters. He wasn’t very interested in it, but he knew it was his duty as the only prince and future king of the country.
He also had to take part in his daily training, which his father had insisted he did since he was 4. His mother, Queen Sora, died because of a disease at that time and King Zeff wanted to teach him that he had to be strong, not only for himself, but for all the people that one day would call him the king and would count on him for many matters.
He actually began to enjoy his training pretty much, especially when his father told him that he was learning “the best chefs’ fighting style” (as Zeff called it), which implied to use only the lower part of the body in order not to damage the hands, which are the most important and precious body part for a cook.
This morning, like every other day, Sanji woke up rather early to head downtown and buy some ingredients for his recipes. Of course, he could just ask his servants to do it for him, but he liked walking around on the streets, meeting all the pretty girls who lived in the kingdom and simply having some free time only for himself. Although he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself (he was not a little kid anymore! And he knew how to fight now dammit!) he still could never stay completely alone, if not in rare occasions, and he had to have always someone with him especially when he went outside the palace. Fortunately, during the years, he learnt how to be friends with most of the people who he had to spend his time with. That’s why he didn’t mind walking around with his friend, Usopp, who was one of the guards of the palace but was more afraid than him about anything bad that could happen, and he honestly didn’t understand why. There was really no particular danger in this peaceful kingdom. However, when he could choose who he wanted to come with him, he chose Usopp because he wasn’t like other overprotective people who worried unnecessarily about his being. Usopp worried more about himself and he knew Sanji was strong. He was also around Sanji’s age and even kind of funny and he didn’t disturb Sanji when he was courting a lady, so it was perfect.
They were currently at the market of the town and Sanji was choosing the right fruit for a special new dessert he wanted to try to make.
“Those apples seem yummy!” Usopp said.
“Yes, but I’m looking for something more peculiar, less common.” Sanji replied.
“I see. Hey, how did your training go yesterday? I didn’t see ya after it.”
“It was okay. Nothing out of the ordinary.”
“You mean you kicked their ass like usual?” Usopp asked, already knowing the answer.
Sanji felt a small smirk appear on his face. “Of course, I did. Sometimes it feels like they don’t even try and maybe they actually don’t. Anyway, what about yours?”
“Oh, believe me, they do try to fight you properly. It’s just that you became too strong for them. His Majesty King Zeff should start looking for someone else for you to train with. Someone who could keep up with you. Speaking of which, there are some guys in the army who train with us, I saw them yesterday too, and they’re really skilled. There’s also a new addition in the high ranks. A guy I met some time ago when I was just at the beginning. Seems like he worked so hard to be where he’s now.”
Sanji kept on looking through different types of fruits while he listened to his friend and didn’t even turn his head. “Oh, yeah? That’s good I guess.”
Usopp sighed. “Did you even hear what I said?”
Sanji finally looked up at him. “Sorry, I was too concentrated.”
The long-nosed guard sighed again and shakes his head. “I know you’re not very interested in what guards or knights do, but I think it’d be funny if you sometimes come train with us! If anything, you’d do something different from the usual and maybe you could have more fun too!”
Sanji thought about it for a moment. He never joined the training Usopp and others did and maybe his friend was right: he might have fun letting those guys see his amazing fighting style. He decided that trying wouldn’t hurt.
They spent the rest of the morning walking and buying stuff and then they went back to the palace.
§§§
He was lifting weights. Nothing strange. It was his job to train and become stronger and stronger every day. What was strange was that he was the only one who didn’t interrupt the training to go to lunch like everyone else did. Of course, he would go to eat because skipping meals wasn’t good for the health and would make you feel weak. But he had to finish his exercise first.
After all, it was the very hard work that brought him there. He had started as a simple boy in the lowest ranks of the army. When he left his humble but respectable family house two years ago, he was ready to do anything to follow his path and become the strongest knight of the country. He was sent to the far borders of the kingdom and learnt a lot about fighting. He quickly became one of the best with the sword in his section and dealt with difficult battles. The borders were the most dangerous place because some foreign country would try to attack the All Blue kingdom occasionally.
He was 19 when he was promoted and sent to defend the palace and the royal family itself. It was an honour. But he couldn’t let himself relax because now his job was even more important. Even though there wasn’t any evident danger, knights always had to keep their eyes open and be prepared for anything. So, there he was now.
“982.. 983.. 984..”
Prince Sanji and Usopp the guard returned from their trip in that moment and passed by the area where trainings usually took place. The long nose immediately caught the sight of the green-haired, tanned guy and waved at him. “HEY, ZORO!!”
He frowned slightly when he noticed that his old friend didn’t even look up. Why was everyone ignoring him today?
“Who’s that?” Sanji asked.
“Ah, that’s Zoro, sir. Roronoa Zoro, the famous swordsman from the far borders and the new addition of the royal army. He’s also an old friend of mine. I met him in those far, dangerous places where only the strongest manage to survive!”
Sanji rolled his eyes. “Didn’t you go there only to visit your father who had a job in one of those sections? I remember you said you’ve never actually worked there because you have a weird I-cannot-fight-in-the-borders disease. And that’s why you decided to become a royal guard instead. Am I wrong?”
Usopp frowned again and pouted. The prince was right. But he had worked hard too to get this job. His dream was to be brave and strong like his father one day and he had told that to Sanji as well.
“Whatever..”
“Hey, where’s everyone else?” it was strange actually. Sanji wondered why that guy was doing his workout alone.
“Oh, they probably already went to eat. Zoro just likes to overwork sometimes.” Usopp explained. He was really impressed by how hard Zoro trained, but he also thought that if he wanted to be stronger then he obviously needed to workout more than others did.
“He should go too, though. He’ll certainly collapse if he doesn’t eat anything.” Sanji spoke as a cook this time.
“He will, don’t worry. He just has to finish first. Come on, let’s go now.”
Sanji looked at the green-haired man a little more, then followed his friend inside.
§§§
The following day, Sanji decided to go training with knights and guards like Usopp suggested.
He thought it could be interesting to try and see what happens. He also hoped to amaze the beautiful maids and ladies of the court. Yes, he’d show how skilled he was, and the girls would be so impressed by him that they’d instantly ask him to join them in their daily activities and he’d get to spend so much time with those beauties! It’d be perfect.
“Oi, watch where you’re going, blondie.”
Sanji immediately snapped back from his daydreaming and frowned at the man he almost bumped into. He raised his eyebrows in surprise when he recognized the green-haired knight from yesterday. He also noticed the guy had three earrings which he couldn’t see last time.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” Zoro asked with his usual not very polite tone.
“Nothing. I’ve just never seen a talking marimo before.” Sanji replied unimpressed.
“What did you say?! How do you even know what a ‘marimo’ is, dartbrow?” Zoro was getting irritated. He never saw that guy with weird spiral eyebrows, but he was already getting on his nerves.
“What?!” Sanji frowned deeper at the other man upon hearing the stupid insult. Who did he think he was?
“Listen, I haven’t got time to play around. I’ve to go training now, so just move and-”
“ZORO!!”
Sanji was about to reply to the rude guy when he heard Usopp’s voice and he turned to that direction. Usopp ran towards the knight and the prince and immediately placed himself between them.
“I-I’m so sorry, sir! Please, forgive my dumb friend. He’s still new here.”
“Oi!” Zoro tried to protest. But Usopp turned to him with a serious expression despite being afraid by the embarrassing situation and whispered to him: “Shh! Zoro, please, don’t say anything more! Didn’t you recognize this guy here? He’s the prince!!”
Zoro looked at the blond. He didn’t know who the prince or the king or other important people were. He had never seen them before. He spent most of the years of his life training and fighting at the extremities of the island. And why would he have to care anyway? His job was to protect the country. It didn’t imply that he had to deal with stuff such as princes or kings personally.
“It’s okay, Usopp, don’t worry.” Sanji stepped in. “We clearly can’t expect much from an algae-headed knight.” He smirked at Zoro teasingly.
Yep, that prince guy was definitely irritating.
“Oi! how dare you-”
“Alright! Now that you two met I think we should get moving or we’ll be late for the training session. Come on!” Usopp quickly cut the conversation off before his old stupid friend could say something that would cause him to be sent back from where he came, only the third day from his arrival.
Zoro grumbled something to himself but followed the long nose while Sanji had a satisfied grin on his face as he walked with them. Maybe he could enjoy today’s workout in more than one way and show to people like that marimo what the royal family members were made of.
The training started as soon as they arrived. There were many knights and guards fighting one another with swords and those who preferred practicing archery or riding their horses. Usopp was a skilled archer. He almost never missed the bullseye. Zoro, on the other hand, was more expert in direct fighting, like another one of his friends, Luffy.
He started to be a knight at the palace too a few months ago. He became very famous especially for his strong punches and his insatiable hunger. He and Zoro grew up in two different but near villages and they also fought together in several occasions in the past.
“OOI, SANJI!! Did you come here to give us meat earlier than the usual? You’re great, Sanji!” Luffy said already running towards the prince and the other knight, with a big smile on his face.
“No, Luffy, calm down. That’s not the reason I came here today.” Sanji immediately cut him off. Luffy whined, disappointed by the prince’s words.
“That’s unfair! I need energy to train! Which means I need meat!!”
“You got meat at lunch time already and you’ll get it at dinner too, if you finish your workout properly.” Sanji had no intention to change his mind. Damn that black-haired boy, what size was his stomach again? However, apparently he managed to convince him with that argument.
“Yosh!! I’ll do my best, Sanji, so I’ll get the best meat, then!” and with that, Luffy came back to his training.
‘Sanji’
So, that was the prince’s name. Zoro thought he must have heard it somewhere, but it wasn’t something he was interested in at that time.
“You know Luffy?” he asked the prince.
Sanji turned to him and replied: “Yeah. It’s difficult not knowing the person that consumes the biggest amount of meat, and food in general, in the palace.”
Zoro almost laughed at that. It did sound like Luffy. “I guess so. And you also seem to be friends. I mean it’s difficult not to become friends with Luffy.”
“Talking from experience?”
“Yeah..”
“I see.”
“What are you doing here anyway, dartbrow? You came to see if your knights and guards are doing their job right?” Zoro decided to tease him a bit. Maybe he was also curious to know what a prince’d be doing there, in the middle of a training session. Maybe.
“Nah, I’m here to teach you some new skills so you can all do your job better.” Sanji teased back.
Zoro blinked and then burst into laughter. At which Sanji frowned deeply.
“Hahaha!! You want to teach us new skills? Nice joke, idiot prince!”
“I’ll show you what I can do, you shitty marimo!!” Sanji replied angrily. And his comment made the knight stop laughing as well.
“Wait, what did you call me, dumbass?!”
“You heard me, shithead!”
“I’m gonna slice you, shitty prince!!”
“Bring it on, idiotic moss head!!”
And without even giving it a second thought, Zoro unsheathed his sword and Sanji shoved his hands in the pockets of his pants and lifted his leg getting ready to kick the bastard’s ass.
“I’ll make you regret this!” Zoro growled and ran towards the prince to send his first attack.
“I don’t think so!” Sanji said quickly moving his leg to stop the swordsman’s attack with his foot.
And smirked.
“Is this the best you can do, shitty knight?”
Zoro was surprised. He’d never admit it out loud, but he really was. It was not common for any kind of fighter to stop his attack so easily. And the damn prince wasn’t even using a weapon. Unless you considered those legs a weapon. Now that he looked closer, he noticed the blond had such long and muscled legs. So, he did train too, apparently. And he was strong too. Zoro wasn’t annoyed by that fact, on the contrary, he was glad to find out that the prince of his country wasn’t weak or completely uncapable of fighting. He found himself smirking when they pulled away. This was gonna be interesting.
“We’ve just started, dumb prince!” Zoro grinned and sent a more powerful attack.
Sanji skilfully and rapidly dodged it. “Oh, yeah? Good, because I’m already getting bored.” It wasn’t true. Sanji was beginning to enjoy training with the moss-headed knight.
He decided to be the one to attack this time so, he jumped high and got prepared to kick the other guy from above. But his foot, instead, connected with the marimo’s sword, which caused a strong impact.
They went on like that for a while, even after the training session ended.
At some point, they both stopped their attacks and panted heavily feeling completely exhausted, but happy that they could both enjoy an equal fight that neither of them won or lost.
“You’re not.. that bad, shitty prince..”
“Funny.. I could almost say the same thing for you, dumb knight..”
They were looking at each other with a proud, satisfied gaze and nothing else had to be said. In that moment they knew they gained each other’s respect.