Replying to ONE PIECE: NICO ROBIN AND ZORO, A HIDDEN RELATIONSHIP |
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- Posted 22/9/2016, 13:51ZOROBIN BEFORE THE COMING OF ROBIN - THE WHISKY PEEK ARC
This moment for me is incredible: in only one cover (in chapter 107), we can understand that Robin is yet introduced in advance, even before her appearance. Now, from chapter 107 to chapter 114 (the one in which Robin appears) there is the narrative arc of Whisky Peek, where the crew is fighting for the first time against the criminal organization Baroque Works. But, to be honest, in all these chapters Zoro is fighting alone against the Baroque Works. In fact, curiously, in this story arc, in which at the end appears Robin, Zoro is the main actor and not Luffy (who should be the main character!). Not only that, at a certain moment Zoro will be even fighting against Luffy. Here is the list of titles:
Chapter 107"Moonlight and Tombstones" (here is present a VERY significant cover, after I will examine it)
Zoro does not fall into Baroque Works' trap and attacks them, while the other friends are asleep. Zoro shows that he already knows about that organization: he is the only one of Luffy's crew who not only had heard of Baroque Works, but the criminal organization had also invited him, long ago, to be part of it: another link between Zoro and Robin. Zoro begins to face, without problems, a hundred murderers of the organization. The head of the enemies is called Igaram, Robin does not yet appear. The title is already gloomy in itself, pointing to the dark characteristic of Zoro and Robin, considered demons by all. Remember that the chapter has a number ending with 7, which will be the number of Robin.
Chapter 108: "100 bounty hunters"
The characteristic of the Baroque Works is hunting down the pirates who do not ally with them, and in this way cashing their rewards. Zoro is impressed by the skills of his cursed sword, the Sandai Kitetsu, that "represents" Robin. Also, he use a sword technique that contains the name of a bird: "Hawk Wave" or "Takanami" (the wave of the hawk in japanese). And the hawk is a symbol of Robin. In this chapter, Zoro has a leading role, and he shows to have also a physical force out of the ordinary, so much so that those of Baroque Works think the real captain is Zoro and not Luffy. Robin still does not appear, but in the subsequent chapters we can understand that she secretly followed the clash and she was impressed.
Chapter 109: "Question of responsibility"
The battle against the Baroque Works continues: Zoro faces Miss Wednesday and Igaram, defeating them without many problems. Should be noted that Miss Wednesday dances in front of Zoro to charm him, above a duck and using a blow-called "shot Peacock" ("kujakki slasher" or "peacock slash"): well, the duck and the peacock are birds, and the bird is the symbol of Robin. Luffy, asleep, even becomes a hostage in the hands of Miss Wednesday.
Chapter 110: "The endless night"
Zoro is resting after the victory: then, Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine of Baroque Works arrive. They want to kill Miss Wednesday and Igaram, because they have discovered that they are infiltrators in the Baroque Works. In fact, Miss Wednesday and Igaram are actually the Princess Nefertari Bibi of Alabasta and his butler. Since they cannot escape them and they risk death, Igaram asks Zoro to help them in exchange for a reward. Nami appears and she is interested in the offer.
Chapter 111: "Secret criminal organization"
Nami convinces Zoro, in his own way, to help Bibi: while he deals with Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine, Luffy gets angry and he wants to fight against Zoro.
Chapter 112: "Luffy against Zoro"
Luffy fights furiously against Zoro, because he thinks that the swordsman has attacked innocent people, whereas they were instead criminals of Baroque Works. In the heat of the battle, they even slash Mr. 5 and Miss Valentine.
Chapter 113: "All right!"
Nami calms the boiling between the two, and tells that they will lead Bibi to Alabasta in exchange for a reward. But she says that the leader of Baroque Works, Crocodile, who is one of the Shichibukai, will declare war to Luffy for that. Nami it is scared, Zoro and Luffy are concerned. Igaram tries to deceive the Baroque Works pretending to be Bibi and so ensure them the escape from Whisky Peek: but his boat is destroyed by an explosion while he was on.
Chapter 114: "Travel Map"
While the crew of Luffy went on the ship, they realize that there is also Miss All Sunday, aka Nico Robin, the right arm of Crocodile. Curiously, she does not attack them, but rather gives them, perhaps for challenge them, an "eternal pose" for Alabasta: with that object they will be able to reach the realm. But Luffy does not trust her and destroys the pose. Robin appreciates their courage and leaves.
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