Hey! Reposting this one. My new and darling BETA TheWorldIsACessPoolOfImbeciles did her magic, so previous chapter 1 and 2 turned into this.

Good reading :)


Into the woods, in the middle of the night, a couple ran against time.

"Frau," he called in the darkness. "Faster, they are coming for us!"

"I know, I know, Arthur," Frau said anxiously, "I'm close, just a second!" The woman began to rummage through the bushes again, searching hard.

Arthur didn't want to rush Frau, but his pursuers were very close already and none of them could do nothing to protect themselves, at least not anymore. The girl in his arms began to cry. Arthur hushed her gently—she must stop or they would be found.

"I found it!" Arthur breathed in relief. He saw, amidst the brush, a small hidden door. Arthur would barely pass through it.

"I came through this door once?" he asked, momentarily forgetting their plight in his surprise.

"Yes, my dear," she replied with a smile.

He came back to the present with a start. "Now come on!"

"FRAU!" Their pursuer's voice echoed in the whole forest.

Frau took a gold key from her pocket and opened the door, revealing an illuminated and well-kept garden on the other side, Arthur's house garden in the other world.

"Let me hold her," she whispered. He gave his daughter to Frau. "Nami, my orange blossom, wake up." The girl rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked at her mother. "I love you, Nami," she murmured, "I love you so much." She pressed her child tighter in her arms "I know you will be fine. You're my daughter after all..."

"I love you, Mama," the girl answered, still half asleep. Frau felt her eyes dampen slightly.

"Frau, my love, why are you saying this?" Arthur hugged his two most precious things in the whole world, feeling a wave of affection.

"I can't go with you," she whispered, heart breaking at the look on his face. "I can't because I do not belong in that world."

"No, Frau, please don't do this," he begged. "I can't live without you!"

Just then, their pursuers arrived, among them, the woman responsible for her unhappiness, the woman tearing her from her family.

Frau pushed him through the door.

"I love you, Arthur, there's nothing in this world that could give me what you gave."

She watched him fall on the other side.

"Goodbye."

The door closed with a thud.

OOO

15 years later

Nami woke up with sunlight streaming through the window into her eyes. The maid, she thought blearily. It should be time to wake up. She felt tired, having been unable sleep the night previous, anticipating today's events.

"Miss?" Lilly, her maid and friend, was a sixteen-year-old girl with brown hair and lovely green eyes. Nami was very fond of her. She got up from the huge bed with laziness. Her room, usually so pleasant and warm, seemed now depressing and miserable.

Today was not a good day.

"Which dress do you prefer, miss?" Lilly asked helping her with the robe.

"The blue one, Lilly." The girl smoothed her shoulders down gently.

"Tranquility, then?" Lilly always had a meaning for each color Nami chose in her daily dresses; sky blue color in sunny days mostly brought to her peace and tranquility.

"Nami?" Her mother knocked from outside the room "Can I come in?"

"Of course, mother," Nami answered, groaning inwardly.

Margaret, her mother, was more beautiful in her fifties than many twenty-year old girls, her gray and deep eyes commanding respect and admiration, whilst her light blond hair was tied in an elaborate knot. Her once-delicate face inspired wisdom and harshness to face life, though Margaret had ever worked physically hard in her life. Still, as a woman of high society, the daughter of a baron and now a viscountess, she understood that one doesn't hold her position with mere meekness and politeness. Margaret was gentle and protective, but also strong and determined.

"You asked for the blue one?" Nami smiled uncomfortably and her mother just chuckled. "You're so easy to read."

"It's easy for you—you're my mother!" Retorted Nami, as Lilly came back with the gown in her hands, ready to dress her lady. "So, any advice to give me?"

"None you do not already know, my dear," Margaret watched as the maid helped her daughter don the layers of clothing "Just be gentle and considerate to Sanji—you know how much he loves you. Sanji is polite, kind, handsome, highly eligible, and among all the girls he wants to marry you."

"And the fact that he's the Marquis's son has nothing to do with it, does it?" Nami saw Margaret frown.

"You know well that I would not hand you over for any title or possession. I encourage your relationship with Sanji, because I know he's a good boy who deserves you and will take good care of you." Said Margaret patiently.

Nami pondered that, indeed, Sanji was affectionate and caring with her, but also with all the other women. She knew he was a womanizer, of course; with his money and influence he could have any woman he wanted, but the man was also gifted with unparalleled charisma and appearance.

Damn Marquis.

"They say he'll propose it to you today."

The girl said nothing.

OOO

Vinsmoke's family mansion was majestic to say the least, as was to be expected of a family of marquises. All the highborn young ladies were there today for the twenty-second birthday party of the heir, Sanji Vinsmoke. Countesses and even princesses were there celebrating and dreaming of being chosen by the young man.

Sanji was delighted; all ladies in the hall were eager to dance with him. His heart, however, belonged to a single woman, for whom he would be willing to give the world, if she so asked. Nami Kingsleigh was the daughter of a traditional family of viscounts, was honest, intelligent and absolutely beautiful with her long reddish orange hair. Sanji's father, however, did not approve of his choice. In his eyes the son had the potential to marry a princess if he wanted to; Sanji would be able to seduce one if he chose, but no, the boy preferred a much lower woman.

The blonde cheerfully greeted all the guests and graced all the girls with a compliment about their hair, gown, or smile, appeasing their vanity.

"Lady Margaret Kingsleigh and her daughter Nami Kingsleigh." The guard announced.

Sanji turned to greet them, and felt himself freeze. Nami was gorgeous—dazzling, even—a true goddess in her sky-blue dress highlighting her porcelain skin and beautiful honey-colored eyes. Her hair, caught in a simple yet elegant hairstyle, commanded the attention of the entire room. She smiled delicately, but her shrewd eyes scanned the room carefully.

Sanji felt his throat constrict as her appraising eyes skimmed over him.

"Viscountess Margaret, it is a pleasure to see you." Sanji bowed to the woman "As beautiful as ever."

"Your Grace," Margaret bowed "you're too kind."

Sanji's eyes were pulled to the younger Kingsleigh, delighting in the sight. Nami did not look dazzled or affected at all by the attention. "It's a pleasure to see you too, Miss Nami," he said, making a point of calling her by the first name to see her blush. The redhead, however, only stared at him stiffly.

"Your Grace," she bowed slightly.

"Your excellency will agree to dance with me?" He reached out for the redhead who cast a quick glance at her mother who nodded lightly.

She accepted.

Nami felt suffocated in the middle of the dance floor in the blonde's arms, all eyes on her. Everyone wanted to know why the marquis was dancing with the smallest woman in that hall, but the redhead refused to be intimidated. Her mother had prepared her for situations like these, and being the subject of Sanji's adoration for so long...In short, she had ended her social life long before. All women hated her. All the idiots and the superficial at least.

"You look beautiful, Excellency."

He was trying to please her, she knew he was, but that was all he could say? "Thank you, Your Grace."

"What do I have to do, Your Excellency?" Blue eyes bore into her own. "What do I have to do to please you? Did I ever offend you? Did you dislike me?"

"No, your Grace." Nami answered truthfully. "You never mistreated me."

She felt him draw her closer. "Then why don't you smile at my compliments? Why don't you seem happy when I give you my full attention?" He almost begged her.

Should she be straight with him and say what she thought or should she stay quiet? Her mother approved her relationship with Sanji; it was advantageous for her family. The truth was that the marquis saw her as a prize. The only woman who rejected him.

"Answer me one thing, Your Grace." Nami's eyes were cold as ice "Who's next on your list after you have me?" Sanji stood stock-still in the middle of the hall.

Nami turned away from Sanji, fearing his reaction. She saw the people staring at them, but she held her ground.

As soon as the dance was over, she bee-lined to the sunny gardens, occupied mostly by mothers and their children. Nami went to the rose bushes, inhaling the scent.

"Oh, flowers, help me vanish," she sighed.

"Those flowers are too quiet to help anyone," said a voice from the bush. Nami nearly fell backwards in shock.

"Who's there?" She demanded, recovering quickly. Whoever was in the bushes was much smaller than Nami—a child perhaps?

"Don't you remember me, Nami?" Nami's mouth opened in horror, as a pink-hatted reindeer was stared back at her with sad eyes.

What was that creature?

Stepping away very slowly she returned to gather with the other people, a scream of panic trapped in her throat. She needed water, or a pillow, a good night's sleep.

"Your excellency, wait, please!" She recognized that voice.

"Your grace." She turned to greet Sanji.

He came almost running toward her, looked distressed and worried, but not angry. At least not that. He stopped and took a deep breath.

"I want to fix things with you," Sanji made to approach, but Nami backed away. "Do you find me capable of hurting you, miss?" He asked, stung.

"Forgive me, your Grace." She said. "Something just happened and disturbed me."

"What happened?" He demanded fiercely. "Did anyone dare to mistreat you?" It was in times like these that Nami believed Sanji's intentions—he seems so sincere, so worried.

"No, no one has mistreated me, Sanji." She knew she should not call him by his first name, but that would calm him down and indeed it did the trick. "So, what you want to tell me?"

"I finally understand what made you scowl at me. You think I slept with several women and that I would continue to do when we were married, but no." Sanji took her hand gently. "Nami, I admire you women, I consider you as the most attentive, divine, gentle and adorable creatures that I have ever known. I like to compliment them, but because I really believe what I say," Sanji pulled her hands close to his mouth. "You, however, Nami Kingsleigh, no matter how much I try, or how many compliments I give, you never look at me."

The blonde laughed with amusement and defeat at the old memories "Do you know the first time I saw you?"

She shook her head.

It was at Count Mihawk's ball. You looked beautiful in that pink dress, I asked my father to tell me your name and if I could be your fiancé. You understand, Nami? I love you." Sanji knelt down in front of Nami and all people in the garden.

"Viscountess Nami Kingsleigh, will you marry me?"

Nami felt the world spin and then everything went black.

OOO

Murmurs, whispers, and a few shouts—Nami woke up with a terrible headache.

"Nami? How do you feel, my dear?" She accepted her mother's help and sat up.

"I had the strangest dream, mother. Sanji ask me to marry him and there was a reindeer with a hat somewhere..."

"Reindeer with a hat?" This time it was not her mother who had spoken.

"Your Grace." Nami recognized where she was, in one of the guest rooms of the Vinsmoke mansion. Sanji looked worried like her mother. How long had she been unconscious? "I'm sorry for the trouble I caused." She apologized.

"I'm glad you're better now, miss." He smiled, not convincing at all. "I'll go calm the guests' moods."

A great commotion could be heard from the other room. Nami wondered what they could be saying and wished she could stay in that room forever, away from her problems, away from the other guests, and away from Sanji.

"He's hurt," Margareth began, walking closer to the window, avoiding her daughter's eye. "He thinks his marriage proposal was so hideous that caused you to faint. Poor thing." Nami was silent, studying the pattern on the blanket of the bed. It was half-true, after all.

"I want to get out of here," she muttered rebelliously.

"Not without a word to Vinsmoke." Ordered Margaret sternly.

"Please, no, Mama," she begged "Do not force me!"

"I've given enough time!" She snapped. "It's time to grow up, Nami! You are already eighteen—life is not a fairytale where you get all you want!"

Nami pleaded silently to any entity that could be hearing her, to get her out of there right then. Anyone would do.

Suddenly, she heard a thud by the window, her mother was slumped on the floor.

"Mother!" She jumped out of bed to help Margaret, silently begging the entity to reverse the effects. She had never meant for this to happen! "Mother, Mom! Please respond. What happened to you?"

"She's fine, Nami," said a soft voice in the doorway. "Just asleep."

It was that reindeer again, with a smile on his face, or muzzle, really. He carried a small saucer from which a pick smoke was drifting. Her mother was drugged, she concluded, but why was she not affected? And where were the guards? Didn't anyone seen a mutant reindeer walking through the manor?

"They're all sleeping," the reindeer answered, as if reading her thoughts. "No one will come. My name is Chopper". Nami glanced around for something she could use to defend herself. "The effect will not last long and we have to go."

"Go? To where? And why would I go anywhere with you?" She was afraid—she wanted to scream and run away, but she held her ground steadily.

Chopper set the saucer on the floor and walked slowly to the girl who was trying in vain to stop shaking in fear. He wanted to make it clear he meant no harm. Nami felt those little paws touch her—this was not a dream. She felt her knees give way slightly.

"Listen, Nami." His voice was calm and gentle, like a doctor talking to a nervous patient. "You're confused, I know that, but we need to get out of here, you'll understand when we get there."

"What place?" She managed to ask weakly.

"Wonderland. We're going to Wonderland." Said Chopper.

Nami held Chopper's paw tightly.

"Can you take me there?" Chopper smiled with redhead's change of attitude.

"But of course! That's what I came to do."

"And how do we get there?" She got up, smoothing her skirt down.

"Through the looking glass," he said excitedly. "And here's a giant one!" Chopper pointed to a large mirror by the bed.

"Very well." He seemed serious about the the mirror business. "Just let me do one thing." She took a pillow and slipped it under her mother's head, then kissed her on the brow. "I won't be long, mother."

Chopper waited patiently in front of the mirror. "It's very simple, Nami. You can imagine the looking glass as a curtain that you'll pass through."

Easy for you to say, she thought. Nami concentrated and was carried away by the current of imagination she had not felt for a long time. She felt something calling for her on the other side, calling with a soft voice.

When she opened her eyes, she was alone in a room full of doors.


Thanks for reading and waiting for you on next chapter!