Disclaimer: One Piece does not belong to me, it belongs to Oda.

Alright! Here is the next chapter! I hope everyone enjoys it :)

Chapter 29


Dripping wet, Zoro trudged from the lake. His slow, dragging steps were enunciated by every squeak of his waterlogged boots. In his arms, Nami's clima-tact and his katana were haphazardly stacked.

Nami watched his approach with an appraising gaze. "Tired?"

"Nah." With a single shake of his head, he drew her clima-tact from the pile.

She accepted her dripping clima-tact with a smile; choosing to ignore his obvious lie for the time being. He should know better than to lie to a liar. She continued to watch him as he dropped to a crouch and began to repair his belt with a crude knot. As he tugged at the wet material, his fingers momentarily slowed. His eyes were on the scratches that stretched up and down his arm. Clenching his jaw, he roughly tugged his belt into a knot.

Nami sighed, resting her chin on her hand. Being tired wasn't the only lie the swordsman was guilty of. Obviously he hadn't put the lake incident behind him, at all. But had she really expected him to? Zoro took the protection of his nakama seriously. To be the one to hurt them – it had to be eating him from the inside out.

Heaving another breath, she blew at her bangs in frustration. She had already told him that she didn't blame him – tried to convince him that it wasn't his fault. She tilted her head, watching him re-sheath his katana with more force than was necessary. Clearly, that hadn't worked. Beside the fact that she wasn't keen on facing the rest of the labyrinth with an even more distracted Zoro in tow, Nami really did want him to stop blaming himself. She didn't like to see him upset, and so clearly angry with himself. Still watching the swordsman, she felt a weight settle atop her shoulder.

"Muscles is in a mood."

Nami tucked her chin. Willdren sat crossed-legged on her shoulder. The small man had seated himself close to the edge, away from the dark bruise. He propped his head on his hands as he watched Zoro's clipped movements.

Nami raised an eyebrow. "I don't remember giving you permission to sit there."

He fixed her with a serious look. "I don't think you appreciate how lovely a seat your shoulder is. Not too high, not too low, not too bony, but not too squishy either-"

Nami turned back to Zoro, doing her best to tune the small man out. She felt a tapping. She ignored it. The tapping moved inward. When his tiny hand touched on the bruise, she winced. She glared down at him. "What!"

"It's really not his fault. Those sirens are deadly. There are few women who can break from their spell on their own. For men, it's impossible."

Across the cave, Zoro was wringing out his shirt.

"Try telling him that."

"I take it he holds himself to some pretty high standards."

"Oh yeah."

Will rubbed at his chin. "He's got to get ahold of himself before we go to see her."

"What exactly should we expect?"

His wings fluttered. "Anything."

"That's not what I meant."

"Well you should expect anything."

Nami fixed him with a hard stare. "You're not going to tell me anything helpful, are you?"

"Nope."

"And you're sure she's not going to try to eat us? Or kill us?"

Though his hesitation was infinitesimal, Nami heard the slight pause before he spoke. "Mostly."

She groaned. "You're no help at all."

Will squinted as he gave her a toothy grin.

From across the cave, Zoro cleared his throat. "Should we go then?" The fabric of his still considerably damp shirt wrinkled against his chest.

Nami pushed herself to her feet, cringing at the motion in her shoulder, then again from the sudden pressure on her foot.

Will's dry voice spoke up uncomfortably close to her ear. "You're a mess."

Scowling, Nami jerked her shoulder; sending the tiny man toppling to his side. He panted as he planted his hands against her skin, pushing himself back into a seated position. "That was uncalled for."

Rather than reply, she picked her way over to Zoro, bouncing her shoulders slightly more than was necessary. Watching the tiny man's eyes widen as he clung haphazardly to her shoulder went a long ways towards mollifying her. Besides, he deserved it for not being more forthcoming about the 'ruler' they were about to meet.

As she approached, Zoro's eyes shifted downwards. "You think you'll get cold?"

With a grimace, Nami pulled at the still dripping fabric of her shirt. The wet fabric was cold against her skin. But there really wasn't much she could do. She dropped the heavy material with a sigh. "I can't exactly take them off."

The skin along Zoro's cheekbones flushed dark. He coughed. "Well, you could."

Nami's mouth fell open. Blinking, she quickly re-worked her expression into a teasing smirk. Propping her hand on her hip, she gave him a wink. "Moving pretty quickly aren't we? You haven't even taken me on a date."

Flush spreading, Zoro's mouth dropped open. He appeared to be trying to come up with something to say. Nami let him gape for another moment before taking pity on the floundering swordsman. With a chuckle, she grabbed his hand, tugging him towards the passageway. "I'm kidding. Come on."

Climbing from the cavern, Zoro finally found his voice. "I would've turned around. You could have at least wrung them out or something."

Nami tilted her head. "I know." Beside her, Zoro rested his hand upon his katana as he trudged up the damp stone. He was ever the honorable swordsman. Turning back, she squeezed at her shirt. "I'll be fine."

All too soon, the walls of the passage rose up on either side of them. After the cavern, the space in the passage felt constricting and more than a bit claustrophobic. Zoro's gaze shifted to her shoulder. "How long is he going to sit there?"

Nami looked down. Sure enough, Willdren was still sitting comfortably atop her shoulder. She sighed in exasperation. "I don't know. Until I work up the energy to knock him off."

"I'm right here you know." Will crossed his arms. "I'll have you know, I've flown a lot today!" His wings gave a sporadic flutter. "These things weren't made for distance!"

Nami rubbed at her head, only managing a half-hearted glare. "Fine. Just for a bit. You still have to tell us which way to go."

Will nodded happily. "Sure thing. For now, straight ahead!"


Zoro's eyes habitually scanned the narrow space in front of them. Beside him, Nami seemed to be warily observing the passageway as well. When she twisted to look behind them, her hair shifted, revealing the dark bruise that dotted her shoulder.

With a jerk, he turned away. Seeing the physical evidence of what he had done to her was like a kick to the gut. Zoro's fingers squeezed the hilt of a katana. When he thought about the fact that they were the same fingers that had left the darkening bruises upon her skin, his hand snapped open, releasing his hold on the hilt altogether. In the silence that had spread between them, he clenched and unclenched his hand. For the first time in his life, his physical strength had been a detriment. When Nami bumped against him, he looked up in surprise.

"Do you want me to add this whole thing to your debt? Will that make you feel better?"

"Huh?"

Nami raised her eyebrows. "I could add, say, fifty thousand beli for each bruise. And let's see – one hundred thousand for the whole awful experience." She rubbed at her chin. "That would be an extra two hundred thousand beli added to your debt. If I do that, will you stop beating yourself up over this?"

He shook his head. "I'm never going to be able to pay off your stupid debt anyway. It doesn't matter."

"Not with that attitude, you're not."

Zoro rubbed at his hair. "Nami… Just stop." He felt bad when she immediately went quiet. She pressed her lips together, looking quickly away.

Zoro sighed. "Look, I'll eventually put it behind me." He forced himself to look at the bruises. "It's just going to take some time. Let me be mad at myself for a while."

Nami huffed out a breath of air. "But it's not-"

"Turn here!"

They halted. Sure enough a new passage had spawned at their right. Zoro peered into the darkness. "That definitely wasn't here before."

Will tapped the side of his foot against Nami's arm. "I told you, it's a true labyrinth. The passages move around!" He gestured towards the darkness. "Go ahead. We're almost there."

As they entered the passage, Nami stepped towards the wall. Will's hand slid along the ruins, lighting the way once more. The new passage was surprisingly short. They had only been walking for a few minutes when Zoro became aware of an opening up ahead. Pale, white light filtered through the doorway, offsetting the blue glow of the walls.

"Is she – is she in there?"

At Nami's question, Will stood, giving his wings an experimental flutter. "Yes. Yes she is." The small man flitted from Nami's shoulder. As they approached the opening, he flew ahead with a humming buzz.

Zoro felt Nami's gaze. When he turned to her, he saw she held her clima-tact in a white knuckled grasp. Her expression was grim. Sliding a katana smoothly from its sheath, Zoro turned to face the opening. As they stepped through the doorway, his muscles tensed. He narrowed his eyes, giving their surroundings a quick, preliminary scan.

Eyes widening, Zoro's steps slowed. Beside him, Nami sucked in a quick breath. They were in an orchard. Twisting his head, Zoro carefully stepped forward. Long blades of grass bent beneath his boots. With every step, droplets of dew collected on his pants and shoes. On either side of them, white-blossomed trees rose tall. Above, rather than the stone ceiling he had come to expect, dark sky stretched above them. Flickering stars, more luminous than he had ever seen, seemed to dance about the darkness. At their center, wallowed the round, pale face of the moon.

He turned to Nami. "Are we out?"

Mouth open, she stared up at the sky. As he watched, her brown eyes shifted. Moving across the expansive sky, the stars reflected, sparkling bright within her gaze. She blinked. "No." A crease formed between her brows. "We're not." Her gaze shifted to the moon. "Look at it. Two days ago it was new, not more than a sliver in the sky." She looked down. "This sky, it's not real – it must be a trick, or illusion of some kind." As she finished speaking, a blossom dropped from a nearby tree. It fluttered down in a lazy spiral, landing lightly upon the crown of her head. Against her orange hair, the white petals stood stark. Zoro shifted, reaching to pluck it from her hair. As his fingers brushed the petals, a voice spoke.

"Humans have always bestowed upon flowers all kinds of meaning."

In a second, his katana was up. As he twisted to look around them, Nami moved closer, holding her clima-tact at the ready. His gaze shifted over the trees. He peered intently at the darkness that stretched behind their trunks.

"A single flower can signify love, happiness, grief, death." The voice was low, undoubtedly feminine. Zoro twisted. It seemed to emanate from all around them. "I wonder - would they assign meaning to the blossom in your hair?"

Nami shifted. The flower tumbled to the grass.

Zoro glared into the darkness. "Show yourself."

"Impatient too – all of you." At the edge of the clearing, where before there had been nothing but darkness, a figure stood.

Zoro crouched, tugging Nami behind him. When she stood at his back, he pulled a second katana from its sheath. The being at the edge of the clearing took slow, measured steps forward. She was tall. Making her seem even taller, where her hairline should be, sat a headdress. Richly colored feathers, ranging from dark brown to white twisted up from her hairline, and formed into two soft tufts. In the moonlight, the features beneath the headdress appeared washed, pale. Two dark, angular brows sat beneath the feathers. Her eyes were large. Even at a distance, their yellow hue stood out bright. At each of their centers, sat a round, black iris. Under a long, straight nose, her dark lips parted in a cold smile. When she was several yards away, her steps finally slowed. Katanas raised, Zoro continued to scan her strange figure. She looked kind of like a-

"Ulma. You're Ulma."

At Nami's voice, the woman's wide eyes shifted. "That was their name for me, yes."

Ulma? Zoro frowned, waiting for Nami to continue.

"I saw your statue."

"That was the form I showed them, no more than a simple bird."

"You're the ruler here?" Nami paused. "In the ruins-"

The woman cut her off. "They worshipped Rothgar as their highest god. I know." Dark lips twitched. "The people of old - they equated brute strength with power." The irises within her yellow eyes widened. "They didn't consider that knowledge might be an indication of a greater power still." Her lips parted. "Pity for them."

Zoro growled. He was tired of her roundabout talk. "What do you want?"

"What do I want? That is the question." She hummed. "I see what others cannot. With these eyes, I pierce the darkness that is the future."

There seemed to be a lot of that going around. Zoro thought aloud. "Like that Ronan guy?"

At his words her dark irises widened, obscuring her yellow eyes. Her change in demeanor was instantaneous. The feathers atop her head raked back, flat. Her lips parted in a snarl. "Do not speak his name!"

Zoro shifted his weight, preparing for an attack. But it did not come. Instead, the woman panted short, angry breaths. "The man is a monster – more so than any you will find within these walls! What he can do – his power – he stole from me!"

Zoro frowned. The feather woman knew Ronan? And he stole from her? He felt Nami's hand on his back as she leaned around him. Her eyes were intent on the woman. She seemed as curious about her connection to Ronan as Zoro was. For his part, Zoro continued to carefully observe the owlish woman. Anything she could tell them about this Ronan guy would give them an advantage.

Nami raised her voice. "What happened?"

The woman's voice dropped. "He stole from me. That is all you need to know." Her bright eyes flicked between them. "Since we have a mutual enemy, I will give you a gift. It is for that reason I called you here."

Zoro didn't move. He was automatically suspicious of any so called 'gift'. "What kind of a gift?"

"I will show you what lies in your immediate future." Her large eyes blinked. "There are two paths that lie before you."

Nami stepped up beside him. "Two paths? What do you mean?"

She raised her chin. "I'll show you. Look."

Zoro blinked. A tree filled his vision. "Wha-?"

"Don't speak! Both of you, just watch."

Images he could not control played before his eyes. Zoro's gaze swept up the tree's thick trunk. Accompanying the strange vision, was her low voice. "Imagine your life is like a tree." The vision continued upwards, sweeping over a branch. It stopped at a point where the large branch broke into two smaller branches. "With every decision, every choice that you make, you embark on a new path." The vision shifted, suddenly following the branch that broke off to the right. "With every choice, new paths open to you." The new branch forked again, and again. The vision followed the branch, until it began to thin. Finally, at the top of the tree, the branch separated a final time. Two lone twigs stretched upwards. "You have chosen path after path, and they have finally narrowed into only two possible futures." Zoro blinked. The vision was gone. He stared at the clearing once more.

He tightened his grip on his katana, once again watching her with a wary gaze. He didn't like where this was going.

When Nami spoke, she was hesitant. "And you're going to show us? The two futures."

She gave a slow nod. "If you wish to see them." Her expression remained still, emotionless. "I will warn you, neither would be considered happy."

Zoro frowned. He didn't like this at all. But it was Nami who answered her. "Show us."

The woman's lips turned up. "As you wish."

Zoro's eyes were once more filled with her images. He gritted his teeth at the sudden assault. On either side, rose stone walls. A heavy gate clanged down. Then there was a cave. Guttural snarls sounded all around. He saw rows upon rows of glistening teeth. There was a scream. And then nothing.

Zoro remained still. He had recognized that scream.

"You saw her death. In one future, your navigator dies here. Within the labyrinth."

Zoro was vaguely aware of a heavy pounding within his chest. It couldn't be. He would never allow it to happen – especially after the close call in the cave. "No. You're-"

"Quiet!"

Another vision was already playing before his eyes. He squinted at the sun's sudden glare. The forest opened around them. A dark figure dropped down. A shout sounded. The vision blurred as images sped together. When it stilled, he saw a platform, an axe. He saw blond hair and a maniacal grin. A flash of orange hair – there was a girl upon the platform. A glint of light. The axe fell. "In the second future, you escape the labyrinth. But your navigator still dies. This time by the hands of your enemy."

Zoro breathed roughly, trying to process both the images and the woman's words. He blinked and the vision was gone. Chest heaving, he lifted his swords. "You're lying."

Her unblinking eyes were fixed upon him. "You don't have to believe me. With or without your acknowledgement, one future or the other will come to be."

Her eyes shifted to Nami. Zoro followed her gaze. The navigator's face had drained of all color. When the yellow eyes fell upon her, Nami went completely still. Heaving his katanas higher, Zoro turned back towards the woman. They were lies – they had to be.


With each vision that played before her eyes, Nami's breath came shallower and faster. When she opened her eyes after witnessing the second future, Nami's head felt light. A whining ring sounded in her ears. It couldn't be true. After all of this- She closed her eyes, the images of her own death played again behind her lids.

Zoro's voice was low, dark. "You're lying."

Nami's eyes snapped open. Where he gripped his katana, Zoro's knuckles were white. Beneath his shirt, the swordsman's chest rose and fell much quicker than was normal.

The woman's voice was quiet, but firm. "You don't have to believe me. With or without your acknowledgement, one future or the other will come to be."

Then the yellow eyes were upon her. At the side of her vision, she saw Zoro lift his katana. But she could no longer hear his words. The yellow eyes filled her vision. The ringing transformed to a rushing in her ears. Nami squeezed her eyes closed. When she opened them, she found herself on a grassy hill. Breathing in quick gasps, she twisted in a quick circle. It must be an illusion. When she turned back, the woman stood before her.

An illusion it is. Young navigator, about your futures, do you believe me?

Nami jumped. The woman's lips remained closed. She hadn't spoken aloud. The low voice had sounded within her own head.

I said, do you believe me?

Nami swallowed, slowly shaking her head. She didn't want to believe it.

I don't care what you want to believe. Do you perceive what I've shown you to be true?

Her heart beat painfully in her chest. The images had been so vivid, real. Yes. She did. She couldn't help but believe them.

Then I will show you the final part.

Nami frowned. But before she had the chance to wonder about the woman's words, she was enveloped in a vision much like the first two. Nami watched as images flashed before her. In fact – it looked just like the second vision. There was the platform, the axe, the man with blond hair. But as the axe descended, the vision turned. Green hair. A katana. A knife spinning through the air. Blood. And then nothing.

Nami struggled to slow her breathing. That had been Zoro.

That was indeed the second future, but from another angle. In it, you saw the swordsman's death as well as your own.

Nami stopped breathing altogether. That was impossible. Zoro wouldn't allow something like that to bring him down.

Normally, no. But he wasn't focused on the fight. He was focused on you.

Nami shook. As she forced herself to breathe, she focused on the woman's wide eyes. As she watched her, she tried to form her scrambling thoughts into coherent sentences. "So what you're trying to tell me, is I'm going to die either way?" Nami's breath hitched in her chest. "But – but Zoro will only die in one of them."

The woman's lips curved up. I do appreciate a smart woman. As Nami watched, her lips tugged briefly down. I can't see like I used to. But know this. In the second future, while I know that both your and the swordsman's deaths are certain. The fate of the rest your nakama resides in an area of gray. But the circumstances that would lead to your demise, would certainly put them in danger.

Nami clenched her hands. "Why? Why show us these visions? Why tell me these things?"

The yellow eyes blinked. Perhaps it is an act of benevolence on my part. To give you some choice in the matter.

And then it hit her. Nami released a breath. It wasn't benevolence, it was desire. "If the first future comes to pass, what's in it for you? What do you gain?" It all made sense. Why else specifically show her that in one future Zoro would meet his end, and her nakama would be in danger. She wanted Nami to choose one future over the other. She wanted her to choose the first future, the one with the beast. But why?

A velvety chuckle sounded within her head. Very smart indeed. There was a pause. Ronan. The man who stole from me. If the first future comes to be, he will die. And that is an outcome I greatly desire.

Nami turned that information over in her head. "How does he die?"

The swordsman, of course. Ronan would still be after the rest of your crew. If you are lost to this labyrinth, the swordsman will become a harder man. In that future, he kills Ronan out of anger, and to prevent the loss of even one more nakama.

Nami closed her eyes. "You could be making all of this up. How do I know you're not?"

You don't.

Nami stilled. Slowly, her eyes opened.

But I'm not. Besides, are you willing to risk even the possibility of a future in which the swordsman dies and your nakama are in danger?

Despite her heart's rapid pounding, Nami was cold. At once, she felt the whooshing sensation once more. She blinked. They were back in the meadow, exactly where they had left off. Zoro was still crouched menacingly beside her.

His voice was low, practically a growl. "Neither of those futures are gonna happen. I'd die first."

Nami froze. The image of the flying knife played again in her mind. Across the meadow, the woman smiled a slow, sad smile. And then she was gone. Where she had stood there was only an empty clearing bathed in shadow.

Zoro held his katana as he surveyed the clearing with a sharp gaze. Only when he turned back, did the swords finally lower. "Damn it." With a heavy thrust, he pushed both katanas back in their sheathes. And then his gaze was upon her. "Nami?"

Nami blinked. She was still struggling to process all of it. She managed a slight nod.

Zoro stepped closer. His eyes were hard. "Listen, that owl woman is probably lying. Don't worry about anything she said." His lips pulled back in an expression that resembled a snarl. "I won't let either of those things happen." His eyes held hers. "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise."

Nami swallowed. With only a slight shake in her voice, she forced herself to speak. "I know." She managed a weak smile.

His grin was sharp and lopsided. She would have thought him worry free if it weren't for the tightening around his eyes and the slight twinge at the corner of his lips. As she looked at him, the woman's words played again and again in her mind. Could it possibly be true? It didn't seem fair. For them both to have come so far, only to be faced with two futures of negative consequence. She felt his hand upon her arm.

"Nami. No one controls our futures but us. Neither of those bad things are gonna happen."

Nami blinked through the numbness that seemed to be her mind's response to such heavy information. Zoro still didn't know about the part of the woman's prophecy that involved him. "Zoro -" But as the new knowledge continued to circle sluggishly in her mind, the words died on her lips. She didn't want to believe the woman. Perhaps she was just a crazy owl lady - nothing more. But if she wasn't, and her words began to show themselves to be true... Nami closed her mouth, the barest traces of an utterly unpleasant plan beginning to take form in her mind.

"Muscles. Orange." Will' s voice sounded above them. Nami was just able to make out his tiny form, crouched among the white blossoms. "I had no idea your stories had such a sad ending."

"Oi! You should have told us your ruler was crazy." Zoro glared up sharply. "We could have saved ourselves the time of listening to her useless words."

Will's voice was small. "She's not crazy." The winged man's voice lacked its usual exuberance. "She's never been wrong. Not once."

Nami's shoulders drooped and her arms dangled, heavy at her sides. She had never felt so tired. "Will." Her voice sounded muted, even to her ears. "Can she truly see the future? Are those really the only two paths left to us?" Nami didn't take her eyes from his tiny, silhouetted figure. "Tell me the truth."

For what seemed like an endless moment, the small man was still. When he finally shifted, delicate blossoms floated down, loosed from their tenuous perches on the tree. Nami caught one in her palm. Only then, did he speak. "Aye. It's the truth."

Another flower floated down. Zoro swatted it away, a terrible frown upon his face. "Why should we believe anything you say? You're a part of this labyrinth. You probably want us dead as much as anyone here."

Will's voice was quiet. "That's not true."

"The hell it's not." The tip of Zoro's dark boot dug into the side of the tree's wide trunk. Branches groaned and leaves shuddered under the impact. Willdren's wings buzzed as he dropped down from the shaking tree. Around him, blossoms fell like rain. By the time the small man hovered before them, the surrounding grass appeared as if dusted with snow. Nami observed the scene with a detached gaze. It was beautiful in a way.

With a rasp, Zoro pulled a katana from its sheath. At the noise, Nami blinked her eyes back into focus. The blade's sharp tip was leveled at their guide. Before she knew what she was doing, her hand was on his arm. The blade lowered slightly at her touch.

"Zoro. Stop."

When he twisted his head back, his expression was still angry. Though he nonetheless let the blade lower further. "They're lying. This is some kind of trick."

Nami's fingers tightened around his arm. "What if it's not?"

The swordsman's head tugged down. He glared at the ground. "It is." For a moment, they were all still. An unearthly silence enveloped the orchard. When he looked up, his lips were set in a determined line. "And if it's not a lie or a trick – it doesn't matter." In a quick motion, he firmly sheathed the katana once more. "I don't care what the future is supposed to be. I'll change it."

Nami breathed out a rough sigh, smiling incredulously in spite of herself. "You're such a baka."

Zoro turned, inclining his head as he faced her fully. "I'm serious Nami. Nothing's going to happen to you."

Rather than reply, she fell forward, pushing her forehead into his chest. He shifted. Closing her eyes, she felt his arm wrap around her shoulders, holding her securely against him. In his warm embrace, Nami felt her breathing begin to slow. She wanted to believe him. He was so strong, the swordsman could do almost anything. But this? Nami pressed her face into his chest, hiding her grimace in his wrinkled shirt. More than anything, she wanted to believe that Zoro could fix this. But if he couldn't – Nami's hand trailed up his side, bunching the fabric of his shirt in a fist – if he couldn't, she had to be prepared to act. For the good of him, and her nakama.

Still pressed against him, Nami allowed herself a moment to collect herself. With a deep breath, she erased the grimace from her features. When she looked up, her expression was composed, calm. She met Zoro's gaze with a soft smile. "I believe you."

When his shoulders dropped and the tension in his body visibly lessened, Nami felt a brief twinge of guilt. She pushed it away. She might not have to act. There was still the chance that the owl woman and Will were lying. Perhaps the whole thing was an elaborate ruse. Though deep in her gut, she couldn't help but feel their words held no lie. And maybe Zoro would be able to do something. But she had to be ready, just in case. The plan continued to solidify within her mind. As a last resort, she had to be ready to protect them.

Behind them, Will sighed. "You guys certainly have spunk."

At his voice, Zoro stiffened. Standing on her toes, Nami could see the winged man over Zoro's shoulder. Will's face was drawn. His small hands were clasped tightly together.

The small man cleared his throat. "Do you still want me for a guide?"

Nami and Zoro answered at once.

"Yes."

"No."

At Nami's 'yes' Zoro frowned. "You still trust this guy?"

Nami watched Willdren closely. "I trust him enough." Though she could not place her finger on precisely why, she did trust the small man. "The passages move. We need a guide."

With narrowed eyes, Zoro turned to face Will. His hand fell from her shoulders, leaving them feeling suddenly cool. When he addressed the small man, his voice was low and his tone cold. "Nami may trust you – but I don't. Make one wrong move, and your wings won't be fast enough to escape my blades."

Will nodded quickly; his black eyes remained fixed on the katanas at Zoro's hip. "You got it, muscles."

Zoro let out a huff of air. "And stop calling me muscles."

Will gave a non-committal shrug. Zoro scowled. But before he could say anything more, Will clapped his hands. "First things first, you guys need to rest."

Nami nodded, speaking before Zoro had the chance. "I agree."

She watched as Zoro frowned, giving Will a firm stare.

She cleared her throat. "If we're too tired, we won't be good for anything."

Still watching the winged man, Zoro gave a reluctant nod. "Where?"

Will spread his arms. "I can't think of anywhere better than here."

"No."

Nami looked wistfully at the soft grass. It would certainly be nicer to lay on than the tunnels of stone. "Will she be back?"

Will shook his head. "Not for a long while. She likes to wander the labyrinth."

Nami nodded firmly. "We'll stay here then."

Zoro scowled. "I don't like it."

Nami bent down, patting the soft grass appreciatively. "Come on Zoro. I'm exhausted and so are you. At least here we won't have to worry about strange creatures sneaking up on us." She looked sharply up at Will. "Will we?"

"They wouldn't dare come here."

Zoro crossed his arms, looking about the clearing. He grumbled, "If that owl lady comes back, I'm gonna fight her."

Nami was already reclining on the soft grass. "Sure, sure."

In a smooth motion he sat down beside her. "We should take turns sleeping."

She propped herself up on her arm. "You sleep first then."

Halfway leaning back, he paused. "You sure?" He blinked, clearly battling between his desire to sleep and his wanting to let her rest.

"Yeah. You've missed, what, six naps by now?" She gave him a small smile. "Get some sleep. I'll wake you up in a few hours."

Nodding slowly, he leaned back into the grass. "Wake me up if anything weird happens. Especially if wings does something." Eyes already closed, by the end of the sentence, his voice had trailed off into mumbles. In the next second, deep snores sounded in the clearing.

Will alighted on a branch above them. "If you don't mind, I'm going to get some rest too. You two are exhausting." He draped himself over a thin branch, arms and legs dangling over either side. After a minute, a high pitched whistling accompanied the swordsman's deep snores.

Sighing, Nami scooted back, propping herself against the tree's thick trunk. She was glad Zoro had agreed to sleep first. Despite the heaviness in her lids, she knew that for her, sleep would be a long time coming. Biting her lip, she allowed the events of the day to play over again in her mind. It was too much.

She stared up at the sky above. Though the stars shone bright in flickering luminescence, it was the moon that drew her gaze. Its round, pale face seemed to stare down at her. If only it were real. Outside, far above the stone walls of the labyrinth, the real moon's tentative crescent was fixed somewhere above them. She wished she could see it.

Absentmindedly, her fingers played through the grass. Closing her eyes against the false sky above, she focused on the feeling of the smooth blades slipping between her fingers. Frowning in concentration, she played the day's events once more through her mind. With shaking fingers, she plucked a blade of grass from the damp dirt. She would utilize every bit of the hours that Zoro slept. She had much to consider.


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