Coco: Hey, guys, I know it's been a while since I published anything. My old laptop crapped out suddenly and I lost...everything. I wanted to cry. Took a while to get a new laptop and even then, I felt a bit too depressed to write. But I'm starting to get back into it. Sorry for making you guys wait so long. I hope you can forgive me.

I have a few other story updates I'm working on, so hopefully you'll be seeing more from me soon enough.

Now, shall we get started?

Nami and Usopp both gasped as the wind whipped around dangerously. When it died down, they stared with wide eyes as blood dripped down Wren's blade. Said woman's gaze was cold as she looked up at Enel who had dodged her attack. At least enough to keep his neck attached to his shoulders. His ear, however, was not whole as his earlobe laid at Wren's feet.

"She…she cut him." Gan Fall said in shock. "But how?"

He then looked to the side with his eyes widening even more when seeing the deep gash in the land. Havel also looked at the damage done while knowing if Wren had been thinking more rationally, she wouldn't have caused such damage to the land. Harming this place could harm the fae here who call it their home. He looked back to Wren who had a positively dark expression on her face.

'Misce, please, keep your temper in check,' Havel silently prayed.

If she went on a full rampage, things could become more dangerous than it was before for their human companions. Though considering she wasn't blindly slashing around, Havel said they were safe from that happening for now.

"You dodged at the last second," Wren commented as she slashed her sword to the side to rid it of blood. "Tell me, did you know I would cut you or did your body act on its own?"

Enel did not reply right away as he touched his wounded ear as the blood poured down the side of his neck and shoulder.

"How?" Enel finally questioned. "How could a mere woman like you cut me?"

He then stiffened when Wren suddenly appeared in front of him. He then slowly looked down to see Wren's sword stabbed through his abdomen. Blood seeped between his lips before he coughed up even more.

"Perhaps you should worry more about trying to stay alive than question how it happened." Wren advised. "Now, wail."

Enel cried out in pain as what felt like a thousand slashes went through his body as a wailing noise deafened his ears.

'I must…I must get away from this woman!' Enel thought in a panic. 'She's some kind of devil!'

He used his devil fruit to create distance between him and Wren. He reappeared on a tree branch several yards away from the ship, but Wren showed up right behind him. She swatted him down much like she had done to Bellamy, which sent him crashing into the ground.

"Don't die on me just yet," Wren said coldly. "I am not through with you by a long shot. You are not allowed to die nor flee until I repay onto you all the pain you caused him."

Just thinking of the pain Sanji was still in had her blood boiling. She would make Enel pay for it. She would have him begging for mercy and pleading for his life before she finally would end things.

'How dare he harm one of them,' Wren's dark thoughts ran through her head. 'How dare harm him! Him!'

Wren would feel all rationality leaving the longer she dwelled on Sanji's condition. It had her shaking her head to try and clear her thoughts, but it was proving to be difficult. She cares for her crewmates. She would do anything for them. Including kill someone. But she could do all that with a clear head. So, she didn't understand why Sanji's pain…knowing he was hurt was making her feel so volatile.

'I need to calm down,' Wren told herself, but was finding it difficult.

It was like a primal urge to make Enel pay. Like something deep within the darkest parts of her soul were telling her that simply killing him wouldn't be enough. That this man before her had crossed her in one of the most sinful of ways and no form of repentance or retribution would satisfy her.

'I'm going to rip him limb from limb!' Wren thought as the anger was starting to win over.

She shook her head to try and force away such thoughts as her friends watched on in concern.

"What's wrong with her?" Nami asked worriedly.

"Halfings' emotions are dangerous." Havel said with a sigh. "Their fae halves do not know how to comprehend the strong emotions that humans carry. It can cause them to act out irrationally depending on the emotion and how strongly they feel it. Anger is a particularly touchy emotion for them. To try and get rid of this emotion that causes them such turmoil, they will lash out and destroy the cause of that emotion. Though sometimes that is not enough to make the anger or other emotional overload to go away, which leads to them attacking blindly to anything that moves. Sometimes they never recover or return to their formal selves. Sometimes they are forever stuck in a blind rage like a beast."

As he said this, Wren used another dangerous slashing wind attack that cut through the ground and made even the thick trees of the Upper Yard shake violently. Enel barely managed to dodge the woman's attack before trying to create distance between them once more.

"If Enel gets away before her anger can be soothed, I'm afraid she'll start looking for another target," Havel said.

"Wren, would never hurt us!" Usopp said shaking his head. "Never!"

"Not intentionally," Havel agreed. "However, she is not in her right mind at this moment. She might not even recognize us if we were to try and speak with her now."

Usopp eyes widened when hearing this as he looked up to Wren who seemed to be struggling. Her visible eye kept wavering with the black and white seeming to fight for control around her glowing iris. Despite his limbs shaking in fear, Usopp moved to stand.

"I'm going to help her." Usopp said. "Nami, you look after Sanji."

"Usopp, are you crazy?!" Nami demanded. "I trust Wren too, but she isn't exactly alone up there."

She pointed towards Enel who threw a blast of lightning at Wren who dodged it.

"I know it's dangerous!" Usopp said as his legs shook. "B-but Wren would do the same for us! Besides, Sanji would probably beat me senseless if he knew I stood by while she was struggling like this."

He said this with a shaky laugh as he moved to the railing for the Going Merry.

"Havel, do you think you can get me up there?" Usopp asked.

Havel regarded the young man silently for a moment. He was obviously scared. He was shaking where he stood, but surprisingly, he kept the tremor from his voice. He also looked determined to go as he looked back at Havel with unwavering eyes. Havel sighed.

"While I admire your bravery, I won't be taking you up there to die." Havel said. "Strength wise…I think only Luffy could slow her down enough to try and get her to listen to reason. However, the only voice that can reach her now is his."

Havel looked down at the unconscious Sanji who was breathing heavily in pain.

"But there's no way he'll be waking up soon." Nami said. "So, what do we do?"

Havel didn't reply at first as he continued to gaze down at the blonde. He then looked up at Wren who split a tree in two. She was growing angrier. Having no regard for the land or anyone around her. They'd have to work fast.

"Bring me some twine soaked in water." Havel said.

Usopp didn't even waste time asking why Havel needed that as he hurried towards the kitchen. Sanji kept twine in there to wrap their meat in parchment paper and he could use the sink to soak the twine. Usopp quickly found the twine before taking it over to the sink. He soaked it in water before running it back out to Havel.

"Tie one side around Sanji's wrist then the other side to me." Havel said as he raised his paw.

Usopp nodded then followed Havel's instructions. Once the twine was attached to both Havel and Sanji, the cat-sithe started to glow.

"What are you doing?" Nami asked.

"Healing or rather transferring." Havel said. "The twine connects us and water is a flowing element. This allows me to take his injuries and flow them onto me. At least to get him well enough to move to her side. Of course, where Wren and I are connected as familiar and mage the injuries I take will affect her as well."

"But she's fighting Enel right now!" Usopp protested. "That'll put her in danger!"

Havel didn't comment as he started chanting under his breath. At first nothing happened, however, Nami then gasped when the burns started to disappear from Sanji's body. Havel then hissed as his body shook as if he was in pain.

"Amazing." Nami said.

Usopp was impressed as well. Havel did say that magic wasn't a cure all once. That it couldn't solve everything. So, even with magic, Sanji's wounds couldn't be healed. Only transferred. Usopp then looked up at Wren who dropped down to a branch in the tree beside them. She was clutching her sides with her sword laying at her side. Something Enel noticed.

'Please, wake up.' Usopp mentally begged as he watched Enel grin cruelly down at Wren. 'She needs you. Wren needs you, Sanji!'

Above them, Wren was panting as pain enveloped her entire body. Her eyes widened.

'Pain…physical pain…' She thought as her senses slightly returned to her. 'I know this pain and I know how to deal with it.'

She wasn't sure where it was coming from, but she would take it. She would focus on it.

'I…I can't lose control.' She thought as she grabbed her sword. 'Not here…not now. I could hurt them…and if I lose myself here, I'll never accomplish Cora-san's dream. I'll never see Law again…Focus on the pain…focus…'

However, even as she tried to focus on the pain that was steadily growing, her anger wasn't going to be so easily swayed. It was still wanting to rage as she glared up at Enel who looked as if he was going to attack while she's down. She threw herself backwards to land on the branch behind her as the one she had been crouched on was blown away by Enel's lightning.

"Looks like you're tiring out, woman." Enel mocked as Wren forced herself to stand. "And after all that big talk about killing me. In the end, you're only human."

Wren blinked before her lips turned up into a smirk. She then chuckled. Those chuckles turned into full laughter though it had a dark edge to it.

"Human?" Wren repeated as her sclera turned black and her eye glowed red. "You fool. From I come from, the people under my protection rejoice my name and revere me as some kind of divine deity. And those who oppose me weep at the mere mention of me and fear me as a demon. I am a monster raised by the devil himself. And you think yourself above me? How amusing."

Enel felt a shiver roll down his spine as Wren's body morphed even more. Her hair turned white as a ghost and dark markings appeared on her body. Giving her an almost skeletal look.

"She's transforming even more." Nami said with her eyes watering. "No…Wren…"

Havel frowned as he focused on transferring Sanji's injuries to his own body even faster. He noticed the man's fingers twitch, which gave him a bit of hope.

'Wake up,' Havel thought. 'Wake up and save her! Her life cannot turn out like his!'

The beast's figure came to mind. How it would wail and destroy everything in its path when it was not in a long slumber. The pain it felt every day just by existing. He did not want that for Wren. He couldn't lose another halfling like he lost Cain. From above them, Wren was preparing an attack that would undoubtedly be the end of Enel. But also, the end of anything else in the path of her power.

"I hope you are ready, Enel." Wren told the false god. "You will feel every ounce of my rage."

However, before Wren could unleash her power, two arms wrapped around her from behind. Her visible eye widened at the familiar touch as his familiar scent reached her nose even under the smell of char.

"Wren-chan," he spoke softly to her. "It's alright. Deep breaths."

Wren just stood there stiffly before looking over her shoulder to see Sanji. He was smiling at her gently as he gazed at her with that familiar kind gaze of his.

"…Sanji…" She whispered.

Sanji nodded then turned her around to pull her against his chest. He held her tightly with one his hands cupping the back of her head. He stroked her hair as he rested his head against hers. His cheek pressed against the top of her head.

"Everything is okay now." Sanji assured her. "I'm sorry for causing you so much trouble, my darling."

Wren's body started to shake as the markings disappeared and her hair and eyes returned to normal. Her rage disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. Peace fell over her mind once more as her hand that wasn't holding her sword, reached up to clutch the back of Sanji's shirt.

"I'm sorry." She said as she moved to bury her head against his chest. "I'm sorry…so sorry."

Sanji held her even tighter as she kept murmuring apologies. He then loosened his hold to pull back enough to cup her chin in his hand. He tilted her head up.

"You needn't apologize, Wren-chan." He assured her. "You should never feel the need to apologize for how you feel."

Wren actually felt her eyes water at his words. She didn't know what this feeling was, but it was almost as strong as the rage that she had been feeling earlier. But it was still a peaceful emotion. One that had her feeling warm inside and feeling more at peace than she has in a long time. However, that feeling of peace left as she noticed the lightning coming right at them.

"You shouldn't have let yourself get distracted, woman!" Enel shouted. "Now you and that man you seem to love so much will die!"

'There's no time to dodge!' She realized.

Havel, who was now in his large form, appeared before her and Sanji while casting a ball of energy around them. The lightning hit and while they weren't perfectly protected, the brunt of the attack was lessened. The branch was destroyed as well was the ground underneath them that opened into a large, dark cavern. The three of them fell into the darkness with Nami and Usopp crying after them. Enel watched in satisfaction as they disappeared into the darkness.

'Perhaps that will teach you not to so cocky in the future, woman.' Enel thought. 'If you survived that attack that is. Even if you did…you'll meet your end soon. You've fallen into his domain, after all.'

He then glanced down at those remaining on the ship. Gan Fall glared up at him as that devil woman's crewmates were freaking out over what happened to her and that blonde man. Deciding not to waste his time on the weak, Enel took his leave. He'd let someone else deal with them.

"Wren, Wren, please speak to me!" Sanji begged as he was digging through the rubble.

He felt panic set in as he tried to find Wren. He lost her when they fell into the cave. The ground above fell on top of them. Fortunately for him, he had been pulled out off the rubble by Havel who was also searching for Wren.

'She has to be okay!' He thought as he kept digging.

He moved a rock to the side with his eyes widening when he saw Wren's hand.

"Havel, over here!" Sanji called. "I've found her!"

Havel hurried over and the two of them quickly dug through the rubble to uncover Wren. Sanji sighed in relief when seeing she was breathing, but her wounds worried him. He pulled the woman into his arms while burying his face against her neck. He took in a deep breath as his heart rate slowed back to its normal pace.

"Thank the Mother," Havel murmured as his shoulders slouched. "I'm getting too old for this kind of excitement."

He then moved to curl around Sanji and Wren as the cook kept the injured halfling close. Sanji brushed some of her hair back as he saw some blood trickling down the side of her face. At least it wasn't a large amount. Still he hated to see any injury on her.

"We can't stay here long," Havel said. "There's something in this cave."

Sanji frowned as he lifted his head to look around. He couldn't see anything outside their little circle of light caused by the hole above them. They could just climb out of here.

'Or maybe not,' he thought as he looked up to see how far they had fallen. 'With our injuries, we won't make it out that way. Not even the cat is in the condition to climb.'

He didn't know the exact details as he had been quick to react as soon as he woke up and saw Wren in distress. However, he did know someone took his injuries. He glanced at Havel whose body shook as if in pain. Sanji felt better but not 100%. And he could tell his Wren was hurt as well.

"Okay, but where do we go from here?" Sanji wondered out loud.

There was no way he'd be able to navigate their way out of here. He couldn't even tell if there was a way out.

"I can sense air flow and different scents coming from different directions." Havel said. "I'll be able to lead us out. However, I cannot pinpoint the danger in these caves. I can only sense that it is here."

Sanji's frown deepened. He was not liking the sound of that one bit. He then looked down at Wren when she groaned slightly. He smiled in relief when seeing her eye open to look up at him.

"Sanji," she murmured. "Where are we?"

"Somewhere under Upper Yard." He said. "Havel said he can lead us out, but he also said there was something down here. Something dangerous."

Wren frowned when hearing this as she moved to sit up in Sanji's lap. He put a steady hand behind her back to help her sit up as she looked around. She could sense something as well. However, she couldn't tell where the presence was coming from.

'It's like the presence is spread out through the area,' Wren thought. 'This will make sensing an attack hard.'

And it didn't help that she was now injured. This was all because she let her emotions get the best of her. She mentally sighed. She could never allow herself to lose control like that again. She glanced at Sanji who was also taking in their surroundings. Well, taking in as much as he could considering how dark it was.

'Now, you and that man you seem to love so much will die!' Enel's words rang through her head.

Wren subconsciously shifted closer to Sanji as she continued to gaze up at him.

'Love him?' Wren thought. 'Could it even be possible? We haven't known each other that long…I haven't even let anyone behind my walls since…'

Wren trailed off as a certain group of pirates came to mind. A group of pirates a certain freckle-faced idiot belonged to.

'That's when it started,' she realized. 'They made the first crack. They brought the light back even if just a sliver.'

And then the Straw Hats came into her life and chipped away her wall at an alarming speed. They've given her laughter and smiles…They given her joy. Given her somewhere she feels like she can be herself. As for Sanji…he's given her love. He's given her a sense of safety. He's made her feel truly wanted.

'This feeling is scary,' she thought. 'Love destroyed Cain…and I nearly lost myself earlier in rage just because Sanji was hurt.'

Made her think that allowing herself to let others in was a mistake in the end. That she should have kept her walls tightly around her. Perhaps, she shouldn't let herself feel. Halflings 's emotions are dangerous…that's why the ones who are born tend to shy away from others. Choosing a life of solitude so not to make connections with others. Not risking the chance of becoming attached because once you lose that precious something or someone…the anger…the sorrow…the emptiness is too much for them to bear.

Wren's been doing pretty well up until now. She had managed to maintain her emotions by focusing on her goals. Killing her emotions by keeping all her attention and effort on obtaining Rosinante's dream of stopping his brother. She's become distracted since joining the Straw Hats. Even allowing herself to forget about Doflamingo and the years she spent building up an organization just to stop him. Allowing herself to just live in the moment with this loveable group of pirates.

'I can't allow myself to forget,' Wren thought. 'I can't allow these emotions to sway me from my goal. I can't allow them to grow. I must push them aside. I must forget them.'

Though even as she was thinking this, she only felt an ache in her chest. It was as if her emotions were rebelling against her thoughts. Leaving her even more confused and unsure.

"We better get moving." Havel's voice broke through her thoughts. "We need to return to the surface. Can either of you move?"

He asked this was standing up and moving to stand in front of them. He leaned towards Wren as she reached out to him. Using him as leverage, Wren managed to stand. She winced slightly as she put pressure on her legs. Her right one twinged a bit, but she ignored it as she looked around for her sword. She saw it sticking out of the rubble and went to retrieve it as Havel helped Sanji stand up. Wren sheathed her sword then gave a sigh.

"We need to move quickly." Wren said. "I don't sense Enel above anymore, which meant he at least left our friends alone. However, that doesn't mean they're safe."

She'd also like to rendezvous with the ground team. Things felt chaotic on the surface. The fighting was growing more intense, and voices were starting to disappear. She didn't wish for her crewmates to be among those who have fallen.

"I'd also like another chance at Enel." Wren said. "Now that my mind is clear."

She wouldn't act so shamelessly again. She would keep her mind about her from here on out.

"Wren-chan, maybe it's best if you stay away from Enel." Sanji suggested.

"Enel is made of lightning." Wren said. "A logia-user. I am the only one on this island capable of touching him…Well, Luffy might be able to as well."

Sanji frowned wondering how Luffy would be able to touch Enel when it was Wren who had the power of haki. Something she had explained to the rest of the crew before they had headed out earlier today.

"I can handle him." Wren said. "I won't make a fool out of myself twice."

Sanji looked at Wren softly as he moved to her side. He took her hand into his.

"Wren-chan, please, don't keep beating yourself up over what happened." Sanji said. "If you hadn't shown up, Nami, Usopp, the weird knight guy, and his even weirder bird would have been hurt. Besides, I'm just glad you're okay now. I was worried when I woke up and saw you in so much pain."

It had broken his heart to see her struggling like she had been. To see her fighting with herself to control her emotions. He hated he had a hand in hurting her in such a way.

"I didn't scare you?" Wren asked him. "I'm certain I looked like a real monster."

Sanji used his other hand to cup her cheek to turn her head up, so he could look into her eyes.

"You looked like my darling Wren-chan." He said smiling. "Beautiful as you always are. Even now when covered in dirt and dust."

He said this with a chuckle as he wiped some dirt off her face. Wren's cheeks warmed at the gentle action as she and Sanji continued to stare into each other's eyes. Havel sat off to the side shaking his head fondly.

'Aw, young love,' he thought. 'It's been forever since anyone looked at me like that.'

He sighed wistfully before his ears pricked when they picked up the slightest of sound within the cave. He narrowed his eyes. The danger was drawing closer. He didn't know what kind of creature called this cave its home, but he wasn't looking forward to meeting it.

Coco: And that's that. Wren has finally managed to put a word to the feelings she's been having for a certain cook. However, it seems these feelings aren't exactly welcomed as Wren worries about how they affect her. Could this cause trouble for her and Sanji in the future? How much longer until we get some actual confessions? Who knows? Well, I know...but that's besides the point.

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the update. I hope you won't have to wait so long for the next one. Now, until next time, everyone! Remember to stay safe and keep being your beautiful selves!