Disclaimer: I do not own One Piece.
Set after Wano.
PROLOGUE
She found herself standing upon a grim shore, its ebony sands swallowing her footsteps. The moon, a mere sliver in the sky, cast feeble light upon the desolate landscape, creating an atmosphere of unease and uncertainty. As she wandered through the ghostly mist, Nami found herself lost within a twisted forest, its gnarled trees reaching out like skeletal arms, attempting to ensnare her in their grasping tendrils. She moved cautiously, her heart pounding in her chest, her senses on high alert as the forest whispered words of malevolence, taunting and goading her as she navigated through the labyrinth of shadow.
Amidst the dense fog, Nami stumbled upon a rusted gate, its jagged iron bars seemingly forged from the darkest recesses of her fears. With trembling hands, she pushed it open, revealing a forsaken city consumed by ruin and decay. Dilapidated structures loomed like menacing specters, their broken windows and crumbling facades serving as a testament to forgotten atrocities.
As her eyes mapped the city with anguish, they fell on the figure standing in the doorway of a house. The image was familiar in an unsettling way, and Nami felt like she was witnessing the onset of a plague. There, she beheld a woman who bore a striking resemblance to herself, yet with the wisdom and weathered grace of age etched upon her face. Her eyes, pools of knowledge and secrets, held an air of quiet intensity that mirrored Nami's own spirit. But it wasn't herself, she noted.
In a flick of the eyes, the woman was at Nami's side, her smell surrounding her. A mix of fresh fallen rain, blooming flowers and dried blood filled her nostrils and and sent a shiver through her spine.
In a haunting whisper that seemed to caress Nami's ear, the woman spoke, her voice carrying a chilling undercurrent of both familiarity and foreboding. "Child of the tempest, you stand upon the precipice of your destiny," she murmured, her words dripping with an eerie resonance. "Embrace the shadows that dance within your soul, for they shall guide you through the labyrinth of your true self."
As the woman's cryptic words echoed in the darkness, a sudden gust of wind whipped through the desolate city, carrying an ominous chill that seeped into Nami's bones. The atmosphere thickened with an unseen presence, and an overwhelming sense of impending doom washed over her.
In a second, the once-familiar woman transformed, her features contorting into a grotesque visage, her eyes hollow and filled with an unholy hunger. A blood-curdling scream tore through the air, piercing Nami's ears and shaking her to her core.
Startled, Nami jolted awake, drenched in a cold sweat. Her heart raced as she clutched the sheets, her breath ragged and uneven. The remnants of the dream still lingered, leaving her shaken and unsettled. It took a moment for her to gather herself, to separate the lingering dread from the reality of her surroundings. With a shaky exhale, she realized it had all been a nightmare, a chilling glimpse into a realm of darkness and uncertainty. Yet, deep within her, a flicker of curiosity burned. What meaning could there be behind such a sinister unconscious vision?
The room felt oppressive, the weight of the dream still lingering in the air. Intending to not wake Robin, she moved across the chamber with careful steps, her bare feet moving fast against the cool wooden floor. Pulling a flowing white robe around her, she cinched it tightly, as if seeking solace and protection within its soft embrace.
Leaving the confines of her quarters, Nami stepped onto the deck of the ship, her senses awakening to the world around her. The salty breeze caressed her face, carrying the faint scent of the ocean and the distant call of seagulls on its wings. The dawn-kissed horizon was slowly turning from deep blue to orange.
Her gaze shifted towards the crow's nest, where the rhythmic sounds of Zoro's exercise routine echoed through the night. Each clink of his huge weights against the metal floor resonated in her ears, a melodic symphony of determination and strength. She leaned against the railing, her eyes fixed on the vast expanse of the dark ocean.
Lost in her thoughts, Nami's mind wandered away from the residual tendrils of the nightmare. Her thoughts turned to Zoro, the enigmatic swordsman who had become an indelible part of her journey. Images of their conversations, the stolen glances and shared moments, swirled within her consciousness like the cresting waves.
A melancholic craving settled in her heart, the weight of unspoken emotions pressing against her chest. The tension between them had grown since their reunion, an undercurrent that danced beneath their interactions, both exhilarating and bittersweet. With each passing adventure, a magnetic pull seemed to draw her closer to him, stirring emotions that she had both welcomed and feared.
It was only in those moments of quiet solitude that Nami allowed herself to acknowledge the extense of emotions that Zoro made her feel.
Anger surged through her veins whenever his stubbornness clashed with her own. Their fiery exchanges, filled with sharp retorts and piercing gazes, ignited sparks that danced between them, fueling a fire that neither could fully extinguish.
Yet, beneath the fiery facade, an undeniable attraction smoldered, a magnetic force that tugged at her heartstrings with an almost gravitational pull. His unwavering loyalty, devotion to his dreams, and strength called to her, drawing her closer to him despite her best efforts to resist. There was an inexplicable allure in the way his muscles flexed with each precise strike of his swords, in the way his intense gaze met hers, seducing her without realising it.
Frustration knitted her brows together, born from Zoro's steady determination and single-minded pursuit of strength. His focus on his own path often left her feeling adrift, caught between admiration for his resolve and the longing for him to see the depths of her own struggles.
But even amid the frustration, a deep-rooted sense of trust had taken hold. Through countless battles and treacherous voyages, Zoro had proven himself to be a steadfast companion, a safe haven. His presence was a shield, a reassuring force that made her feel protected in the face of danger. The bond they shared, forged through the shared trials and triumphs of the Straw Hat crew, had woven threads of trust that Nami couldn't deny.
However, even with trust came vulnerability, and jealousy lurked in the shadows of Nami's heart. When Hiyori expressed her admiration and interest in Zoro, an unwelcome pang of envy twisted within her. It was a raw and undeniable emotion, born from the fear of losing a connection that she had barely begun to understand herself. The green-eyed monster whispered its venomous doubts, igniting a war within her as she grappled with her own desires and the perceived threat of a rival's affections.
With each passing day, Nami found it increasingly difficult to rein in her feelings. The jealousy had become a volatile force, tearing at the seams of her composure and undermining her once-confident facade. She wrestled with this newfound vulnerability. The jealousy had stripped away the veil of control she had so carefully maintained, exposing the depths of her yearning and the fragility of her heart. It was a disconcerting revelation, one that left her questioning her own strength and resolve.
"You're up early." The deep voice behind her made her jolt in surprise. She hadn't noticed the cease of the sounds in the Crow's Nest.
Nami turned to find Zoro standing there, shirtless, his muscular frame defined by the early morning light. Beads of sweat glistened on his skin, like liquid sunlight tracing the contours of his sculpted form. Her breath caught in her throat, her body instinctively responding to the sight before her.
A flush of warmth spread across Nami's cheeks, her pulse quickening as a familiar flutter of attraction stirred within her. She had seen Zoro shirtless countless times during the training sessions and battles, but there was something different about this moment. The golden hues of the rising sun cast a soft glow upon him, emphasizing the strength and grace etched into every sinew. It was a sight that both captivated and unnerved her, igniting a fire within her that danced between desire and trepidation.
Her eyes lingered on the subtle sheen of sweat that clung to his skin, her mind tracing the trails it left behind. The droplets seemed to magnify the allure of his physique, awakening a primal response deep within her core. The muscles of her stomach tightened, a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty swirling within her.
Nami's gaze flickered to the beads of sweat trickling down his neck, disappearing into the shadowed hollows. She found herself momentarily lost in the thought of trailing her fingers along those paths, exploring the terrain of his body with a forbidden curiosity. It was a dangerous desire, one that threatened to pull her further into the abyss of her own emotions.
Shaking herself from the intoxicating reverie, Nami forced her eyes to meet his gaze. There was the ever-present stoic look.
"You've been acting strange lately, Nami," he remarked, his voice tinged with both curiosity and concern. "Is there something bothering you?"
Nami blinked, momentarily taken aback by his perceptiveness. Her mind raced for a plausible explanation to dismiss his observation. But there was a part of her that wished to share her turmoil with him, to let him in on the tangled web of emotions that had entwined her thoughts.
Summoning a faint smile, she replied, her voice betraying a hint of vulnerability amidst her attempt at nonchalance. "Just lost in my own thoughts, Zoro. It's nothing you need to worry about."
His eyebrow raised inquisitively, a silent invitation for her to reveal more. His perceptive gaze seemed to cut through her defenses, seeing more than she was willing to reveal. The moment hung in the air, the unspoken words lingering between them, as if the currents of the ocean itself held their secrets.
"Alright," Zoro finally replied, his voice carrying a hint of disappointment. It was a fleeting moment, quickly replaced by his usual stoicism, leaving Nami to wonder if she had made the right choice by keeping her emotions veiled.
Her attention was abruptly drawn away as a chilling gust of wind swept across the ship. She felt a shiver crawl up her spine, a sudden shift in the atmosphere that sent a shroud of unease washing over her. The air grew heavy with a foreboding presence, as if the very elements conspired to mirror the turbulence within her own heart.
Her gaze darted to the horizon, where dark storm clouds swirled ominously, their tendrils stretching across the vast expanse of the sky. The once calm and serene ocean now churned with an unsettling energy, waves crashing against the sides of the ship with a newfound ferocity. The sky, once tinged with the golden hues of dawn, now darkened, suffocating the ship in an eerie twilight.
A sense of urgency gripped Nami's chest, her thoughts momentarily consumed by the impending storm. Her heart raced, matching the rhythm of the crashing waves, as a surge of adrenaline coursed through her veins. Instinctively, she moved towards the helm, her steps hastened by a mix of concern for the safety of the crew and the need to escape the tempest within her own soul.
When she glanced back at Zoro, horror was plastered all over her face.
"Get everyone on the deck right now."
Nami's urgent command echoed through the ship, and the crew swiftly gathered on the deck, their faces etched with worry and anticipation. They braced themselves for the onslaught of a devastating storm, yet as moments turned into minutes, they realized something was amiss. The sky remained an oppressive darkness, the clouds swirling with an otherworldly energy, but the rain refused to fall.
The air crackled with tension, the atmosphere heavy with an unfulfilled promise of nature's fury. The waves continued their relentless assault against the ship, their force intensifying with each passing minute. The ship creaked and groaned under the strain, as if mirroring the mounting unease within Nami's own heart.
As the crew cast glances at one another, confusion painted across their faces, Nami couldn't shake the sinking feeling that the sun would never shine again. The absence of rain, of cleansing tears from the sky, left her feeling trapped in an eternal twilight. It was as if the elements themselves withheld their release, trapping her in a suspended state of despair.
The darkness pressed against her, suffocating and unrelenting. She searched the horizon desperately, yearning for a glimmer of hope, for a break in the impenetrable shroud that enveloped them. But all she found was a perpetual gloom, a void where sunlight should have pierced through.
Nami's chest tightened, the weight of her emotions mirroring the oppressive atmosphere surrounding them. She had faced storms and tempests before, but this was different. It was an lurid reminder that even the elements could play tricks on one's perception, turning what should have been a release into an eternal purgatory of uncertainty.
As Nami's eyes strained through the darkness, a flicker of relief washed over her when she spotted a rocky shore emerging from the horizon. The sight of land offered a glimmer of respite, a potential sanctuary from the oppressive gloom that had consumed them. However, her relief was quickly overshadowed by a stark realization—the log pose, the device that guided them through the unpredictable New World, didn't point to this island.
She frowned, her brows furrowing with concern. The log pose was their compass, their key to navigating the treacherous seas. Its unwavering needle always pointed towards the next destination, guiding them safely on their journey. But now, faced with an unknown land, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that something was amiss.
"Guys, I don't think we should dock here," Nami voiced her reservations, her tone laced with caution. "The log pose isn't pointing to this island. It could be dangerous."
Luffy, however, remained undeterred, his eyes sparkling with an adventurous gleam. "I don't care about the log pose. This place looks interesting! Let's check it out!"
Nami's frustration simmered beneath the surface, her brows knitting together as she struggled to contain her growing exasperation. She respected Luffy's boundless curiosity and his unyielding determination, but there were times when his impulsive nature left her infuriated.
"Luffy, this is serious!" Nami's voice rose, her tone edged with urgency. "The log pose is there for a reason. It guides us through the New World and ensures we reach our destinations without falling into dangerous traps. Ignoring it could lead us into unnecessary danger."
The rest of the crew watched the exchange, their expressions caught between their captain's obstinated enthusiasm and Nami's prudent caution. Sanji nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with understanding, while Franky shifted uncomfortably, torn between loyalty and the desire to avoid unnecessary risks. Chopper and Usopp were hidden behind him, afraid of the mere sight of the island.
Luffy scratched his head, a sheepish grin spreading across his face as he looked at Nami.
"You're right, Nami," he said, and Nami's mouth opened in surprise. She wasn't expecting him to agree with her. "But that's exactly why we should check it out! If it's not on the log pose, then it means it's something new, something cool! And you know how much I love cool stuff!"
Nami blinked in astonishment, her surprise giving way to to resignation and amusement. She couldn't help but be charmed by Luffy's vivacity, his ability to find excitement in even the most uncertain situations.
With a sigh and a hint of a smile, she decided to play along. "Alright, Luffy," Nami replied, her voice tinged with annoyance and fondness. "If you say it's cool, then I guess we'll have to find out."
Luffy's grin widened, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He turned to the rest of the crew, excitement radiating from his every word. "Alright, everyone! We're docking on the island!" Luffy announced. "Get ready for an adventure like no other! I can feel it in my bones!"
The crew members exchanged glances, their initial reservations giving way to a shared sense of adventure.
As the ship inched closer to the shore, Nami's amusement waned, replaced by a growing sense of unease and physical strain. Her body seemed to respond to the abnormal weather, the weight of the darkened sky and the relentless waves taking a toll on her weary form.
A dull ache settled in her temples, throbbing with each passing moment. Beads of sweat dotted her brow, a testament to the physical strain she felt. Her muscles tensed, her shoulders weighed down by an invisible burden that seemed to grow heavier with each approaching wave.
Nami couldn't ignore the subtle warnings her body sent her. The unrelenting pressure of the atmosphere seemed to seep into her bones, sapping her energy and dampening her spirits. Each breath felt heavier, as if the air itself carried the weight of the impending unknown.
Despite her reservations, Nami clenched her fists, determined not to let her weariness cloud her judgment. She stole a glance at the crew, their excitement and anticipation mirroring Luffy's infectious enthusiasm. Yet, as they prepared to disembark onto the mysterious shore, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that she was walking into a misadventure.
A/N: Hello, there! This is my first fanfiction and I'm SO excited!
My plan is to post weekly, but the first chapter will probably be posted two weeks from now.
I intend to remain as loyal as possible to the personality of the carachters and I'll add some OC. This story is heavily inspired in theories I created in my mind, so don't go mad at me if I spoil something that becomes canon.
Looking foward to see what you guys think about the prologue!
Bye.