"I smell them." Zoro murmurs.

"They've really travelled far from the village." You murmur looking around.

"I did shorten their numbers." He points out, picking up his pace. Sanji moves to your left side, ears perked ahead.

"Good. He wont be so cocky then." You murmur. He veers into the forest and you follow after him, soon entering a clearing where a small camp sat. You instantly catch their attention and they stand, backing up slightly. "Where's your leader?" You call.

They didn't have to do anything before the leader emerges from a tent. He blinks at you in shock as you draw your sword, closing the distance between you.

"How..." He breathes.

"The Guardians." You answer simply, stopping before him. "Now tell me. Where did you get the power to eliminate them?" You question. He blinks, searching your gaze before smirking.

"I'll tell you if you be my wife." He bargains.

"Then I'll just take off your head and have your men tell me." You say simply, eyes narrowing. He pauses and straightens, frown coming over his dark lips.

"It's dangerous to go after the merchant." He warns.

"Merchant..." You echo. He sighs and shifts.

"He runs a company in Dressrosa. He's the one that sold the poison to us. If you think you'll be able to take him down by yourself. You're severely mistaken." He informs you. His tone makes you shift, amber eyes boring into you.

"What do you care? You bandits almost killed me. You attacked my village." Your eyes narrow as a slight growl creeps into your voice.

"Because I realize I'm in the wrong... And I don't want you to die again." He responds. "Women like you are impossible to find." He smirks slightly. You blink and back up from him.

"Thanks for the information." You tell him starting back to the guardians.

"One more thing." He speaks up, making you pause. "Tell me your name."

"___." You answer before leaving the clearing with Zoro and Sanji.

"Where to?" Zoro asks.

"Dressrosa..." You answer frowning ahead.

"That's pretty far." Sanji comments. You just nod, looking at the road once you find it again.

"What's wrong?" Zoro nudges you with his shoulder.

"It's dangerous for you guardians to come along. Its a poison that kills you." You look at him worried. "Im immune to it now so maybe I should just go by myself." He pauses before a feral growl leaves him.

"Like hell..." He snarls, you stop and turn to him.

"We need guardians Zoro. You're all rare as it is! Its best not to risk you." You point out.

"I'd rather more guardians perish than to risk you." He responds, baring his fangs.

"You're being selfish! Look at the big picture!" You snap.

"You are the big picture, woman!" He shouts. You pause blinking in confusion.

"Alright you two. Lets take a deep breath and come up with a compromise." Sanji touches yours and Zoro's shoulder soothingly. You take a step back, holding Zoro's glare.

"Fine. Lets find a place to camp for the night then." You decide, moving ahead quickly. Zoro scoffs before following after you. Sanji sighs changing into his fox form and disappearing into the forest.

After a while you leave the main path, following a small side path to follow and soon stopping in front of a shrine. You look it over quietly as Zoro steps beside you.

"It smells abandoned." He murmurs.

"Then you can sleep there. Im going to find firewood." You turn to walk away but he catches your hand.

"I'm sorry." He breathes, letting go. You pause, looking back at him.

"Zoro... I know you're concerned. But... I can't help but think about all of those villages that rely on their guardians..." You murmur. "I don't want to see a future where there's no guardians." You look down. He shifts, stepping closer and bringing your head to his chest with a sigh.

"I know. But I'm still not going to leave you alone." He says. You blink, listening to his heartbeat before closing your eyes.

"Just... Be safe if we get into trouble." You sigh. He puts his other arm around you, holding you warmly.

"Come on, lets get the firewood."

You sigh, rubbing your face as they start bickering again. "Guardians big and small please shut them up..." You mutter. You drop your hand to look ahead as someone wanders onto the road. He seemed lost, looking around in a daze. "Hey." You call lightly, making him pause.

"Hey ___, be careful." Zoro says after you as you move to hurry to the man's side.

The blond man looks at you with confused blue eyes, a scar over the left one. "Do you know where my village is?" He asks quietly.

"No. What's the name of it? I can help you find it." You offer lightly.

"Thank you..." He breathes. His body relaxes but there's a slight shake remaining.

"You don't look well sir. Have some food." You offer him some of what Sanji had made you for breakfast. He takes it carefully, starting to eat and relaxing slightly.

"___?" Zoro's voice makes you look back as he looks at the blond uneasily. You didn't understand why he and Sanji were watching the lost man with sympathy.

"You're still going to help me right miss?" The blond man recaptured your attention, he was frowning lightly. "I understand if you change your mind. I am a stranger after all."

"I'm still going to help you." You assure.

"Thank you... I'm Sabo. My village is called Makati." He tells you.

"Makati... I think I saw the name on an old sign we passed." You look back down the road. "Come on." You add lightly before leading him back down the road. Sanji and Zoro were giving you looks that requested you not to help the man. Still you didn't understand why.

Further down the road you find the sign again, pointing down an overgrown path. You peer at Sabo and he seemed a bit hopeful. "Yes... This looks familiar." He breathes and you start down it with him. The path curved around the hills leading all the way into a small valley.

The sight that waited you however wasn't one you had been expecting. A whole village burnt to the ground. No smoke rose from the ashes, instead vines and plants were growing over the scorched wood. This village had been destroyed sometime ago. Sabo moves forward looking around confused.

"No... This cant be right... Its a trick." He breathes shaking his head. "Why would you trick me like this?" He demands, turning on you his eyes were starting to glow, pupils slitting. You step back in alarm as he starts to change into a long blue dragon.

"We tried to warn you." Zoro says.

"I'LL MAKE YOU PAY" The dragon roars.