{zoro x oc} stick 'em with the pointy end

12. stowaway

Camels were slow.

The dark haired woman had changed into the disguise of a desert traveller. She needed something faster than this.

The city behind her had broken out into celebration. Evil had been stopped. No thanks to her. She had done some terrible things in remaining passive as she allowed the warlord to dominate over so many lives.

She arrived at a cave, the entrance to one of Crocodile's many hideouts. Making her way down the stairs, she hoped she wasn't too late. The throne room of the cave was eerie and silent. The guards had all fled. There was evidence of panic and in doing so she feared what had become of the nymph.

The aquarium stood right where she had last seen it, in the center of the throne room. In the panic to leave, not a single guard had bothered to take the nymph.

Robin approached cautiously, all too weary of the myth surrounding sea nymphs. Vile creatures who would tear into the flesh of their enemies. Cunning and malicious to those who would harm them.

Approaching the tank, Robin discovered no such threat.

Neso floated unconscious, barely glowing, barely alive. What should have been brightly colored and elaborately patterned scales was now dim and sickly. Her ribs were slightly protruded. She had been left behind to die.

Robin quickly unfastened the locks and lifted the nymph from the tank. The tail should have made her heavy but she was malnourished. Robin checked Neso's mouth. The sharp teeth of legend weren't present.

"I'm so sorry," Robin had laid Neso down on the dry ground, "I'm so sorry I did this to you."

☽ ◯ ☾

Neso's head pounded. The last thing she remembered was being locked in the aquarium. Crocodile had left her there to die. No way out. She had a tail and couldn't move. The tiny caged aquarium hadn't given her any space.

"Shh," Robin wrapped her hand gently around Neso's mouth, "You're safe, please trust me."

"I'm..."

"On a ship, we're leaving Arabasta."

Neso looked to Robin. She was being genuine. She was safe. "What happened to Crocodile?"

"He was defeated."

"By who?!"

"Shh. Rest, okay?" Robin handed her half a loaf of bread and some hard cheese. "I was able to get your things."

Neso looked around. It was dark and they were in a tiny cabin. She couldn't see a single thing. All she knew was that she was saved. Safe and alone once more. She began to cry. Silently, not wanting Robin to get upset. The two waited in the dark for what seemed like hours. The ship they were on was sailing fast and trying to get away from something. The sea smoothed out and Neso heard voices.

"The Marines have stopped following us," she heard a low muffled voice and others speaking in response.

Robin smiled at Neso and nodded, "Ready to meet the crew?"

Neso only nodded. She wanted nothing more than to get far away from Arabasta and find a new sea port. Somewhere she could drink sake in memory of Zoro and be alone.

"Stay behind me for now. This crew is a little on edge. I don't know how they're going to act," Robin pushed the door open and straightened her back, "Look's like we finally escaped the firing squad."

Neso shielded her eyes from the bright light that flooded in. Miss All Sunday had hands wrapped around Neso and blocked her line of sight.

""Who is that?"