Xavier twisted his foot and he disappeared, Zoro glanced around holding Sanji close. After a few moments of him not showing up, Zoro let go of Sanji. His human form was back as they headed down the path. Sanji held Zoro's hand thinking over all what Xavier said.
"So, what happened between you two?" Sanji asked.
Zoro turned to him, "Well, before I was taken to Gold Quarter, Xaiver and I were troublemakers. We would accidentally mend, and when we did we couldn't control the mend."
His hand clutched Sanji's as he turned away.
"We killed ten people. Xavier was obsessed with mending, he loved the power. He took control over our strength. Before I was taken away I asked Nami to turn him into something so he couldn't harm anyone ever again. And so she did, in exchange for something dear to me."
"And what was that?" Sanji asked.
"My love. The spell would of been broken if I kissed or fell in love with someone. And I guess your that special person."
Sanji smiled and nudged him, "I love you too. Shitty tiger."
On the horizon stood a small town of White Rum. As Zoro and Sanji headed inside the town they came across a large wishing well sitting in the middle of town.
"I think we should get some rest before we meet this, ultimate mending." Sanji suggested.
Zoro yawned, "You might be right."
Sanji chucked as they headed into a small inn. They rented out a room, and headed to it. Zoro hummed flopping on the bed. Sanji lied next to him as they soon fell asleep.
Xavier pushed the box off the hatch in the run down inn. Smoker crawled out as Xavier helped him out. He looked up at the panther man.
"Why did you help me?" Smoker asked.
"I'd like to hep capture the half blood and the element." Xavier smirked.
"Alright, what's the catch."
"You can take the element and I'll take the half blood."
"Deal."
Zoro sat up panting, he clutched his chest to the slight nightmare he had. Sanji shifted next to him having him turn to Sanji curled up on the bed. He smirked reaching out and brushing his bangs away. Zoro got up covering Sanji in the blanket and stretched. He turned to Sanji before an idea clicked in his mind. Zoro smirked before leaving. Sanji woke up a bit later and rubbed his eyes, Zoro was no where to be found.
"Zoro?" Sanji called.
The door opened and shut as Zoro walked in. Sanji perked up as Zoro walked in surprised to find him awake.
"Oh, did I wake you?" Zoro asked.
"Where did you go?" Sanji asked.
Zoro pursed his lips, "I, it's. I'll tell you later, we have to hurry if we want to see the firebird."
Sanji nodded getting up and they both headed down to the center of the town. A little girl with blonde hair tossed away her coin and shut her eyes. Her nose scrunched with her clutched fists. She opened her eyes and smiled before looking down into the well.
"Loulee, becareful. I don't want you to fall."
"Yes mama."
Sanji smiled as the girl turned to them, she smiled back before going to ther mother and taking her hand. She turned to look at them again as she smile wider and waved. Sanji waved back having the girl giggle and walk off.
"That's a pretty name." Sanji muttered.
"What?" Zoro asked.
"That little girl, her name was Loulee. I just think it's a pretty name. If I had a daughter, that's what I would name her."
Zoro chuckled as he pulled out a coin and tossed it away into the well.
"We'd like to see the firebird."
"What for?"
They turned to a man in an orange cowboy hat, he tilted up the brim of his hat. He had dark black hair and a sprinkle of freckles over his nose. His chocolate eyes burrowed into the couple. On his shoulder sat a bird. It was set afire with blue yellow and a hint of green flames. The bird flew off and fluttered before them.
"An element animal, those are rare to master." Zoro said.
The man smiled, approaching them.
"That's Marco, he's pretty cool huh? Oh and I'm Ace."
He held out his hand, Sanji reached out and shook his hand. Sanji and Ace both were ingulfed by there own flames. Zoro stood wide eyed seeing them both standing in flames with a slight silhouette of there being. Marco rolled his eyes before they both pulled back laughing. Everyone in town that witnessed ignored it.
"Marco, these guys are cool. They are the half element mending. Chimaera." Ace said.
"Why don't we go somewhere quiet." Sanji said.
Ace motioned them to follow them, and so they did. Outside of the town was a small forest and a little cave. Ace clutched his fist as it was engulfed in his own flame. Marco sat on Ace's shoulder before they came to the end of the cave. Sanji gasped looking at the view. They stood on a cliff overlooking a small town, Ace turned to them and smirked.
"Welcome to paradise." Ace chuckled.
Marco turned into his human form before he pushed Ace off the cliff and fell behind him. They mended into a large fire bird. Flames of gold, orange, red and blue mixed as a tail of bright yellow few past them. Zoro and Sanji watched them fly off to the town.
"Well, you ready to head to this paradise?" Sanji asked.
Zoro smirked, "I mean we could relax for a little while."
