/watch?v=ChAXyXoR71Y
As Vivi's dress was much larger than usual, she was forced to descend the stairs very slowly.
"Easy does it," Robin said encouragingly.
She finally reached the bottom.
"Please don't trouble yourself with going all the way to the kitchen," Robin said. "I will stay with Usopp for now. Besides, Chopper must already be asleep."
"Very well," Vivi said, and set Robin down next to Usopp on the table as they went by it.
"Er . . . have fun!" Usopp called as she left.
Vivi entered the dining room and gasped. Sanji (who rested in the middle of the table as a centerpiece) had truly outdone himself this evening. The table was laden with all manner of glorious foods, desserts, and even a bottle of wine.
"Oh, goodness," she breathed in surprise.
"Vivi?"
Vivi looked up and found the Beast standing by the table. Her host was wearing a beautiful dark green dress, similar in style to Vivi's blue one. She had taken the time to brush her fur—or, more likely, used enchanted brushes—and the mane-like part on the back was braided neatly with a green bow at the end.
"Good evening, Madame Beast," Vivi said with a cordial curtsy.
"Likewise," the Beast murmured with the same gesture. She slowly approached Vivi and held out a large paw. Vivi hesitantly placed her hand on it and her host led her to the table. The Beast pulled out Vivi's chair for her and Vivi sat with some difficulty (due to the panniers).
The Beast cleared her throat. "If I may . . . you look absolutely stunning."
"Oh," Vivi said, startled. "Why—thank you." She smiled. "Your dress flatters your fur very well."
"Thank you very much," the Beast murmured, a bit startled since she had not received compliments on her physical appearance for years.
They began to dine. During the main course, Vivi noticed that the Beast was having trouble holding her spoon.
"It . . . can be difficult to hold utensils," the Beast explained awkwardly when she noticed Vivi's staring.
"Especially if she's nervous or embarrassed," Sanji whispered, and the Beast shot him a glare. He quickly looked away and shut his mouth.
"Couldn't you . . . drink the soup?" Vivi said. "Like the bowl is a cup."
The Beast looked startled. "But that's terribly ill-mannered!"
Vivi set down her spoon, lifted the bowl to her lips, and slowly drank some. She set it down, dabbed at her mouth with the napkin, and smiled at the Beast.
After a moment the Beast smiled and laughed. Together, they brought their bowls to their mouths and drank the soup.
When the hearty meal was done, the Beast stood and offered Vivi her paw. Vivi took it and allowed herself to be pulled up from the chair.
"Sanji, can you handle cleaning this up?" the Beast asked.
"Of course, Madame," Sanji said with a bow.
"Come," the Beast said to Vivi, and, still holding her hand, led her out of the dining hall.
To Vivi's surprise, the Beast led her to the ballroom. The checkered floor shone and the chandelier's candles were dim.
"Vivi . . ."
The Beast looked at her gently.
"May I have this dance?"
Vivi looked at her in surprise. When she hesitated, the Beast's smile faded and she glanced down.
"You do not have to," she murmured.
"No, it's just . . ." Vivi said with a nervous smile. "I would love to dance with you. But I have never danced properly my whole life."
"Oh," the Beast exclaimed, looking back up. She smiled. "It's not difficult. I will show you. Follow my lead . . ."
She slowly took Vivi's right hand in her left and extended it out. Vivi's left she held at a bend close to their bodies.
"Step like this," she said gently. She began to move and Vivi nervously copied her movements. They moved in slow circles around the room.
The sound of lyric-less singing in two voices reached their ears.
"Robin and Brook," the Beast said in slight amusement. "I'm not sure why they're not including the words . . . ah, they haven't sung a duet in ages."
"They're wonderful singers," Vivi murmured, resting her head upon the Beast's shoulder.
The two continued to dance until the chandelier's candles had all but burned down; the sun had set long ago. The Beast brought them slowly to a stop and they smiled at each other.
The Beast led Vivi to the seat by the tall window of the room. They sat and Vivi stared outside at the snow which had covered the ground, faintly illuminating the night. The Beast just stared at Vivi.
Unknown to them, Sanji, Usopp, Robin, and Brook were leaning next to the slightly open door, eavesdropping.
"She must do it now," Usopp whispered. "Madame, please, please . . ."
"Vivi . . ."
Sanji shushed Usopp and they listened.
"Yes?" Vivi said softly, turning to the Beast.
She looked down. "Are you . . . happy here?"
Vivi smiled. "Yes. I love . . ."
The servants leaned in eagerly.
". . . It here," Vivi finished. "And I love . . ."
They leaned in again.
". . . How friendly everyone is," Vivi finished. "I love . . ."
"Oh, for goodness' sake," Usopp hissed.
". . . How kindly you have treated me," Vivi finished. She stared outside wistfully. "But . . ."
"What is it?" the Beast asked. "Is something the matter?"
"I do wish I could see my father again," Vivi murmured. "I have not seen him in so long, and I miss him so."
The Beast was silent.
"Confess, Madame, confess!" Usopp whispered.
"No, the mood's changed," Sanji hissed.
"There is a way," the Beast said. "To see him . . . if only to ease your worries."
Vivi looked up in surprise.
"Follow me," the Beast said, standing. "But first you may change into your nightgown. I mean no offense, but you look rather uncomfortable with the size of that dress."
"It is as you say," Vivi said with a small smile.
They slowly left and went upstairs (the servants hid themselves in the shadows, though the Beast glanced at them out of the corner of her eye). Vivi retreated to her room and changed out of her dress as fast as possible and into a nightgown. She wiped off the makeup afterwards.
"How'd it go?" Franky said sleepily.
"It was wonderful," Vivi said, smiling. "I'm sorry, if you'll excuse me, the Beast has something to show me . . ."
She hurried out again and found the Beast coming out of her room. She'd changed back into her regular cloak.
"Here," she said. She held up a silver hand mirror. "This will show you your father. Speak your desire to see him and it will be done."
Vivi carefully took the mirror and, glancing at the Beast, said clearly, "I want to see my father."
The mirror's surface glowed briefly before displaying an alarming image. Vivi gasped. It was a vision of her father. He was lying on the pile of blankets he and his daughter normally slept on, but his face was pallid with illness and sweat coated his brow.
"Oh, no," Vivi whispered. "He's—he's ill!"
"Ill?" the Beast said, startled.
"He needs me," Vivi said frantically. "I need to take care of him—he is getting on in years—oh, no—"
As she bit her lip in worry, the Beast looked down and seemed to ready herself to make a tough decision.
"Go to him."
"What?"
"You may leave," the Beast said. "Go take care of him. But will you promise me one thing?"
"I . . . what is it?" Vivi said in shock.
"Promise you will return when the moon is full again," the Beast said. "He should be well by that time."
She looked at Vivi and found that her dark blue eyes had tears in them.
"I promise," Vivi said. She suddenly hugged the Beast around the middle. "Oh, thank you, thank you . . ."
"Please, just go," the Beast murmured. "He will not be well if you stay here. And, one more thing . . . when you return, I have something important to tell you."
Vivi nodded and let go. "Thank you for everything."
"Do you need an escort?" the Beast asked as Vivi stepped back.
"No," Vivi said. "The snowfall has stopped, and my destination is less than an hour's time from here."
"Very well," the Beast murmured. Vivi curtsied and hurried to her room, where she grabbed the clothes she had entered the mansion in.
"Hey . . . huh?" Franky mumbled, waking up. "What's going on?"
"I'm departing for now," Vivi said quickly. "Monsieur Franky, thank you very much."
"Hey, what?" Franky said, but Vivi was already gone. She hurried down the stairs and to the front door.
"Be safe!"
Vivi turned and smiled at the Beast. "I will see you when the moon is full again!"
She turned and opened the door, closing it softly behind her as she set foot into the cold winter night.
"Would you mind explaining?" Usopp yelled as the Beast came downstairs. "You were so close! Why did you let her go?!"
The Beast sighed. "She will be happy by seeing her father again and making sure he is well. And besides, she has promised to return."
"Ah, that's good," Sanji sighed. "I suppose we'll all be off to bed."
"Yes," the Beast murmured, already forlorn at the thought of waking up to find a mansion without Vivi.
Vivi was breathing hard by the time she reached her old home. She hurried into the doorway and to the bedroom, calling softly, "Father?"
Cobra weakly lifted his head as she entered. "Another . . . dream . . ." he murmured.
Vivi choked back a sob and knelt by his bedside. "No, father, it's me. I've come home."
"Vivi . . ." Cobra whispered, coughing. He touched her hand. "Oh . . . oh, you're real . . . my sweet Vivi . . ."
"Father!" Vivi cried. They embraced tightly.
"You escaped . . . from that monster?" Cobra murmured, squinting in confusion. He coughed again.
"She is not a monster," Vivi said softly, "and she let me go. I will tell you everything tomorrow. Please, try to sleep, father; you're ill."
Cobra smiled weakly and lay back on the blankets. Vivi hurried out of the room and grabbed a rag, soaking it in the snow outside before returning and wiping the sweat off of his brow.
"Please get well soon," she whispered as Cobra fell asleep again.
