A hand appeared before her eyes, drawing her sight from Brook and the singer Maria's duet to the swordsman standing at her side. Riley looked up in bemusement at Zoro.
He lifted his brow.
Riley frowned but took a hold of his hand anyway and let him haul her to her feet.
"Come on." He grunted before making his way towards the walkway of air that had been made for them.
"So where are you taking me?" Riley asked curiously as Zoro continued to lead her forward by her hand.
Zoro mumbled something she couldn't hear over the music, his stride lengthening.
Riley had to quicken her pace to keep up with him, trying to figure out why Zoro had decided to abandon his unlimited supply of liquor or why he had to drag her away from her own amusement of watching the others revel in the banquet's attractions. Their crew was always a blast at parties, after all. She had found it particularly hilarious how Fukaboshi's face how held a mixture of awe and horror when he saw how much Nami could drink. Then there was Franky and Hachi's drinking competition which, along with Luffy's bottomless appetite, kept the mermaids constantly streaming to their bubbles and caused everyone else to try in vain to keep up with them.
Zoro halted suddenly causing Riley to crash into his shoulder.
He smirked down at her.
Riley scowled in reply. "That was your fault."
He gave a slight shrug before taking a step back, letting go of her hand and turning to face her.
She looked around the outdoor area, searching for the reason Zoro had brought her out here. There was nothing there. Only the pillars and stone steps remained inside the bubble while small fishes swam almost within reach. The sight was beautiful but it was something they had seen dozens of times already and would likely seen dozens of times more until they were once again on the surface.
Riley looked at Zoro in confusion, waiting for him to explain.
He rubbed the back of his neck. "Wana dance?"
Riley's brow lifted in disbelief. "What?"
"I asked if you wanted to dance." Zoro grumbled.
Riley took a step towards him, trying to catch his averted eye. "I thought you said you didn't know how."
Zoro's dark gaze met hers steadily. "I learned."
"When?" Riley asked in surprise.
Zoro offered her his hand. "Wana dance or not?"
Riley paused. There was so much she wanted to know. It wasn't just when he had learned but who was the one to teach him? He had said that most of his time had been spent with only Hawk-Eye, Perona, and the monkeys for company. Besides, hadn't he told her he had no interest in dancing? What made him decide to finally learn? She briefly considered telling him she wouldn't until he explained everything...
But it was Zoro who was asking her to dance. She had always wanted to dance with him...
Riley lifted her hand to his.
Zoro grinned. He pulled her forward drawing her chest against his and wrapping his arm around her waist with his hand on her back.
Riley's breath caught, her eyes wide.
Zoro's grin didn't waver as he began to slowly lead her around the outdoor area with measured steps.
Riley followed, her hand rising instinctively to his shoulder and her eyes unable to look away from Zoro's.
His grin softened slightly and she was close enough to see his brow furrow slightly.
Riley's lip quirked as she realized the dance they were dancing was very much inappropriate for the music filtering faintly from the banquet hall. They weren't following any rhythm she could hear and his steps were too stiff to be graceful. She could tell by the distracted look in his eyes that he was concentrating on how he moved. Clearly, he was trying too hard and she had to fight the laugh that threatened to escape at the charming realization.
He seemed to be relaxing the longer they moved, however.
He led her through a turn and brought her closer than before until only the cloth of her shirt separated her skin from his.
Her amusement vanished. Her heart began to race.
They had never been this close before and even their friendly embraces had never lasted so long. It was dizzying having Zoro completely surround her. His scent enveloped her so that every breath she took was him. His hand on her back branded her flesh and the strength of his arm made sure her pace stayed steady with his.
Riley didn't care about the music anymore. She couldn't even hear it over the pounding in her ears. Zoro had relaxed enough that his natural grace had taken over and allowed their movements to become just as fluid and effortless as when they fought beside one another. There was no stiffness to his stride now. She had his full focus trained on her and she couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.
He twirled her, surprising a laugh out of her at the unexpected addition.
Zoro chuckled as he brought her back into his arms.
Riley couldn't stop the answering grin that formed on her lips. She was absolutely certain she had never had a more perfect dance.
Zoro's arms looped around her waist. She draped her arms over his shoulders and locked her hands behind his neck as their dance slowed to simple swaying.
"So, are you ready to tell me how you learned how to dance?"
"Are you cashing in your points?" He asked with a smirk.
Riley scrunched her nose in response.
He laughed. "This point system was your idea."
She rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but that was only because we kept arguing about what to do when we were in Sabaody. I thought it was supposed to be over once we got back to the Sunny."
"I still have 120 I earned fair and square." Zoro pointed out. "That's enough for one question and one trip to the bar. I'm not giving that up just because you only have 30."
"Damn." Riley sighed. "Why are you so good at remembering numbers?"
Zoro smirked and she knew it was because of how easily he'd caught on to why she was really objecting to their point system.
Riley pulled lightly on the hair at the back of Zoro's neck. "Shut up."
Zoro chuckled.
Riley couldn't stop the automatic smile that rose in response.
"Since you're so far behind," Zoro offered, "I'll give you a free question."
Riley narrowed her eyes at the cocky tone in his voice but didn't challenge his "offer." She really was far too behind on points, having spent most of them dragging Zoro to different bookshops, for her pass up this opportunity.
Now... what question to ask?
Riley tilted her head, studying him. They were still swaying, she realized. Their arms were still wrapped around one another, as casual as if this was something completely normal for them. As if it was something they did everyday.
After the tension had left his movements it had almost been too much for her. The intensity of his gaze and the tightness of his hold had been so much more than she had been ready for. Zoro must have realized and had done exactly what she hadn't known she needed. Just like he always did.
"What happens if I say yes?"
Their swaying stopped.
"Would everything change?" She couldn't but ask, letting her worries finally take voice. "Would it ruin what we already have? Would it make everything complicated and awkward? Or would everything stay exactly the same?" Her hand began to fiddle with the collar of his coat, her head downturned. "Does saying yes even matter?" She mumbled.
Zoro remained silent for a while. Riley continued to play with his collar. She noted absently how rich the material was. It was a thick fabric that was obviously very durable but at the same time it still felt soft under her fingertips and the subtle stitching was impeccably done.
"You're number three."
She looked up at him, her brow furrowed. "What?"
"On my list." Zoro explained easily. "You're number three. If you say "yes", you'll still be number three. If you say "no," it'll still be the same. But it matters. Maybe it won't change anything. Maybe everything will change. It still matters."
Riley regarded him carefully, her mind slowly processing his words. She was number three. No matter what she said he insisted that that was where she would stay. Even if everything else changed, that wouldn't.
Riley exhaled in relief. She smiled.
Zoro's arms tightened around her waist and he gave her a smirk in reply.
Riley's smile turned shy. She bit her lip. "Zoro," she hesitated, "can I-"
"Ow!"
Riley jumped at the sound. She turned her head towards the hallway they had gone through earlier in time to hear Chopper's voice.
"Oh, sorry Usopp. I didn't see that statue."
Riley heard Nami's giggle and someone else muttering happily.
She turned back to Zoro.
He loosened his arms and took a step back. "I'm going to take a nap."
Riley's hands lingered on his neck.
"Ow! Chopper!"
"Sorry! I didn't see that either!"
Riley dropped her hands and moved away with a sigh. The moment was already lost. "I'll go see what's going on."
Zoro dropped to the floor. He laid down and instantly closed his eye.
Riley shook her head, her lips quirking, and made her way to the hallway, this time able to make out Sanji's delirious babbling.
Robin watched in fascinated amusement as Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp seemed to fly through the air, their laughter ringing with excitement while Franky and Brook shouted words of encouragement from their bouncing positions on the stairs. The three were racing one another on what appeared to be invisible creatures from one end of the green lawn to the other.
Or at least that was what it seemed like to Robin.
Robin turned her attention to Riley. The Bard was sitting cross legged on the railing on the Sunny's starboard side with Zoro beside her, her green eyes were focused and her lips moved ceaselessly. Robin couldn't hear her from her place in front of the women's quarters but she caught traces of her words when Kiri's wind drifted near. Her sight would flicker slightly when she would catch a phrase, giving her a glimpse of odd purple haired creatures with large paws and a slithery tail. Then Kiri would be off to make sure the illusion stayed steady for the three racing and Robin's vision would return to normal.
"Do you see something when the guys get near to you?" Nami asked, walking her way to stand beside her and lean her arms against the railing.
"Lion like creatures with purple fur?" Robin replied, turning towards The Navigator.
Her eyes were narrowed as she stared at the others, perhaps trying to catch another glimpse of the strange creatures.
"I thought it looked more like a wolf." She murmured.
"Perhaps it is a mixture." Robin suggested.
Miss Navigator shrugged. "Maybe. I'm pretty sure Riley's the only one that really knows, though."
"She is the one creating the illusion." Robin agreed.
Miss Navigator hesitated. "I didn't see what happened when she used it during the fight since I was in the tank, but Sanji said the fishmen around her were just ripped to pieces all of a sudden."
Robin turned towards their Captain grinning widely as he sat atop his invisible creature. He was easily winning their race while The Doctor seemed to grip onto the fur of his creature and trail a length behind. Their Sniper, on the other hand, was having a hard time staying on his own, constantly seeming to sway too far to the sides. Still, his laughter continued nonetheless ignoring the fact that he was losing by nearly an entire lap.
"I believe the same principle applies as what is happening right now." Robin pointed out. "If they can interact with creatures that don't really exist then it stands to reason those creatures are capable of interacting physically with them in return."
Miss Navigator nodded, eyes turning towards The Bard and The Swordsman who remained casually by her side. "I was thinking the same thing," she murmured.
She turned towards Robin, a large grin escaping her. "Well I'm glad Riley is on our side! She got so much stronger the last two years. Everyone got so unbelievably strong! Those fishmen pirates never even stood a chance!" She laughed.
Robin chuckled in agreement. Even with ten thousand to one odds it really hadn't seemed like much of a challenge for their crew.
"So what did you do during the last two years?" Miss Navigator asked, turning to lean her hip against the railing and face Robin, her eyes glinting in interest.
"I spent the majority of that time with the Revolutionaries." Robin revealed.
"What?!" Miss Navigator shouted, her eyes wide. "You spent it with the Revolutionaries?!"
Robin smiled. "I did, indeed."
"How did that happen? Where did Kuma send you? To the headquarters? Did you get to meet Luffy's dad? Or Riley's sister? Does this mean you already knew about Kuma?" Miss Navigator grabbed Robin's arm. "Robin, you have to tell me everything!"
The Cook suddenly appeared beside them, holding three different cups in a tray he expertly balanced on one hand. "I would love to hear what the beautiful Robin has been up to as well!"
Robin laughed accepting the offered hot cup of coffee from The Cook. "Well, it all started when Bartholomew Kuma sent me to this camp in the middle of a bridge in the East Blue, called Tequila Wolf..."
Brook concluded his song for the pod of Island Whales they had met beneath the sea. He played his favorite tune on his ancient, trusty violin for the whales who reminded him so strongly of his old friend.
These whales had loved the music from the old Rumbar Pirates so much that they were giving the Sunny a lift in return. They had to be Laboon's family! What other whales would take such joy in beautiful music, if not those who were related to that cheery little whale?
He wasn't so little anymore, though, Brook reminded himself.
Could Laboon truly be as big as these whales? Had that little whale who had loved to sing with his old crew, really grown so much since he had last laid eyes upon him? Could he have grown so much bigger than even Brook's old ship?
Luffy had said he had. He had told Brook how the Straw Hats had originally mistaken Laboon for a mountain when they had first met him because of his size.
But to see it... Now that was something Brook desperately wanted.
He wanted to stand beside his old friend and sing for decades. To be able to perform his old tunes and his newest singles and sing songs that had entertained a baby whale so very long ago. He wanted to play his crewmates' last recording to the crew member they had reluctantly left behind, basking in the bittersweet cadence of their voices with those who had known them in their prime.
As Soul King, he had had the opportunity to travel wherever he wanted. He could have taken the chance and gone back to Laboon more than a year ago.
But he wanted to do it the right way.
He had promised to go through the entire Grand Line and he would. He would make the Rumbar Pirates proud. He would cause Laboon to crinkle his eyes in the way he always had when he was happy, as he told him the stories of his journey. He would do it for himself. He would travel to Raftel and prove to himself that there was enough strength in his soul to propel him to the very end.
He would do it for Luffy. So that he would be there to witness as his exuberant, fearless captain became the King of the Pirates.
Only then could he travel back to Reverse Mountain with his head held high.
Luffy's joyful shout signaled their nearing to the surface.
They could see the sunlight's beams break through the waves.
The Straw Hats began to count down in anticipation as they approached the "ultimate sea."
They were finally about to enter the New World and begin an entire new chapter in their adventure. This would be the sea that defined them. This would be the sea where each one of them would find their ambitions within reach, at last.
It would all happen in the New World.
Brook felt as if his heart would burst from his chest from excitement. That is, it would if he had a heart!
Yohohoho!