A Pirate's Life For Me! We Need A Musician!

Part 2 of a 4 Part Saga

by Aoikami Sarah

Chapter Eleven – The Straights Of Crescendo

If Largo was flashy and bustling, Dehavala was elegant and refined. The shops sold only the most expensive jewelry, haute couture apparel, and gourmet foods. Most of the crew appeared to be incredibly impressed by everything. They walked up the pristine streets toward the main attraction: the White Lilly, a building that seemed to be a hotel but looked more like a castle.

"Whoa!" Chopper ogled it. "Who lives there!"

Vivace grinned from ear to ear, thoroughly pleased to play tour guide. "That's the White Lilly," she explained. "The palace of the Siren and the venue that Lilly Marlene plays at."

"So coooool!" Luffy cried.

"Siren?" Usopp asked. "What kind of a title for a ruler is that?"

"You guys aren't from around here, are you?" Vivace asked, raising a brow. "You know, a 'siren': a being that can control people with its voice?" She didn't notice the Straw Hat pirates all straighten up at the mention of such an ability. Harmony turned even paler. "The Siren controls the traffic that goes through the straights. Every vessel has to pay a tax. Rumor has it that anyone who defies the Siren ends up becoming a slave of the Siren Song," she said with a sinister grin. "But no one even knows who the Siren is, so it might not be true."

Usopp let out a sigh. "Sheeesh! You scared the crap outta me with that story!"

Luffy laughed at him. "This Siren person sounds like a bad guy. Don't worry, Usopp. I won't let him make you guys into slaves."

Zoro rolled his eyes. "I think he's more worried about you, dingus."

Robin stopped walking and took Harmony's hand. "Everyone, Harmony and I are going to go shopping. We'll meet you at the palace a little later, ok?"

"Oh," Vivace said, a bit disappointed. "Ok. See ya later!" She waved enthusiastically and she and the Straw Hats continued on to the palace.

"Robin Nee-chan…" Harmony began. "How do you always know what I'm thinking?"

Robin smiled. "You looked like you were going to be ill at the mention of this Lilly person. I take it you know her?"

Harmony worried her hands. "I… No. I don't."

Robin didn't look convinced. "Alright. What would you like to do?"

Without hesitation, she answered, "I want to go back to…" Harmony caught herself. "To my music box."

"You mean, to Vincent?" the archaeologist asked. Harmony's eyes went wide but she stared at the ground. "Don't worry. I believe I am the only living person who has any idea why that box of yours is called Vincent." Again, Robin smiled and put her hand on the girl's head. "I'm not interested in that legacy. As you know, my life's quest is for the Real Ponegryph. And there's nothing on this Earth that would entice me to tell anyone about your beloved music machine."

Harmony's eyes watered and she flung her arms around Robin. "Thank you, Robin Nee-chan!"

"Come on. I'll take you back to the Going Merry and wait with you till the others are done with the show."

.x.

"Wow! Fancy place!" Luffy cried as Vivace showed them into the palace. She nodded to guards who recognized her and let them pass into a waiting room decorated with red velvet curtains and gilt carvings representing the sea spiraling up to a vaulted ceiling. The ceiling was masterfully painted with clouds and birds.

"This place is too much," Nami whispered. "The Siren must be loaded!"

"Oh yeah," Vivace drawled. "The money comes from all the taxes on the ships that have to pass through the straights."

"Sort of sucks that it all goes to one person," Sanji commented.

Vivace shrugged. She approached two guards standing in front of a pair of huge doors and whispered something to them. "Sit tight, guys. I'm gonna see if Lilly Marlene will see you for a special private show!" She waved, smiled and ducked inside the doors.

"Special private show?" Zoro asked and put his hand on the hilts of his swords.

"Yeah, pretty odd treatment for strangers," Sanji agreed.

"Yay, special show!" Luffy, Usopp and Chopper cheered.

.x.

Vivace closed the doors behind her and her glowing smile fell. She took a deep breath before turning and facing the vast room she had entered. On a throne at the far end sat Lilly Marlene. She cocked her head to the side slightly, making her tentacle-hair shimmer in the sunlight streaming through tall stained-glass windows behind her. Vivian and Olivia stood at either side of her and fanned her with large ostrich plumes.

"Well, well," Lilly cooed. "Look what the cat puked up." She narrowed her eyes. "Where's Harmony?"

Vivace bowed and hid her grimace. "She's here on Dehavala."

"You try my patience, my dear. Why is she not here?"

"I would have had her here, but one of the pirates took her shopping. I didn't want to arouse their suspicions..."

"What the hell do I keep you around for?" Lilly growled. "With your talents, you should have been able to get her to me easily!"

Vivace balled her fists. "I would have if the pirates weren't so strong. She's traveling with the Straw Hat pirates. They're all here, right outside these doors. They have three Akuma no Mi users, including their captain, Monkey D. Luffy who is currently worth 100 million Berrie!"

"Excuses, excuses," Lilly uncrossed and re-crossed her long legs. "Harmony has been out of my influence for far too long." She cleared her throat and the next phrase that came out of her mouth seemed as if it were sung, but also seemed to be broadcast from every wall. "Bring her to me, now."

Vivace stood at attention. Her eyes seemed a little less bright than they had been a moment ago. "Yes, Lilly Marlene-sama," she agreed and exited the room via a hidden door on the right.

Lilly yawned. "Olivia," she called to the dark-haired woman on the right who bowed. "Show these pirates in. I want to be entertained."

More to come...