Updated: 8/7/15
Chapter 27: Come Back
[From Western Woods to Beaver's Dam-The Chronicles of Narnia, the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe]
A rigid surface with soft features, the faint sound of a waterfall, and not a breeze to be perceived.
Where was she?
Her eyes gradually opened.
Everything was a blur at first, but then the imagery melted together to form a complete picture. She was laying on her back, and surprisingly, not feeling the least bit stiff. She didn't move at first, her eyes too occupied with focusing on the sky. Things seemed typical at the moment, but curiosity forced her to sit up and get a better look at where she was. She rolled onto her right hip and used her forearms to prop herself up as she took a gander at her surroundings, noticing right away that things were most certainly not normal.
The land form she was on was apparently floating, as were the other landmasses surrounding her. The sky below her was pure white, nearly blinding to look at, but softened into a light blue at the same level she was on before darkening into an azure color high above her head. In a way it was all lovely yet terrifying at the same time.
Land wasn't supposed to float was it?
Perhaps it wasn't out of the ordinary in this place, yet she still had to figure out where "this place" even was. Knowing that the answers wouldn't simply come to her, she decided to stand and and go uncover the answers herself. She smoothed down the front of her blue dress to rid it of possible dirt and wrinkles, and then strode forward.
Her eyes widened in surprise when she beheld a grand silver staircase with delicate railings curving down to the floating island below her. There was something regal about the stairs, making her feel like a princess as she placed her fingertips on the railing's smooth surface and glided them down with her. She contently listened to the sound of her shoes clapping against the stairs with each step, making her feel even more noble.
Too bad nobody was around to see her.
She reached the bottom, a shiver running up her spine. Why weren't any people around? Was there a party taking place without her? She didn't care too much for cramped parties, but it did make her feel a bit hurt that she hadn't known. Then again, who would have invited her? She sighed sadly upon realizing that no names came to mind. What a lonesome girl she was, what with having no friends and all. She smiled anyways and held her head high as she continued with her stroll, enjoying the scenery. Trees with bright verdant leaves stretched towards her, almost as if encouraging her to clamber up their branches and lounge around.
She giggled and shook her head.
Spending time with trees, what a positively funny idea! "At least they are kind enough to invite me," she divulged to herself as she turned down a path. There were more trees, along with towering green hedges, all perfectly square. She smiled and admired how symmetrical they were, and felt serene, like all things were right in the world.
The sound of flowing water suddenly reverberated around her, and at once she felt stimulated.
The caress of water bathing her fingers and toes sounded so appealing to her that her feet at once pushed her into a brisk canter. She hurriedly turned the next corner and spotted with glee a soothing stream that formed a waterfall off the edge of the platform. She felt a bit confused, as she wondered how the stream had simply appeared on land without a source, but brushed it off. After all, nothing really seemed to make sense here, so why question anything else?
With a gleeful smile she ran forward and knelt in front of the water, slipping her fingers underneath the cool liquid. As she looked down, however, she couldn't help but notice that the water was revealing something very odd to her
A young woman with bright blue eyes and curly auburn hair reflected right back at her, and what was even more strange was that she wore the same dress.
Slowly she raised her soaking hand to her face, observing in astonishment as the imitation did the exact same movement. She did everything from tilting her head to smiling to even standing up and yelling down at the water. She eventually grew exhausted and even more confused so she decided to stop. Clearly that was her reflection, yet for some odd reason her mind went blank as she tried to recall her name. No matter how hard she tried though, not a single name came to mind.
She was deflated into a conquered slouch as she realized with despair that she couldn't remember anything.
[][][]
He sat cross-legged on his bed with his forehead propped against the rectangular window. Dawn was starting to arrive, signaling the crew would be up within a few hours. Sooner or later he'd have to face them, have to face her.
Brook hadn't slept at all that night. He'd walked straight to his room and closed the door, not wanting to speak to anybody. He's shed tears, not only because he wouldn't let himself be with Liara, but also because of how broken she'd looked in front of him. She'd looked confused and hurt and he really couldn't blame her. She'd cried, and it was all his fault.
"You could've been happy," his inner skeleton hissed. "You both could've had happiness. Who are you to decide what's right for her? Your mistake broke hurt her, and now everybody will be mad at you!"
"What can I do?" he whispered. Was he really conversing with himself?
"Beg her for forgiveness. Get on your knees, grab her hands, and declare your love for her. Apologize for your mistake. Have a future together. You may have the appearance of a skeleton, but you're more man than anything else. Now, fight for the woman you love!"
He had to.
Pushing the pity party aside, Brook decided that last night had been a mistake. He needed to apologize to her, explain himself, and finally tell her that he felt the same.
With determination in his steps he exited his room, sincerely hoping that she forgave him.
[][][]
"Morning guys," Nami greeted with a yawn as she entered the dining room. So far, only Robin, Sanji, Franky and Chopper were up. She found it odd that Liara wasn't awake yet, and was also a bit disappointed. Judging by the look Robin gave her, both women were wondering the exact same thing: how had last night gone for Brook and Liara?
"Namiiiiii my dear!" Sanji twirled towards her, pulsating with hearts. "Morning! Breakfast should be ready very soon!"
Nami nodded and thanked him before ambulating over to Robin and leaning over to whisper in her ear. "Any idea how things went with Liara and Brook last night?"
The Archaeologist didn't look up, her eyes focused on the current page of her open book. "I haven't a clue, Miss Navigator. Perhaps you should check on her?"
"I agree. I'm surprised she isn't up already." Nami straightened her posture and ascended back up the staircase, ignoring the curious looks Chopper and Franky gave her. She briskly walked down the hallway until she stood in front of Liara's door, and knocked.
"Liara? You up yet?"
She bit her lip. Liara wasn't a heavy sleeper, so she should've at least responded. Perhaps she was in the bathroom? After knocking once more and again not getting a response, Nami pushed the door open and peered inside.
The bedroom was soundless, and the bed looked as if it hadn't been slept in. Nami meandered over to the bathroom and flipped the light switch on to wash away the darkness. There was still no trace of her.
She sauntered out of the Artist's room and closed the door firmly behind her. She was starting to get a discouraging feeling, similar to the one she felt when a storm approached. Feeling a bit anxious and worried, she descended down the stairs and was about to return to the dining room when she decided that maybe she could talk with Brook. She headed down the hallway right off the kitchen and entered Brook's room, not caring if she invaded his privacy. His room was also empty, but the sheets were a bit wrinkled. Nami also checked his bathroom, and he wasn't there either. The anxious feeling grew even more, but she pushed it aside. Perhaps him and Liara had left earlier to have some alone time? The idea made her smile, but didn't really calm her nerves. Something wasn't right, and she needed to find out what.
"Miss Navigator, is everything alright?"
Nami jumped and spun around to see Robin standing there. The dark-haired woman had a knack for moving silently, something Nami admired and yet detested. Nami took a deep breath to calm her racing heart and shook her head. "Liara and Brook are missing. I just-something seems off."
Robin crossed her arms. "I agree. If they haven't returned by breakfast we should look for them. Perhaps the other members of our crew might have seen them?"
Nami shrugged and strolled back to the dining room with Robin following behind her. "I guess it wouldn't hurt." They returned to the table and took their seats.
Robin didn't pick her book back up, but sipped her coffee instead while Nami inquisitively stared at the little reindeer and large cyborg. "Have the two of you seen Brook or Liara?"
Chopper stared down at the table in concentration, as if he was trying to pull at the threads of memory buried deep at the back of his mind. "I heard somebody return, but I wasn't sure who. What was weird though is that I thought I heard the sound of crying." He guiltily looked up. "I was too tired at the time to investigate, but I think it was Brook."
"Come to think of it, I only heard one pair of foot steps," Franky added on. "I was up late last night working on plans for a new project. My door was open a crack so I could enter and exit my room without waking anyone up. The footsteps I heard were light and went into Brook-bro's room. I believe I also heard crying."
Nami and Robin exchanged worried glances before Nami smacked the back of Franky's head. "Your friend was crying and you didn't think to help?!" she admonished.
Franky rubbed the now-aching spot on his blue head before glaring at the pissed off Navigator. "Hey! Men aren't the type to cry and seek comfort the way women do. Most of the time we just want to be left alone when we're upset."
"Don't yell at Nami-Swan, or you won't be eating breakfast!" Sanji threatened, his revealed curly brow lowered in seriousness.
The front door suddenly slammed open, dissolving all tension. Brook stood there with a bouquet of purple and white flowers clutched in his boney left hand. "Yo-ho-ho! Good morning!" he cheerfully called out. He ran forward in long strides, a few stray flower petals floating onto the floor. He surveyed the dining room, and tilted his head to the side. "Oh, why is it as quiet as a grave yard in here?"
"Hey, what's going on?" Usopp sleepily inquired as he stumbled past Brook. Luffy pursued his friend with a blank look on his face and drool dripping off his chin as the fresh scent of food drifted into his nostrils. Zoro had also waken up, but leaned silently against the door frame, his good eye open while observing the situation.
Nami stood up and trudged over to the looming skeleton, her lips pursed together in a narrow line. "Brook, where's Liara?" Her eyes dropped to the empty space beside him and then back up to his hollow eye sockets.
The atmosphere turned tense and silent. Brook's eye sockets widened as he scanned the room, noting that every single one of the Straw Hats were accounted for.
All but one.
His spinal cord cringed in panic. "You mean, she didn't come home last night?"
Sanji bolted forward and jumped up, smashing his foot into the right side of Brook's skull, causing him to fly backwards into the living room and smash into the coffee table. "You son of a bitch!" Sanji snarled as he sprinted towards the musician and gripped the front of the skeleton's heavily wrinkled suit, lifting him up so their faces were on the same level. The blonde spat the now-chewed-in half cigarette out of his mouth. "Why didn't you watch her?!"
"Now, now, let's hear what he has to say," Robin suggested as she sprouted hands across Sanji's arm to try and pull him away. The chef loosened his grip but dropped the skeleton to the floor with a heavy thud. He readjusted his tie before reaching into his coat pocket and inserting a new cigarette between his lips.
Franky extended a hand to help his friend up, which Brook accepted with a grateful nodded. When he was back on his feet, he faced the mixed expressions his crew mates displayed, which forced him to focus on the ruined flowers at his feet in shame.
"We- Liara confessed her love to me last night." Gasps of surprise paralleled around the room. Only Robin, Nami, Sanji and Zoro didn't look surprised, and Luffy merely blinked as if he didn't understand the situation.
Usopp gaped in incredulity. "You mean you and Liara-?!".
"Oh wow, that's beautiful!" Franky cried out as manly tears poured down his face. "I-I'm so happy for you two!"
Brook sighed mournfully. "I told her it wouldn't work."
"What?" Nami's tone was frigid. "Are you telling me you rejected her?"
Brook intertwined his boney fingers, looking ashamed. "I love her, I really do. I want to be with her more than anything."
"Then why did you turn her down?" Chopper questioned in his Heavy Point form as he peeked over Usopp's shoulder.
"Because I want her to have a future. I can't give her children and people would stare at her because she would be with a skeleton and not a human. I just want her to be happy."
"Did she look happy when you told her that?" Luffy asked, much to everybody's surprise. Brook regarded his Captain, and then dejectedly shook his head.
"No, she started crying."
"You made her cry?!" Sanji lividly barked, once again restrained by Robin's devil fruit arms.
"That's enough Sanji!" Nami hissed. "I understand why you're angry, but this is between Liara and Brook. However-" her eyes flew towards the dropping skeleton. "-I think you need to find her and apologize right now. Liara really does love you, and if you love her as much as much as you say you do, then don't argue with her about it. You two clearly need each other if being apart makes you cry."
"That's an order," Luffy smirked as he raised his straw hat to look Brook right in the eyes. The skeleton reached down and gathered up the flowers, bundling them together. They looked a bit torn apart but still just as beautiful.
"I gathered these to apologize to her. They're exactly the same as the one I gave to her last night." Brook plucked off the petals that clung to the flowers but had clearly fallen off.
"Those are anemones, which means unfading love in the language of flowers," Robin stated, impressed at his choice of "Aww'd" and Zoro rolled his open eye, finding the whole thing to be too sentimental for him.
"I guess I'll just have to go find her," Brook sighed as he did his best to smooth the wrinkles out of his suit. He didn't really care about Robin's knowledge about flowers, as he had already known what it stood for, which was precisely why he'd given it to Liara in the first place.
"There's no need. I know where she is."
All heads in the room turned as Merida 's short frame stood at the house's entrance, her shadow projecting onto the wooden living room floor as the sun beamed in from behind her. The group's faces were filled with relief at first, but quickly fell when they say the old woman's serious expression.
"Is Liara okay?" Brook questioned, almost afraid of the answer. Nami stood beside him, drawing in a sharp breath.
"She's dead."
Time came to a complete halt as the morbid atmosphere threatened to swallow them all.
Brook's flowers, the ones he had so carefully gathered back up and spent hours searching for, fell from his grasp and on to the floor with a silent thud. The heart he hadn't noticed he had until yesterday felt like it was smashing into his ribs, a piece of it shattering and falling off with each impact. The words he'd just heard hadn't seemed real.
They couldn't be, right?
"Ar-are you-?" He tried to speak, to voice the disbelief that had gathered within him, but his jaw couldn't seem to function properly; he couldn't function properly.
"No! You're lying!" Nami hollered.
The faerie's expression remained unchanged. "I am not lying. You can tell I'm speaking the truth."
Tears slid down the Navigator's face as she collapsed on her knees, palms grazing across the floor and orange locks tangled across the side of her face. Liara had become like a sister to her, a best friend. As much as she wanted to deny Merida's words, to ban them from her ears and pretend she had never heard them, she knew that the ones just spoken were not a lie. Nami was a fantastic liar, and she knew without a doubt that what she'd just heard was the truth.
The rest of the group were frozen in shock; even Zoro's mouth had parted open at the unexpected news.
Luffy bit his lower lip and clenched his fists as tears gathered in his eyes, threatening to spill over. "What happened?!" he demanded, enraged that one of his crew had passed on under his care.
"Sacrifice," was all Merida uttered as she finally stepped into the house and craned her neck to stare straight into the eyes of the one Liara had given her heart to. "Sacrifice for you."
"What do you mean for him?" Sanji lowered his voice, trying to control his anger. No matter how upset he was, he wouldn't raise his voice at a lady. "What did you do to her?"
Merida's eyes narrowed at the chef before she traversed back towards the ajar door. "She drank a potion that forced her soul out of her body and into the spirit world. She is going to free this island by becoming the thousandth soul. Since her soul was sacrificed the power of her heart will be stronger than the others who were killed all those years ago, giving her the boost of light she needs to destroy the greed's darkness."
Robin raised an eyebrow, a finger placed thoughtfully under her chin. "Greed? How was the darkness even brought here?"
Merida snapped her head around. "My love did an act deemed unforgivable, simply because he wanted a life with me! That's right, the love of my life is the evil one here, but he'll be freed once Liara defeats him! I gave her the potion to drink! She has less than 20 hours left to defeat him, so you all need to grab your weapons and prepare for a fight because if you don't, we're all dead. Shadows are going to come, and Liara will need her sword, so grab it! As for you," she gritted her teeth at the skeleton who shook not from fear, but from grief. "You have no right to change the course love has set! You have a chance with her so don't blow it, understand?" Her tone had become more caring, like a mother giving advice to her son.
"I won't, just please take me to her," Brook begged. The whole crew nodded in unison.
Merida crossed her arms. "What are you waiting for then? Let's go!"
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They stood outside the cave, Merida in front of them as she gestured at the cleverly hidden opening along the wall of stone. Brook felt terrified, more so than when he'd lost his shadow or been attacked by the pirates that killed him and his entire crew. His stomach, the one he knew was there but couldn't see, felt like it was flopping around. A cold feeling swept across his body, freezing him momentarily to the spot he'd planted himself in for the past ten seconds. At last he pushed his feet forward, daring himself to sweep the vines away with a flick of his hand as he entered the tunnel.
[Van Helsing-Reunited]
His nakama's footsteps echoed down the stoney corridor as they followed him, trying to keep up as he quickened his pace. Flashes filled his skull, dragging back up the memories he'd experienced with Liara, with the one who had made him feel alive again.
"You and Luffy and Nami and everybody else went all out to save me today, and I will always be grateful for that. You have all become so important to me, especially you Brook, so thank you."
He cast aside another annoying vine.
"Brook, you're a wonderful person. I hope you get to experience falling in love someday," she encouragingly smiled.
A light flickered at the end of the tunnel. Somehow breathing was becoming more difficult.
Leaning back against Brook's chest, Liara gave a content sigh, not at all minding the slight bump of rib bumps pushing against her head. She gazed up at Brook, who just happened to be looking down at her. She smiled sweetly, and gave one of the skeleton's arms a squeeze. "This was a great idea. Thank you." She eyed their surroundings once more, attempting to ignore the heat on her face.
A light flickered up ahead. He shoved away the final curtain of vines.
"Brook, I just wanted to tell you that...I'm in love with you." She beamed at him, cheeks pink and smile wide.
He stood there trembling, hands helplessly limp at his side.
She was laid out on a coffin of roses, her head cushioned by a modest pillow of violet trimmed with gold. Lit candles were perched on wooden shelves around her head, giving her an angelic-like appearance as the light glowed off her skin, Her auburn curls were sprawled out beneath her head, a few long strands placed over her shoulders. Her eyes, the beautiful pools of blue that sparkled whenever she laughed or smile, were concealed behind closed lids and thick lashes. Her entire body was pale and stiff. Her cheeks, where they had once been shades of pink or red, were now colorless and white. Her hands remained folded on her chest, and clutched between them, the single flower he had given to her only hours ago.
"Liara!" Nami cried out as the others finally entered the cave. Her shoulders shook as she hysterically sobbed, concealing her face behind her hands. Sanji encircled an arm around her shoulder, inviting her to cry against him, which she did.
Robin's lower lip trembled, trails of tears streaming down her cheeks. Usopp and Chopper tearfully lowered their heads in respect while Luffy pulled down the rim of his hat to obscure his eyes. Franky openly sobbed, not caring that he was a man and how pathetic he might've looked. All of them stood there, remembering their lost friend, their lost family member. Merida's words were all fresh in their minds, and while they knew that they did have a chance to save her, the sight of Liara's body before them caused all their hearts to ache. Even Zoro stood with clenched fists and water-filled eyes. Every one of them shed tears, but none of their pain was on the same level as Brook's.
He hesitantly wandered over, tears rolling down his face as he fell to his knees and placed a hand on Liara's arm, whimpering at how cold she felt. She'd been warm and happy in his arms not so long ago, and now she was...just so lifeless. He placed a thumb over her lips, stroking them, begging for her to just open her eyes and smile. His other hand wrapped around her wrist, inwardly pleading and praying for her to have a pulse.
"I'm a skeleton and yet my heart beats, so yours can too, right?" he whispered into her ear. He knew he was being childish but didn't care as he mourned the loss of his love.
She collapsed onto her knees, pressed her face against his chest and secured her arms around his torso. "Brook!" she sobbed, "Brook, I was so scared! Brook! Brook!" Over and over she repeated his name as tears heavily poured down her cheeks.
"Shhh. I'm here. Everything will be okay," he whispered to her as he tenderly rubbed the upper part of her back.
"But I broke that promise!" he sobbed out as he laid his head on top of hers. "Now you're gone and it's all my fault. It's all my fault." He ignored the hand placed on his shoulder as one of his tears fell onto her cheek.
"Your name was the last word she spoke," Merida informed him in a hushed voice. "She loves you Brook, and I know that no matter what, she will welcome you with open arms. If you don't hurry though, she will never have the chance to come back to you. You two deserve a life together, and to be happy."
He continued to lay there with their foreheads pressed together, his hand holding hers. "But I'm dead. I have nothing to offer."
"I think happiness and love is the best gift one can give, am I right?" Sanji suggested after clearing his throat to dissolve the sadness he felt. "Love is love. If a woman you love offers you her heart, then you take it and don't ask questions. It's the one gift in life that should be returned and cherished every moment of every day. So what if you're a skeleton, Liara loves you doesn't she? Now be a man and prove to her your worth!"
In that brief moment, all self-pity disappeared within the skeleton as Sanji's words sunk in. Tears were dried, and Brook knew that now wasn't the time to mourn. He was going to support Liara, just as he promised, and he'd be damned if she was going to have to fight alone! He looked back at Zoro, who had carried Liara's sword, and nodded. The swordsman smirked and handed the sword over. "We're ready when you are."
Brook bowed his head and took the blade. He bent over and placed it behind Liara's hands, making sure her fingers rested on the hilt of the sword. He then leaned over and placed his teeth on her forehead, rubbing her cheek as he did so. It was the closest to a kiss they'd be able to have, but it symbolized his undying devotion to her, and how he would remain by her side for all time. He lifted his head up and looked at his friends, all wielding weapons and all with expressions of determination.
Luffy grinned. "I'm still the captain, but I'll let you lead us this time. Only this one time though, okay?"
Brook clamped his jaw shut and nodded. All eyes followed him as he ambled past his friends and towards the entrance way. He looked at Liara one last time before tearing his gaze away and pointing down the tunnel. "Everybody, let's bring Liara back!" Hollers of agreement filled the air and weapons were raised as they took off running down the corridor, leaving Merida by herself. She smiled.
"Good luck, my friends."